Pininfarina's Ferrari Sergio concept car. Photo: John LeBlanc

By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada

Geneva, Switzerland — With no major, international Italian auto show on the calendar, Switzerland’s Geneva event is the closest geographically for Italy's design houses to show their wares. And this year’s Swiss show was no different, with all the big studios — Bertone, IED ItalDesign Giugiaro and Pinanfarina — showing up with new concepts and show cars.

By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada

Ever since Italy’s Fiat took over managing America's bankrupt and government bailed-out Chrysler, the idea of sexy new Alfa Romeos becoming available for the first time since the mid-1990s has always been the carrot, tantalizingly dangled in front of panting Alfa fans. But, as the Alfista are already painfully aware, that promise is now over three years old, and yet to be fulfilled.  And—surpise, surprise—Fiat seems to not be in a big hurry to bring Alfas back to Canada any time soon.

By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada

When it comes to the auto industry, well-funded car company public relations departments, running twenty-four/seven, make every attempt to make sure you get the latest information on any new car news when they want to give it to you. It's especially the case with the run-up to any big auto show. Automakers want to get you excited, but they don't wnat to give too much away. Hence the “official teaser” image.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

Fiat currently sells versions of the Dodge Journey and Chrysler 200 in Europe as Fiats and Lancias, and we've known for a while that some smaller cars and vans would be headed back in the other direction. We now have confirmation that the first product will revive the name Dart and will be an Alfa Romeo-based compact sold in Canada and the United States.

We've got a couple early teaser photos for you here that show off some real stying ties to the updated Charger, including a 'racetrack' rear light cluster. Dodge says the Dart will come with three engines, including the 1.4-litre turbocharged version of the company's MultiAir four-cylinder engine. Could we finally see a small turbodiesel there too? Might be worth it.

This also will mean the Caliber will finally bite the dust... Few are shedding tears over that call.

Let's just hope that the Dart is a more thorough polish job than the Fiat 500.

By Jake Lingeman, AutoWeek

Two Aston Martin V12 Zagato coupes are set to appear at the Frankfurt motor show. It will be the first time the car will be shown at a mainstream event.

First seen in the spring at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy, the V12 commemorates the 50th anniversary of Aston Martin's first collaboration with Zagato, the DB4GT Zagato.

By Luca Ciferri, AutoWeek

Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat and Chrysler Group, says Alfa Romeo will return to the United States in late 2012. But if he makes the deadline, just a few units of the 4C limited-edition coupe would be on sale.

Alfa's full return is now planned in mid-2013, about a half-year later than Marchionne's most recent timetable, with a compact crossover. A crucial mid-sized sedan, the Giulia, will follow, by the end of 2013 at the earliest.

Technically, Alfa is in the United States: It sold a few of limited-edition 8C models at Maserati dealerships.

By Luca Ciferri, AutoWeek

Alfa Romeo says the production version of the 4C rear-wheel-drive coupe will be a sold around the world, including the United States.

"The halo car "will bring us back into markets such as the United States, where we are not present today," Alfa CEO Harald Wester said Tuesday, adding that the 4C will go into production in late 2012.

The automaker plans to build 15,000 to 20,000 units of the 4C coupe over five years, two people familiar with the matter told Automotive News Europe. Another 5,000 to 10,000 units of a roadster version of the 4C will be built for Abarth, the sources said. Abarth is Fiat's sporty sub-brand that markets high-performance versions of the Fiat 500 minicar and Punto Evo subcompact.

By Luca Ciferri, AutoWeek

Alfa Romeo plans to build a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe that would become the brand's halo car.

Fiat's struggling sporty brand aims to complete a concept car for the innovative lightweight coupe for a planned Geneva auto show debut next month.

The concept is set to be built as the 4C GTA and go on sale for about $55,000 (40,000 euros).

By Greg Migliore, AutoWeek

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne laughed off speculation that two of his company's most storied brands, Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, are for sale.

“Oh please,” he said in response to an AutoWeek question at the Los Angeles auto show on Wednesday.

He later added, “I think we're going to hold tight and fight.”

By David Phillips and Luca Ciferri, AutoWeek

Chrysler and Fiat are exploring additional models, including Maserati and Alfa Romeo SUVs, derived from the new Jeep Grand Cherokee platform, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said Monday.

The Grand Cherokee “architecture has legs. It's important for us to tap all of the hard work that has gone on inside Chrysler on the new Grand Cherokee,” Marchionne said during a conference call to discuss Chrysler's third-quarter earnings. “It has a level of solidity and resilience that we have underestimated.”

The latest Grand Cherokee platform--developed with Mercedes-Benz, which is owned by former Chrysler parent Daimler AG--can handle more powerful powertrains, Marchionne added.

The new models could debut in 12 to 18 months and most likely would be assembled at Chrysler's Jefferson North assembly plant in Detroit, he said.