To end years of losses and declining sales, it’s possible that Fiat S.p.A. will resort to freezing new investment in Alfa Romeo. This proposal is included in a strategic review of the brand ordered by CEO Sergio Marchionne.

Aside from a product freeze, Fiat is also considering refreshing Alfa’s lineup using Chrysler platforms to replace the aging Alfa 159 sedan and wagon and the discontinued 166 flagship sedan. It’s no surprise that Alfa’s new-car sales have plunged in the past decade as new products were delayed and its range became older. Marchionne ordered the review of Alfa to determine whether to allow the marque a final rebirth through Fiat’s alliance with Chrysler or to have the brand proceed as it is with no new substantial investments after the introduction of the Giulietta lower-medium car in 2010. In an interview with Automotive News Europe, Marchionne said that Alfa officials have to work harder to get to a decision that “effectively preserves the highest possible value to Fiat.”

(more…)

Tags:alfa romeo news, car news, Fiat, fiat alfa romeo investment, fiat news
No Comments »

Alfa Romeo’s next generation of saloons will not have a V8 engine. Alfa Romeo emphasizes that it would not make commercial sense to develop one. A senior Alfa source said that no front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive Alfa Romeo will use an engine larger than a V6.

Since Fiat has access to Chrysler’s upcoming 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, it is possible that it would be equipped with its new Multiair valve train to improve efficiency. Incidentally, Fiat’s product engineering boss Paolo Ferrero now runs Chrysler’s powertrain division. At the start of the decade and at a time when no one would have guessed that we’d be in a global financial crisis, Fiat’s Powertrain engineers worked on a V8 in collaboration with General Motors. It was designed to fit the Premium platform that underpins the Alfa 159 and Saab 9-5. It never progressed beyond a prototype stage.

(more…)

Tags:Alfa Romeo, alfa romeo news, alfa romeo v8 engine, car news
No Comments »

Of Fiat’s current lineup of cars, only the larger models are being considered to debut in the US . Included in the vehicles meant for the US market is the Alfa Romeo Giulia that now appears to be set for a 2012 launch. Despite the Fiat 500 getting a Chrysler distribution, the company doesn’t seem to be interested in naming it the flag bearer of Italian trendy style in that market.

Also of smaller size and hence, not going to the US , are the Alfa MiTo and yet-to-be-released Milano. For now, the plans are for these two cars to appear only in Europe . Since the MiTo debuted, it has been getting a steady stream of sales. It’s unknown what will become of the Milano and Giulia.

(more…)

Tags:2012 alfa romeo giulia, alfa romeo giulia, alfa romeo milano, alfa romeo mito, alfa romeo news, car news
2 Comments »

Despite getting negative feedbacks for its performance being unable to match its stylish exterior, the current Alfa Romeo 159 will not be replaced until 2012. No one will question the car’s amazing looks but due to its aging, Saab-based platform, it doesn’t have the chops to give out a great performance.

Alfa’s new boss Sergio Cravero, who had served for years as communications director following Luca de Meo’s departure, confirmed this report in an interview with Italian daily La Stampa. Cravero’s statement is the opposite of a previous report that the new sedan, dubbed Giulia in revival of the classic nameplate, was getting fast-tracked in light of the current model’s poor sales. There are speculations that the Giulia’s arrival was postponed so that it can be integrated with a Chrysler platform, and could then be built in North America.

(more…)

Tags:Alfa Romeo, alfa romeo 159 delayed, alfa romeo giulia delayed, alfa romeo news, car news
No Comments »

Alfa Romeo launched today the 1.4l MultiAir engine choice for the MiTo – offered in three power levels - 105 hp, 135 hp and 170 hp. Pricing has not been announced yet but the Italian manufacturer said that only two of the three engine versions will be made available initially, with the 135 and 105 hp versions to be available for all the MiTo range outfits.

The third, the 170 hp unit, will arrive later, together with the new and unique “Quadrifoglio Verde” outfit. Each of the engines will be paired with a manual gearbox with either 5 or 6 gears. The 1.4l MultiAir engines provide 10% more power and 10% more fuel efficiency than a traditional petrol engine with the same displacement. More details and photos after the jump!

(more…)

Tags:2010 alfa romeo mito 1.4 multiair, 2010 mito 1.4 multiair, alfa mito, alfa romeo mito, alfa romeo mito 1.4 multiair, alfa romeo multiair, alfa romeo news, alfaromeomito1.4multiair, alfaromeomultiair, car news, mito 1.4 multiair, mito multiair
No Comments »

Not a cancellation but merely a postponement, Alfa Romeo says of the MiTo GTA. Many heave a sigh of relief after Alfa Romeo’s clarification. The MiTo GTA, which was unveiled in concept form at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, was slated to be produced this year and on sale before the end of 2009.

Due to harsh economic conditions, the hot hatch program had to be delayed until rumors started circulating that it was dropped. Packed with a 240hp 1.8-liter turbo four, the MiTo GTA was intended to undercut the Mini JCW.

Tags:alfa romeo mito gta postponed, alfa romeo mito gta production, alfa romeo news, car news
No Comments »

Porto Cervo was the place chose by Alfa Romeo to unveil the new Brera Italia Independent Limited Edition. So, what is in fact this new “limited edition”? According to the manufacturer, the new vehicle offers an opaque paintwork (Titanium) over its entire body,new 18″ alloy wheels with an opaque black turbine pattern and some aluminium features, including the fuel cap, red-painted brake calipers and new “Italia Independent” logo on the car’s rear. And this is not all: the same attention to the details is found also at the interior where the manufacturer installed new carbon fibre inserts (on both the dashboard and sporty steering wheel in black leather with red top-stitching) and brushed aluminium plates, personalised with an “Italia Independent” logo on the front seat head restraints. More details and photos after the jump!

(more…)

Tags:alfa romeo brera italia independent, alfa romeo news, brera italia independent edition, car news
No Comments »

Last week we told you that the convertible version of the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider was priced under $300k but today we found out more news regarding a new model based on the stylish vehicle.

It appears that the Italian manufacturer is currently preparing a GTA version of the coupe, which is going to hit the showrooms by 2011. The new coupe will be even lighter than the 8C Spider but this is not all: the car will get a new aerodynamic kit while the V8 engine will receive some extra power and torque. More details to be revealed!

Tags:8c gta, alfa 8c gta, alfa romeo 8c gta, alfa romeo news, car news
No Comments »

To all US aficionados who have been awaiting the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider, you might be interested to know that you can purchase it for just under $300,000. It will be built for a limited run of 500 units, only 35 of which are headed for the North American market. Powering the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider is a 4.7 liter 8 cylinder engine that allows for 450 hp at 7.000 rpm and 354 lb-ft of torque. The engine of the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider has been coupled with a self-shifting 6-speed gearbox and is able to take the car from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds.

Tags:alfa romeo 8c spider price, alfa romeo news, car news
No Comments »

Replacing the Alfa Romeo 159 is the all-new model, Giulia. Expect the Giulia, which is seen here in its conceptual illustration, to arrive within the next two years. The new model will be based on a new platform developed by Fiat Auto called the C-Evoluzione (C-Evo), which underpins the Bravo.

The platform, which improves handling and ride comfort, is characterized by a longer wheelbase, shorter overhangs and more sophisticated suspension that enable it to be used in more expensive and upmarket cars than the Bravo. Engineered to be extremely adaptable, the C-platform can be used in multiple new cars with various mechanical configurations. Continued after the jump!

(more…)

Tags:alfa romeo giulia, alfa romeo news, car news
No Comments »