Alfa Kamal

Alfa unveiled its new 4WD concept - the Kamal - at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month. The model aims to be a fusion of different vehicle types - in Sanskrit the word 'Kamal' means 'red' - appropriately enough for Alfa - and in Arabic means 'perfection' or the 'synthesis of opposites'.

The Kamal is powered by the 3.2 V6 24V unit delivering 250 bhp. Power output is 250 bhp at 6200 rpm, with peak torque of 300 Nm (30.6kgm) at 4800 rpm - the torque curve reaches very high levels even at low speeds, allowing the vehicle to travel in 6th gear at less than 2000 rpm and to slip rapidly away without needing to change gear. Alfa have chosen the Selespeed F1-style gearbox unit for faster gear changes at low and high speeds. If rumours - unconfirmed by Alfa Romeo - are true the Kamal power unit will be designed and developed by Holden here in Australia - ranging from the 3.2 V6 mentioned here to a twin-turbo V6 for the top of the range model. The connection is via General Motors which has a stake in Alfa Romeo parent company Fiat which will see Holden engines in a variety of cars including Saab, also a GM owned company.