Alfa-Romeo to bring three more stateside in '09

[Flybrian]

Three more models to follow Alfa 8C Comptezione in 2009

Posted by Sam Abuelsamid | Link to Original Article @ AutoBlog

A month after announcing that Alfa Romeo would finally return to the US market next year with the 8C Competizione, more information about further products is now coming out. Maserati North America will be acting as the US distributor for the Italian brand when three more models join the lineup in 2009. The gorgeous 8C will have very limited availability with only the final 99 samples of a 500 car production coming to the US at a steep $200,000.

The other models will be somewhat more accessible probably in BMW territory. The three car lineup will be topped by the 159 sport sedan in front and all wheel drive configurations. Joining the 159 will be the Brera coupe and the open top Spider. The Spider uses the Brera platform with a shorter wheelbase. Existing Maserati dealers will be the first to get Alfa franchises.

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General Motors has or once had some loose connection with Alfa-Romeo, right? Because I would cheat on GM for these cars.

159


Brera


Brera Spider

[DetroitNut90]

Now those are some Alfas worth drooling over!

[loki]

let the sex on wheels comments commence!

+1

[Paolino]

It'd make a pretty hot statement for an Italian teacher to pull up in one of those :AH-HA_wink:

[pow]

I stopped dead and nearly fell to the floor when I saw a black Brera in London this summer. It's... just... so... desperately pretty.

[mustang84]

The Alfa 159 was one of my favorite cars to see every day in Italy. They are sharp and they stand out.

[MyerShift]

Oh God Yes.

The 159 has got to be one of the hottest "midsize" (as in, just size; not class) cars E-V-E-R.

Of course, I'd prefer the Brera because it has only two doors!

[Intrepidation]

Creamage.

[Cory Wolfe]

Alfa is my automotive savior.

[thegriffon]

GM supplies all the gasoline engines for these cars—1.9 and 2.2 L family II four-cylinders and the Global V6 in 3.2 L form, all with dual-VVT and GDI.

[thegriffon]

Oh God Yes.

The 159 has got to be one of the hottest "midsize" (as in, just size; not class) cars E-V-E-R.

Of course, I'd prefer the Brera because it has only two doors!

And in Europe, not much more expensive than a Passat or Mondeo.

[91z4me]

Is the 159 Epsilon based? Or was that a Fiat that shared Epsilon w/ GM?

[ZL-1]

Not sure if it's the exact same platform, but they are at least related. IIRC the Fiat Croma uses that platform too.

Edited September 6, 2007 by ZL-1

[Drew Dowdell]

awesome.... I'm wondering about pricing though. the 159 being in 3er territory would work, in 5er territory it wouldn't sell.

[thegriffon]

It will be in A4/9-3/Passat/TSX territory most probably.

The Fiat Croma is Epsilon based. The Alfas' Premium platform was intended to be shared with Saab, and is compatible with Epsilon, but not the same. How much of the work GM is carrying over to Epsilon II instead is anyone's guess (unless of course you have been working on both architectures).

[2QuickZ's]

I love the 159. I would consider buying one for sure if the pricing was right. I was in Italy about a year ago and they use them as cop cars in Rome. Meanest looking cop cars ever!

[Drew Dowdell]

If I don't get a CTS-D, I'll get a 159.

[cire]

Sharp! I am glad to see Alfa returning to the states. They have one of the most incredible looking lineups in the auto industry.

[cire]

I also read that Alfa will convert to rear wheel drive for all future products except for a small entry level vehicle. It plans to do this to be more competitive with their German counterparts (Mercedes and BMW). I think the first product (after the 8C Competizione) will be a sedan to slot above the 159 model. The entire conversion will take a few years to compete, so we will still see the current front wheel drive products in the U.S. (which is fine since they are gorgeous).

Edited October 28, 2007 by cire