72nd Salon International de L'Automobile.(Brief Article)

Best of Show

Italdesign-Giugiaro Alfa Romeo Brera concept

We saw this one and immediately our limbs went all wobbly. We thought it might be tough to outdo the gorgeousness coming out of the Alfa studios in recent years, but Italdesign has done so. The Brera is a 2+2 that Giugiaro calls a dream concept, but it's a dream we'd beg to see made into reality. Alfa Romeo just got new leaders appointed from the Fiat mother ship-we're hoping they're smitten with this thing. For power, an all-new future Alfa 4.25-liter V8 unit-resembling the engine used in both the Maserati Coupe and Spyder-with more than 400 horses is used. All body panels are carbon fiber and sit on a special racing chassis. In a show car flourish, the two doors open upward, supercar style. This could easily be our next U.S.-spec Alfa. Now jus' build it, ya' mokes!

Most Significant

2003 Opel Vectra

Among GM's little problems has been which badge would be first to appear on the Epsilon platform. Technically, the Saab 9X and 9-3X

concepts won out. But Opel wins when the conversation switches to mass production and rental fleets. Due in June, the 2003 Opel Vectra has been driven by the Euro press corps and received many a thumbs-up. The engine plans call for a choice of six motivators to be available by the end of this year, and many of these changing to newer units in mid-2003. Engine jumbles like this happen only in Europe. The significance of the Vectra and its Epsilon platform cannot be downplayed. GM worldwide needs this to be a smash hit, not only for struggling Opel in Europe, but also for Chevy in a future Malibu, Saab in the next 9-3, a future Cadillac, upcoming Holdens in Australia, you name it (Pontiac Grand Am and Saturn L, for instance).