stasisLAX From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 3266 posts, RR: 6 Posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 1 day ago) and read 2298 times:
Fiat is set to re-launch the Alfa Romeo brand into the U.S. market at the 2014 Detroit auto show.
2014 Alfa Romeo 4C sports car (concept)
Alfa Romeo’s re-launch in America will be led by the Alfa "4C" sports car. Based on the concept car of the same name, the 4C will be shown in Detroit with a 230 horsepower version of Fiat’s turbocharged 1.8L four-cylinder engine and a dual-clutch semi-automatic gearbox.
Alfa’s product offerings following the 4C is unknown, but the auto press rumor mill says to bet on a compact Alfa SUV and "flagship" sports sedan are the most likely to follow the 4C to market.
BMI727 From United States of America, joined Feb 2009, 14336 posts, RR: 26 Reply 3, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 23 hours ago) and read 2270 times:
Quoting Fly2HMO (Reply 2): But dang I can't wait to get my dirty hands on a 4C.
No kidding. It's like a Lotus Elise, but an Alfa. What could be better?
Quoting stasisLAX (Thread starter): Alfa’s product offerings following the 4C is unknown, but the auto press rumor mill says to bet on a compact Alfa SUV and "flagship" sports sedan are the most likely to follow the 4C to market.
I think that they need to limit Chrysler to the 300 and above in terms of cars (please, please make the 200 go away), the Town and Country, and maybe bring back a full size SUV. Dodge should keep selling basic cars (Dart, Charger, Challenger, and maybe a new subcompact), their SUVs, and the Caravan. Alfa should be combined with Fiat dealers to market the 500, 4C, their compact luxury SUV, and more stylish, sporty, and well equipped small cars.
Why do Aerospace Engineering students have to turn things in on time?
Dreadnought From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 7779 posts, RR: 22 Reply 4, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 23 hours ago) and read 2258 times:
Quoting BMI727 (Reply 3):
No kidding. It's like a Lotus Elise, but an Alfa. What could be better?
Hmmm. What could be better than An Alfa 4C?...
1. God
2. Oxygen
3. Chuck Norris
Wait. 1 and 3 are the same...
There you go. Scientifically proven, The 4C comes in at number 3 of the best things ever.
flanker From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 1609 posts, RR: 2 Reply 6, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 11 hours ago) and read 2182 times:
Quoting dl021 (Reply 5): Theyd bring it in sooner but they need to get their service and repair departments prepped for the expected influx of repair business.........
I will be be of their customers when this comes out.
LOLL!!! alfa for you..
Calling an illegal alien an 'undocumented immigrant' is like calling a drug dealer an unlicensed pharmacist
srbmod From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 16888 posts, RR: 51 Reply 9, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 8 hours ago) and read 2127 times:
It was already a given that Alfa would end up over here once Fiat got involved with Chrysler. Fiat had prior to their investment in Chrysler was already laying the groundwork for a return of Alfa to the US market and those plans had been delayed several times in the past. IIRC, those original plans would have had them selling Alfas at dealers that were selling Maserati vehicles, but everything was shelved for the time being when Fiat invested in Chrysler.
Now where are the Alfas to be sold at? Will they do like they did with the Fiat and make them their own dealerships? Or will they put them within the current Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram dealer network (Maybe only allowing the top dealerships to sell them, similar to how the Sprinter was only sold by dealerships that had earned the [now defunct] Five Star ranking.) or perhaps they'll stick with their prior plans to sell them alongside Maseratis.
Quoting stasisLAX (Thread starter): Alfa’s product offerings following the 4C is unknown, but the auto press rumor mill says to bet on a compact Alfa SUV and "flagship" sports sedan are the most likely to follow the 4C to market.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Alfa SUV is based on the replacement for the Jeep Compass/Patriot.
B777LRF From Luxembourg, joined Nov 2008, 1006 posts, RR: 3 Reply 10, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 3 hours ago) and read 2075 times:
It's said, at least over this side of the pond, you can't lay claim to being a true petrolhead until you've owned an Alfa.
