Alfa Romeo CEO confirms talks with Chrysler
By Yoann Besnard on 30 May 2008 | 
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Firstly, rumour had mentioned that Fiat entered into talks with Chrysler over the possibility to produce Alfa Romeo models in the US. Then, Chrysler denied the allegations. In a third round, Luca de Meo confirms Fiat is discussing with the American carmaker about varied cooperations.
See also : Alfa Romeo | Chrysler
SUV in 2010 for Alfa
By Yoann Besnard on 23 May 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Alfa Romeo’s CEO has unveiled the future direction for the Italian marque in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport.
See also : 4x4 | Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia Special Edition
By Yoann Besnard on 17 May 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
The Italian carmaker has released another special edition of its Spider model.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Mi.To: more images of the interior
By Yoann Besnard on 13 May 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Here are new pictures of the Alfa Romeo Mi.To revealing the interior.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Fiat interested in Mexico for a plant
By Yoann Besnard on 12 May 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
In addition to discussing with Chrysler to build Alfa Romeo models in the US, Fiat is also considering building an all-new factory in Mexico.
See also : Alfa Romeo | Fiat | Industry News
Alfa Romeo Mi.To interior revealed
By Yoann Besnard on 12 May 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Here is the first unofficial picture of the interior of the Alfa Romeo Mi.To set to compete with the Mini's British interior.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo announces Prodrive collaboration
By Yoann Besnard on 8 May 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
In an attempt to increase its sales and improve its brand image on the British market, the Italian carmaker has teamed up with Prodrive, to evolve the handling of the Alfa Brera coupe, specifically for our market.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo launches a Spider Limited Edition
By Yoann Besnard on 30 April 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
The Italian carmaker has unveiled a limited edition of its Spider featuring extra equipments at no cost.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Mi.To's dashboard revealed
By Yoann Besnard on 26 April 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
A picture of the interior of the Alfa Romeo Mi.To has emerged on the Internet.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Chrysler to build Alfa Romeos in the U.S. for Fiat?
By Yoann Besnard on 21 April 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
After BMW, Chrysler is cited as a future partner for Alfa Romeo to build the Italian marque’s models in the US.
See also : Alfa Romeo | Chrysler
Alfa Romeo to team up with Jaguar?
By Yoann Besnard on 11 April 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Alfa Romeo and Jaguar might team up to compete with the German clique according to company sources.
See also : Alfa Romeo | Jaguar
Franck Stephenson quits Alfa Romeo
By Yoann Besnard on 2 April 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
In an interview given to Autoweek, Alfa Romeo head of design Franck Stephenson confirms he quits the carmaker. The news doesn’t come as a surprise. Former head of design at Fiat, he had been nominated at Alfa Romeo after being replaced by Lorenzo Ramaciotti. Observers were wondering how long it would take him to resign.
See also : Alfa Romeo
BMW might build Alfa Romeos in the US
By Yoann Besnard on 28 March 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
According to Fiat sources, BMW will start producing Alfa Romeo models in its American factory in 2011.
See also : Alfa Romeo | BMW
Video: Alfa Romeo 159 GTA
By Yoann Besnard on 27 March 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Here is a video of the expected but not confirmed future Alfa Romeo 159 GTA likely to be powered by a Maserati V8 engine.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Video: Alfa Romeo Mi.To to look from every angle
By Yoann Besnard on 26 March 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Alfa Romeo has released a video of the new Mi.To small car in which an Italian guy has been invited to the Alfa Romeo Centro Stile to get a look a the new baby Alfa.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo unveils the Mi.To
By Yoann Besnard on 17 March 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Ahead of the schedule, Alfa Romeo has released the first official pictures of the long-awaited baby Alfa called Mi.To.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Baby Alfa to be called Mito
By Yoann Besnard on 29 February 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
The future small Alfa Romeo or Progetto955 came under the spotlights as two information were revealed: the baby Alfa night be christened Mito and will be unveiled to the dealer ship on March 18th.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo unveils the revamped 159
By Yoann Besnard on 21 February 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Along the 8C Spider, Alfa Romeo will unveil a slightly revamped 159 model whose main interest will be its weight loss.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo unveils the 8C Spider
By Yoann Besnard on 20 February 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Here are the official pictures of the production Alfa Romeo 8C spider which won’t hit the showrooms before next year.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Interior of the baby Alfa revealed
By Yoann Besnard on 17 February 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
This umpteenth round of spy photos shows the only element of the Alfa Romeo Junior remained hidden until now: the interior.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Rendering of the future baby Alfa by Quattroruote
By Yoann Besnard on 14 February 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
The Italian magazine some spyshots and renderings of the future small Alfa due to be launched at the next Paris Motor Show.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo to launch a Duetto roadster in 2010
By Yoann Besnard on 11 February 2008 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Alfa Romeo is seriously considering launching a small roadster on the American market in 2010. Dubbed Duetto, the Italian roadster will try to spearhead a revival of the eponym model launched in the sixties.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo 169 to share platform
By Yoann Besnard on 18 December 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
In an interview Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has said that the future Alfa Romeo will share its platform with another car maker to cut cost. Fiat is in talks with several manufacturers and a decision will be taken in next January.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Fiat is planning a factory in the US
By Yoann Besnard on 13 December 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
In an interview with Automotive News Europe, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has revealed that Alfa Romeo might build a new factory in the US in order to counter-balance the weak dollar. “It was already expensive when the dollar was 1.10 to the euro; now it is more expensive,“ he told the magazine.
