[Kink]

So for the 400th time we've been promised a new Giulia saloon, from what I've gathered to date the Giulia will either be similar in size or just bigger than the XE. Considering its supposed to use Maserati architecture and Ferrari V6's I wonder if the Giuilia can offer an enticing enough package to sway people towards the Italians?

Group CEO Sergio Marchionne said at the show there's an entirely new plan for Alfa on the way. He sounded sincere in committing that, two months from now, he would unveil a completely revised plan for the marque.

He said they'd be made in Italy, rear-drive, light, powerful and incredibly beautiful. At times he sounded almost poetic about it all. Trouble is I've asked him this question every time I've seen him for years, and the answer is always jam tomorrow.

 

[1XEJon]

I wont hold my breath, they have confirmed the death of Mito and Guilietta, yet they want us to believe they have a plan for 11 new products, from sports cars, saloons, hatchbacks and SUV's, i fear that unless they can devote a significant sum, in the range of 10 billion euros, Alfa will go the way of Lancia, another great brand given the FIAT treatment and wasted away to nothing.

 

[Kink]

Well I'm hopeful that with RAM and Jeep underwriting the entire operation something swell will come of it. Figure all Alfa really needs is someone to run around pilfering the best bits of other FCA brands, hammer them all together and secure with rubber cement. Finished.

Unfortunately Lancia was never able to recover after murdering Group B in cold blood...

 

[1XEJon]

Alfa will not survive is it is a cut and shut US car, the Alfa brand, although heavily tainted, still has a good IP, even JC from top gear still reckons your not a proper petrol head until you have owned an Alfa.

RAM and JEEP, mmmm, well, if Alfa decides to go down the truck route maybe, but ALFA needs Maserati and Ferrari to get involved, FIAT has bastardised all its brands bar Ferrari, only now, after all these years are they seeing what they have lost, and how things should be.

FIAT markets a Viaggio car, that would do really well in Europe, as would the 2014 UNO, yet they keep them in the Asian market primarily, what does Europe get, a decade old Bravo and Punto, that sells as well as a kettle full of holes, FIAT have lost the plot in Europe and need to get their fingers out and do something about it.

Alfa will be the start, but its going to cost them dear to get to a reasonable standard.

 

[Kingpin]

Alfa does seem to be on to something with the new 4C sports car and they are said to be coming out with many more vehicles. So far everyone is loving their 4C.

 

[Kink]

Alfa will not survive is it is a cut and shut US car, the Alfa brand, although heavily tainted, still has a good IP, even JC from top gear still reckons your not a proper petrol head until you have owned an Alfa.

RAM and JEEP, mmmm, well, if Alfa decides to go down the truck route maybe, but ALFA needs Maserati and Ferrari to get involved, FIAT has bastardised all its brands bar Ferrari, only now, after all these years are they seeing what they have lost, and how things should be.

FIAT markets a Viaggio car, that would do really well in Europe, as would the 2014 UNO, yet they keep them in the Asian market primarily, what does Europe get, a decade old Bravo and Punto, that sells as well as a kettle full of holes, FIAT have lost the plot in Europe and need to get their fingers out and do something about it.

Alfa will be the start, but its going to cost them dear to get to a reasonable standard.

No I did not mean an Alfa truck when i said RAM and Jeep are underwriting the entire operation, I meant profits. Aside from Ferrari, Jeep and RAM are the only two FCA churning out HEAVY profits...

 

[blackonblack]

wonder what it will look like

 

[Kingpin]

Imagine that.... an alfa romeo truck, wouldn't that be interesting.

 

[1XEJon]

does not bare think about, and please dont give FCA and idea's

 

[Kingpin]

I won't
It's best that AR says out of that category, rather they stick to developing refined sports cars and others like it that they have plans for

 

[1XEJon]

I just cant see how they are going to turn it around, without parts binning everything, FIAT just seems to not want to spend the money on AR, but keeps saying they will, I fear its another Rover on the horizon, the 4C and 8C might be amazing, and they are, but not for normal people.

 

[Kingpin]

It's likely because they dont want to take the risk, rather spend money where they know it will get a good return and in a time frame they can be sure about

 

[Winger]

If AR does make a Giulia then I think that it would compete with the XE. Both would be more exclusive than others in the segment, and would probably attract a similar clientele. The Guilia is one of those things that is always going to happen, but never happens so I am not really considering it as a serious thing at the moment. I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[Kingpin]

same here it doesn't seem like they are too focused on the Giulia, i wouldn't pay much attention to it for now.