Mine was a 155 V6, and while it had an engine to die for and drove very, very nicely indeed, the design was a bit, how shall I put it, challenged. Of course the electrics where shyte, it corroded faster than an unprotected piece of iron dunked in the Mediterrean and the interior was assembled using only a shovel, but oh - the sound of that V6 will live with me forever.
I'll be camping at the door steps at the nearest Alfa dealer when the 4C hits the showroom. The wife can keep the BMW, she can even sell it and get the X5 she's so desperate for, don't care one little bit. I'll even ebay a testicle if that's what it takes
From receips and radials over straight pipes to big fans - been there, done that, got the hearing defects to prove
czbbflier From Canada, joined Jul 2006, 933 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 2 hours ago) and read 2065 times:
It looks like a very sexy car- as Alfas tend to be. But... and this is a big but.... I wouldn't consider getting one for at least a couple of years. How will they hold up in North America? Canadian winters? My uncle used to tell me... when my Aunt wasn't around.... that Italian cars are like women... when they're hot, they're very hot. But when they're cold... they're very, very cold. He told me that when I was, like, 12. So I took it literally. Figuratively? I wouldn't know. I bat for the other team.
Quoting srbmod (Reply 9): Now where are the Alfas to be sold at? Will they do like they did with the Fiat and make them their own dealerships? Or will they put them within the current Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram dealer network (Maybe only allowing the top dealerships to sell them, similar to how the Sprinter was only sold by dealerships that had earned the [now defunct] Five Star ranking.) or perhaps they'll stick with their prior plans to sell them alongside Maseratis.
As for dealerships... if they're going to roll them out at the specialized Fiat dealerships, they better do a better job of rolling them out. Vancouver's Fiat dealership has taken about a year to get rolling. They were being schlepped out of the regular Chrysler dealership and there was no cache there at all. In fact, the dealers had no idea what they were selling.
Sold in the Maserati dealerships? Too rare. They won't get the market reach.
Sold in the regular Chrysler dealerships? Too common. They won't get the brand value they deserve (and need... since they devalue so fast).
bohica From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2409 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (1 year 3 months 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 2033 times:
Quoting dl021 (Reply 5): Theyd bring it in sooner but they need to get their service and repair departments prepped for the expected influx of repair business.........
They already exist...at your friendly neighborhood Chrysler dealer. Also the mechanics are jumping up and down with joy. They have job security.
srbmod From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 16888 posts, RR: 51 Reply 16, posted (1 year 3 months 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 2005 times:
Quoting czbbflier (Reply 11): As for dealerships... if they're going to roll them out at the specialized Fiat dealerships, they better do a better job of rolling them out. Vancouver's Fiat dealership has taken about a year to get rolling. They were being schlepped out of the regular Chrysler dealership and there was no cache there at all. In fact, the dealers had no idea what they were selling.
The two Fiat dealerships I've seen are remodeled dealership space that for a number of months had temporary signage and looked run down as they had yet to begin renovating the buildings. If Alfa is going to have their own separate dealerships, they better have them ready to go before the first cars are delivered.
Quoting czbbflier (Reply 11): Sold in the Maserati dealerships? Too rare. They won't get the market reach.
The original plans several years back were to do as such. Every major city has at least one Maserati dealership (The one here sells Maseratis and Ferraris.).
Quoting czbbflier (Reply 11): Sold in the regular Chrysler dealerships? Too common. They won't get the brand value they deserve (and need... since they devalue so fast).
Like I mentioned in my earlier post, you perhaps only allow the top Chrysler dealers to sell Alfas, essentially as a reward for being an elite dealer. They did this with the Sprinter, as only Five Star Dealers got to sell them.
BMI727 From United States of America, joined Feb 2009, 14336 posts, RR: 26 Reply 17, posted (1 year 3 months 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 1972 times:
Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 14): They don't have one of these at the moment.