See also : Alfa Romeo | Fiat
Ex-Mussolini Alfa to be auctioned
By Yoann Besnard on 12 December 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
H&H Classic Auctions will auction a 1935 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Pescara Spyder that belonged to Benito Mussolini on February 27 next year.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Sergio Marchionne stays and has appointed Luca De Meo new Alfa Romeo's CEO
By Yoann Besnard on 12 December 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
After Antonio Baravalle's resignation from its CEO position at Alfa Romeo, a rumour emerged about the departure of Sergio Marchionne. The Fiat CEO ruled it out in an interview and announced that Luca De Meo will be the new Alfa's CEO.
See also : Alfa Romeo | Fiat
Antonio Baravalle leaves Alfa Romeo
By Yoann Besnard on 10 December 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Antonio Baravalle left Alfa Romeo to become CEO of the Mundadori media group. Fiat refused to comment on his departure, but it is rumoured that Baravalle left on his own. It is rumoured that Alfa Romeo is Fiat's biggest money loser according to Automotive News Europe. A change of CEO might not be the best news for the Italian brand. Aware of the problem, Fiat is looking for a replacement within the company.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo might call the baby Alfa 'Furiosa'
By Yoann Besnard on 21 November 2007 | (2) Comments | Permalink
In conjunction with a few leading European car magazines, Alfa Romeo launched a naming contest for its future supermini six weeks ago. The emotive marque allowed users of national websites to choose their favourite name among a shortlist of 12 names. In the end, Furiosa came out on top. It does not mean that the next baby Alfa will get this name. Indeed, according to Autocar, one of the company's sources said that “it [Furiosa] doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, does it?”
See also : Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione enters the £100,000 club
By Yoann Besnard on 17 July 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
The 8C Competizione is indubitably one of the nicest supercars in the world. Alfa Romeo succeeded in designing a supercar that does not look like a monster and pays tribute to the best of Italian design. But up until now have not known how much it costs. Now, thanks to Autoblog.com, I am sure that I cannot afford one: the 8C Competizione carries the impressive price tag of £108,000/€159,300/$220,000.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo will produce the 8C Spider
By Yoann Besnard on 4 July 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
According to the Italian magazine Quattroruote, Alfa Romeo will produce the magnificent 8C Spider that appeared for the first time at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Five hundred are scheduled to be built from 2008 and sold at €180,000/$245,000/£120,000.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Frank Stephenson, head of design at Alfa Romeo
By Yoann Besnard on 19 June 2007 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Frank Stephenson, who recently lost his job as head of design at Fiat, has been appointed for the same position at Alfa Romeo. He will replace Wolfgang Egger who joined Audi. Gossipmongers will say he was given the job because it was too expensive to fire him, but we prefer to think he had the job thanks to his talent.
See also : Alfa Romeo
159 SW underway
By Stéphane Schlesinger on 28 June 2005 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Alfa Romeo could not escape replacing the stylish 156 SW. In a few months, it’ll be done as these spyshots indicate it. Like the 156, the 159 SW will rely more on style than on boot capacity, but then, an Alfa is not made for carrying heavy loads, except on the accelerator. Apparently, both Giugiaro and the Alfa Centro Stile did a great job, and once again, Alfa’s estate (call it Sportwagon) should stand out by its elegance, besides, it might not be longer than the saloon. Alfa targeting Audi and BMW, quality will have to be beyond any reproach, but we can expect prices to rise. The 159 Sportwagon should officially be released for the Frankfurt motor show.
