Alfa Romeo, Where For Art Thou? :Comments

[William Maley]

William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

September 5, 2012

The return of Alfa Romeo has been filled with delays. Dates of the first vehicles arriving into the U.S. have been pushed, while others have either been killed off or been delayed.

Automotive News reports that Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne will announce a new timetable for Alfa Romeo's upcoming models and expansion plans on October 30th. However, AN has learned from sources of what vehicles have been killed and what vehicles will be coming.

We’ll start with the vehicles that have been canned. A five-door version of the Alfa’s subcompact, the MiTo; a rear-wheel drive full-size sedan that would have been underpinned by the next generation Maseratti Quattroporte sedan, compact crossover, and the refreshed 2014 Giulietta.

As for the models that will be coming, the first will be 4C coupe in 2013. That will be followed by a midsize SUV which will use the underpinnings of the next Jeep Liberty in late 2013. 2014 bring forth the new midsize Giulia sedan and wagon. The Giulia will use a version of Fiat’s CUSW architecture and have the choice between front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Finally, there is a new Alfa Romeo Roadster in 2015. Originally due out in 2013, the Roadster will come out of a partnership between Alfa Romeo and Mazda. The Roadster will use the Miata as a base and a 1.8L turbocharged engine.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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[G. David Felt]

Wait and see as they have a HUGE hurdel to overcome as their track record of quality cars in the US has sucked and right now I would not bother with a fiat. Hell I would take a 90's era GM car over Fiat right now.

[A Horse With No Name]

i can appreciate the sentiment...but they do build some cool looking stuff.

About a jillion Fiats on the road around here...

[Robert Hall]

Sports cars should definitely be the focus..a modern Spyder and a coupe of some sort. The market is flooded w/ FWD subcompacts, compacts, CUVs and other appliances..they need unique selling points.

[G. David Felt]

Sports cars should definitely be the focus..a modern Spyder and a coupe of some sort. The market is flooded w/ FWD subcompacts, compacts, CUVs and other appliances..they need unique selling points.

Very true, if you are going to come back into a market that you trashed, then you need to come in with quality product that is special and different than the competition. FWD Appliances and cuv's are available in droves, give us what we are lacking.

[Carguy]

Its just sad that FWD has to continue at Alfa Romeo! I thought they could have become a more "Passionate" alternative to BMW and the like! With Italian Flair and sports car handling as an all RWD line!!----OH WELL!!!

[Robert Hall]

Its just sad that FWD has to continue at Alfa Romeo! I thought they could have become a more "Passionate" alternative to BMW and the like! With Italian Flair and sports car handling as an all RWD line!!----OH WELL!!!

Economics means they have to continue to share FWD platforms w/ Fiat as they have done for decades.. though this possible new sports car platform with Mazda is promising.

Edited September 5, 2012 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Carguy]

Its just sad that FWD has to continue at Alfa Romeo! I thought they could have become a more "Passionate" alternative to BMW and the like! With Italian Flair and sports car handling as an all RWD line!!----OH WELL!!!

Economics means they have to continue to share FWD platforms w/ Fiat as they have done for decades.. though this possible new sports car platform with Mazda is promising.

If they would just delay the return of a line of Alfas till Chrysler completes the mid-sized RWD platform they are working on then they could return to the U.S. in real RWD Alpha Romeo STYLE!! The brand deserves better then FWD!!