Considering that they won't be re-entering the US market until 2014, they have plenty of time to develop one. And that means a good one, not a rebadged Jeep.
Why do Aerospace Engineering students have to turn things in on time?
KiwiRob From New Zealand, joined Jun 2005, 5291 posts, RR: 3 Reply 18, posted (1 year 3 months 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 1957 times:
Quoting BMI727 (Reply 17): Considering that they won't be re-entering the US market until 2014, they have plenty of time to develop one. And that means a good one, not a rebadged Jeep.
You're kidding yourself if you think it takes two years to design and engineer a new vehicle, it's more like 4, 2 years means Fiat will be using a Jeep platform.
B777LRF From Luxembourg, joined Nov 2008, 1006 posts, RR: 3 Reply 19, posted (1 year 3 months 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 1937 times:
Quoting Pyrex (Reply 12): I still maintain the Alfa Romeo 8C is the most beautiful car ever made, but this has to be probably close to being the second.
That is a very hard position to disagree with, but I'd venture the proposition an Aston Martin DB9 would run very close - talking modern cars that is. I tried beating either by moving into classics, but nearly fried my brain trying to pick one, or even a top 10.
Still, here's a classic Alfa to drool over
[Edited 2012-02-16 11:14:35]
From receips and radials over straight pipes to big fans - been there, done that, got the hearing defects to prove
srbmod From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 16888 posts, RR: 51 Reply 20, posted (1 year 3 months 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1909 times:
Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 18): You're kidding yourself if you think it takes two years to design and engineer a new vehicle, it's more like 4, 2 years means Fiat will be using a Jeep platform.
I know that there's been rumors in the past of an Alfa SUV based off of the Grand Cherokee (Probably unlikely with the introduction of the Maseratti Kubang, which is based off of the Grand Cherokee.), and there's been talk of the delayed Alfa Romeo 169 using the LX platform used by the Charger and 300C.
With the Patriot and Compass slated to be replaced in the next few years by a vehicle built on the CUSW platform (same platform used by the upcoming Dodge Dart), it's quite likely it will spawn a Fiat or Alfa sibling. Alfa did have their Kamal SUV concept about a decade ago that never got produced. I would not be surprised if this vehicle is a crossover style vehicle (echoing the trend of other auto makers shifting away from truck-based and styled vehicles).
The Liberty/Cherokee is slated for a refreshing in the near future as well (said to be built on a stretched version of the CUSW plaform) and if the Patriot/Compass replacement isn't used on a Alfa, this may be the likely candidate.
Whatever vehicle an Alfa SUV is based on will likely be a crossover design as the Liberty/Cherokee as it currently looks would not look the part.
dl021 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 11433 posts, RR: 81 Reply 21, posted (1 year 3 months 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 1908 times:
Quoting bohica (Reply 13): They already exist...at your friendly neighborhood Chrysler dealer. Also the mechanics are jumping up and down with joy. They have job security.
Well, the did complain a little when they were told they'd have to change their names to Tony.
stasisLAX From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 3266 posts, RR: 6 Reply 22, posted (1 year 3 months 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 1896 times:
Quoting srbmod (Reply 20): The Liberty/Cherokee is slated for a refreshing in the near future as well (said to be built on a stretched version of the CUSW plaform) and if the Patriot/Compass replacement isn't used on a Alfa, this may be the likely candidate.
