Everything that’s wrong with Alfa in a statement.

Wattie

Wattie

Member
Messages
8,640
Alfa Romeo has plans to build a large new car for the US market, chief executive Jean-Philippe Imparato said late last week.
This all-new vehicle would see Alfa Romeo enter a new market sector, with it sitting above its current offerings of the mid-size Stelvio SUV and Tonale hybrid, and Giulia saloon, reports Reuters. Extending beyond its traditional European audience, Alfa Romeo plans to use the larger vehicle to build a greater presence in the USA and China, as well as its home region.

(sounds reasonable so far)

Speaking after the first half results of parent company Stellantis were published, Alfa boss Imparato said: “Our offer for a large size vehicle must fit international markets, American, Chinese, European.” The company hasn’t yet decided what type of car the new vehicle will be. And although a large-scale SUV seems most likely given current trends among car buyers, Imparato is for now keeping an open mind.

Speaking on whether it will be an SUV, sedan or a crossover sitting somewhere between the two, Imparato said: “We want to find the right mix. It’s a decision we will take by the end of the year.” Alfa is in no rush to decide just yet, especially as the company says this new vehicle will not go on sale until 2027.
And, while Imparato said the car will be developed in the US, a production location has not yet been confirmed. The Alfa boss added: “Producing in the US is not something we have decided and it is something we don’t want to decide now.”

(So basically the same old ALFA rubbish, more airy fairy, no idea, no clue for a production model for something NEW that might arrive in 2027 (5 years away!!!!) and which might be built somewhere by someone at some point.
Maybe.)
 
Last edited:
Tallman

Tallman

Member
Messages
1,833
They came back from the abyss with the 8/4C (Maserati?) and more importantly with the Giulia, a proper rear wheel drive Alfa - the Stelvio wasn’t a bad move either. They mustn’t lose the plot now..
 
Wack61

Wack61

Member
Messages
8,787
It must be a worry for manufacturers, they build global cars these days, with Britain committed to the EV if they build an ICE car they'll only be able to sell it here for a few years

I can't see America & China going electric only for decades if at all so that's their future market if they're considering ICE
 
Nayf

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,746
Tallman said:
They came back from the abyss with the 8/4C (Maserati?) and more importantly with the Giulia, a proper rear wheel drive Alfa - the Stelvio wasn’t a bad move either. They mustn’t lose the plot now..
Click to expand...
No, not really. The Stelvio and Giulia are great cars but sales have been pitiful. Lancia - a company with one car alone, and only sold in Italy - outsold Alfa in the whole of Europe last year.
Sales are similarly dismal in the USA, largely because the leading model is a TTV6 when American loves V8s. BMW found this out with the E39 M6 and E9X M3.
Alfa is pursuing the large car model as fewer cars but with higher margin is the only way to survive with the costs of EV production. In the short to medium term smaller hybrid SUVs like the Tonale are a way to reconnect with traditional Alfa markets in Europe, even if hardcore Alfa nerds like I aren’t interested in SUVs.
 
UlstermanAbroad

UlstermanAbroad

Member
Messages
1,687
If you ask average Americans what's hurting most. They tend to say food and gas prices.
I've watched a lot of such vox pop type interviews over the past several months.
Not scientific. However, when you hear the same answer over and over again, across many
states.....
IMO the end of Giuilietta production leaves a big gap in their offer. I'd forget about the
North American market and focus on South America and Europe instead.
I can recall driving a Toyota Corolla auto saloon in Canada in 1990 and having a Corolla
hatch auto a few years later in the UK. Style-wise they were vanilla. But, they did exactly
what you wanted. They got you from A to B, with no fuss whatsoever.

Subject to market research. If I were in product development in Alfa, I would build a replacement
for the Giuilietta. I'd give it similar styling to the Giuilia. Ensure it had the reliability of the Corolla.
A choice of small, turbo charged, high revving engines. And I'd bring in Lotus or similar, to ensure
great handling. I'd include a hybrid and ensure that it can go fully electric, in the future.
I'd ensure it was subtly designed for ease of use by older drivers, but more overtly designed and marketed
as a compact, ultra economical, fun car to drive.
When I see the latest mini now, I just laugh. And despair. Its anything but a mini. Unless its a mini elephant.
I obviously know little about the car market, the current offering. Or, where trends are going.
But, with an aging population in most developed countries and fuel poverty, I don't think that I'm too wide of the mark. Or, am I way off and missing some fundamentals? :think:
 
Wack61

Wack61

Member
Messages
8,787
UlstermanAbroad said:
If you ask average Americans what's hurting most. They tend to say food and gas prices.
I've watched a lot of such vox pop type interviews over the past several months.
Not scientific. However, when you hear the same answer over and over again, across many
states.....
IMO the end of Giuilietta production leaves a big gap in their offer. I'd forget about the
North American market and focus on South America and Europe instead.
I can recall driving a Toyota Corolla auto saloon in Canada in 1990 and having a Corolla
hatch auto a few years later in the UK. Style-wise they were vanilla. But, they did exactly
what you wanted. They got you from A to B, with no fuss whatsoever.

Subject to market research. If I were in product development in Alfa, I would build a replacement
for the Giuilietta. I'd give it similar styling to the Giuilia. Ensure it had the reliability of the Corolla.
A choice of small, turbo charged, high revving engines. And I'd bring in Lotus or similar, to ensure
great handling. I'd include a hybrid and ensure that it can go fully electric, in the future.
I'd ensure it was subtly designed for ease of use by older drivers, but more overtly designed and marketed
as a compact, ultra economical, fun car to drive.
When I see the latest mini now, I just laugh. And despair. Its anything but a mini. Unless its a mini elephant.
I obviously know little about the car market, the current offering. Or, where trends are going.
But, with an aging population in most developed countries and fuel poverty, I don't think that I'm too wide of the mark. Or, am I way off and missing some fundamentals? :think:
Click to expand...
Gas has always been cheap in the US which is why they've never really worried about economy , going for big & luxurious but increasing prices will change that

This is a vehicle ford sell as a pickup with a second row of seats so for use as a car
104068

It is quite big
104069
 
Oneball

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,106
That’s a Ford F750 it’s a commercial truck not sold as a car even with the double cab.
 
Wack61

Wack61

Member
Messages
8,787
Oneball said:
That’s a Ford F750 it’s a commercial truck not sold as a car even with the double cab.
Click to expand...
F650
Looks like a car , it's a pickup but sold in that spec as a car , nobody is going to a builders merchants in it that's for sure
104099104100
 
Nayf

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,746
UlstermanAbroad said:
Or both. Its seems counter intuitive that Alfa of all marques,
don't have a good offering at sub sub compact (?) and
sub compact levels.
Click to expand...
No margin, particularly with EV.
And why would you choose a small Alfa EV over a Fiat, Abarth or Lancia?
 
UlstermanAbroad

UlstermanAbroad

Member
Messages
1,687
Nayf said:
No margin, particularly with EV.
And why would you choose a small Alfa EV over a Fiat, Abarth or Lancia?
Click to expand...
Thought we were talking about petrol engines. EV, is some way off for the masses?
Abarth, is so niche as not worth considering.
Lancia? Who's that?
I would choose a small Alfa, because its economical, but above all, I would hope,
still offers a spirited drive and has style to match. Different proposition to Fiat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.