Both the Compass and Patriot will both be replaced with ONE new vehicle based on Fiat's CUSW compact crossover platform. This new Jeep will debut as a 2014 model, and will be built for global markets - as will all future Chrysler products as Fiat commands. Jeep's CEO said that this Compass/Patriot replacement will be available with both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
The Liberty will get a replacement in 2013 as well. The Liberty evolve into a "crossover" vehicle and is scheduled to be built on a larger (a lengthen and wider Patriot platform according to press reports) version of the Compass/Patriot platform, called CUSW "Plus", and will be an all-wheel-drive-only vehicle. Finally, Fiat senior management also wants a top-of-the line larger Jeep model, like the Grand Wagoneer used to be. (we should try to forget about the awful (now defunct) Jeep Commander - I had one as a rental vehicle from Thrifty for a week in SLC - it handled like an aircraft carrier, and wasn't all that comfortable)
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety!" B.Franklin
na From Germany, joined Dec 1999, 9613 posts, RR: 10 Reply 23, posted (1 year 3 months 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 1838 times:
Alfa, as a brand, is one of the most valued in the automotive market. Way higher than their real market position. Their credo of putting style, emotion, brio before anything else (anything else are the more boring car values) is unique aside from the luxury class. And thats why I´m an Alfista since 20 years.
Alfa, temporarily suffering from having the poorest model "line-up" in their history, is going to start a model offensive 2013-15.
Starting with the Giulietta Sportwagen,
followed by the fantastic 4C,
a SUV (not two as planned until last year, and if you ask me, Alfa is not and should not be a SUV brand as bulky car by definition cannot be an elegant, sporty Alfa),
then the much-anticipated Giulia (successor of the beautiful 159 which has just stopped production),
the equally over-due new Spider (hopefully based on the fantastic Pininfarina-prototype of 2010),
and possibly a new top-model based on the coming new small Maserati saloon (I think in Alfa-guise that car will even be more elegant than the Maserati, which styling will likely focus on power before than elegance).
The only fears I am having is that so many new models overwhelm the development department (they plan to do the work of ten years in half the time, having started 3 years ago), and that most of these cars will be comparatively more expensive than Alfas used to be. But I expect that it´ll be like always, the cars will be reasonably priced in the US, and we Europeans have to pay for it.
falstaff From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 5673 posts, RR: 29 Reply 24, posted (1 year 3 months 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 1819 times:
Quoting Fly2HMO (Reply 2): Ill believe it when I see it.
I have been seeing Alfas on the streets of metro Detroit, with manufacturer plates. They appear to be production ready models, or close to it, so I have no doubt they will be for sale before too long.
Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 18): You're kidding yourself if you think it takes two years to design and engineer a new vehicle, it's more like 4, 2 years means Fiat will be using a Jeep platform.
I have heard, on Autoline Detroit, that the SUV will likely be built in Toledo.
My mug slaketh over on Falstaff N503
25 Polot: It is probably just testing for Chrysler, considering they are starting to use Alfa/Fiat platforms/engines. I don't think Alfa plans to launch in the
26 747400sp: I wonder is it going to be RWD or AWD?
27 stasisLAX: The 4C sports car is a rear-wheel drive, mid-engined vehicle. Very light weight (under 2000 lbs) and powered by a turbocharged 4 cylinder engine. Sou
28 na: A sweet, little estate car has been announced. Looking better than anything in its class, at least from the rear and side (I dont like Giuliettas fron
29 Braniff747SP: I post from www.ImageShack.us . Unlimited storage space; when you upload, they even give you the forum code. Works great.
30 BMI727: Looks good to me. Such a car would be more than competitive with the Mini Clubman, Audi A3, and BMW 1 Series. I think that Alfa Romeo could carve out
31 na: Be sure of overlapping. Alfa wont be the cheap partner to Chrysler, more to the contrary, even if many Alfas are small by US standards. Chrysler will
32 Dreadnought: I like station-wagons (called Estates or Breaks in Europe). They are the perfect family car for the family that needs more space in the back for vaca
33 BMI727: Not cheaper, just smaller and more sporty. The Chrysler 300 needs to move upmarket. Offer three engines - a powerful V6, the Hemi V8, and a more powe
34 na: The 300 is an aging model. Even the facelift cant deny its from 2003. Since then all European competitors have brought in completely new models. Size
35 BMI727: The platform is even older than that. It was a huge improvement when it was introduced, but it was already aging. The 300C never was priced similarly
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