Thanks to www.autopareri.com for the photos.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Brera in Goodwood
By Stéphane Schlesinger on 22 June 2005 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Alfa Romeo will bring its highly desirable Brera in the Goodwood Festival of Speed on 24-26 June. This beauty, built upon the same platform as the new 159, is the incarnation of the splendid prototype created by Giugiaro in 2002. Alfa has not betrayed the original prototype. Unveiled in the last Geneva Motorshow, the Alfa Brera will offer 3 engines: a 2.2 litre 4-in-line delivering 185bhp, a 200bhp diesel 2.4 litre five-in-line and a 260bhp 3.2 V6, all already seen on the 159. The production of this 440cm-long coupe will debut early July and it’ll probably hit British showrooms in 2006, at a minimum price of nearly £25,000. However, one might wonder why Alfa has been granted 2 coupes, the GT and the Brera, while Lancia has none.
As a sponsor of the renowned festival, Alfa Romeo will display mythical cars such as the P2, Fangio’s 159 Alfetta, the 8C Le Mans, a 33 Le Mans, a 1750 Gran Sport and even a 6C 2300B. Of course, the new 159 will be there too.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Deeper into the Alfa 159
By Stéphane Schlesinger on 14 June 2005 | (2) Comments | Permalink
On June 13, Alfa Romeo released detailed official information about the oncoming 159. We may have already presented the car that’s to take over the 156 quite thoroughly, we can add a few details though. 156 met an impressive success, with 680,000 copies produced between 1997 and 2005, and was the starting point of Alfa’s renewal. They cannot mess up with the 159. Alfa promises optimum quality and safety levels, a better handling and drive and a more flexible cockpit. The contrary would have been quite amazing.
At last, Alfa’s saloon receives a split/fold rear bench, a TFT screen monitoring the stereo and the navigation and numerous storage units. A tri-zone aircon will be offered on highest versions. 8 airbags will protect the passengers, besides, Alfa has implanted airbags protecting the knees. The company hopes the 159 will be granted 5 stars by the EuroNcap.
The dynamic safety of the car should be guaranteed by double wishbones for the front suspension a multilink at the rear and an excellent torsional rigidity of the bodyshell, elaborated on the Premium platform. With 180,000 daNm/rad, Alfa claims it’s the best in its segment.
As for the engines, we had already mentioned what they would be like, the only thing being that the 3.2 unit will develop 260bhp. This engine can be coupled with a 4WD transmission.
There are a few drawbacks though. Being bigger than its predecessor, the 159 will also weight a lot more: from 1480 to 1740kg. An average increase of 200kg! This should have bad consequences on the fuel consumption as well as on prices.
As a beginning, the 159 will be available in 2 outfits, the quality of which also depending on the engine they come with. The lower trim includes electric mirrors and windows, an air-con, 16’’ alloys, ABS, VDC (Alfa’s ESP), 7 airbags, an 8-hp CD stereo and a trip computer. Strangely enough, the foldable rear bench remains optional on every version. All models receive a 6-speed gearbox.
In a few months’ time, the Sport Wagon will be released and a common-rail Multijet V6 3.0 engine will crown the diesel range. Thus, Alfa hopes to compete more efficiently with the Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class, BMW 3-Series and Volvo S40.
See also : Alfa Romeo
Alfa 159's prices make a BMW look cheap
By Stéphane Schlesinger on 3 June 2005 | (0) Comments | Permalink
Presented at the Geneva Motorshow, the Alfa Romeo 159 is about to go on sale. This executive car will replace the ageing but still beautiful 156.
Built on the “Premium” platform co-developed with GM and drawn by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the 159 offers a very elegant styling and powerful engines, even if those burning petrol might upset the Alfisti.
Indeed, they are elaborated from GM blocks, the Italian engineers having totally re-designed the cylinder heads and pistons though.
3 of them will be available: 1.9JTS, 2.2 JTS and 3.2 JTS, all fitted with direct injection and Twin Phaser technology. Powers vary from 160 to 250bhp.
As for the diesel units, they all derive from the existing 1.9 and 2.4 MJTD, except the new VM-designed 3.0 V6, which is to come later.The 1.9 8V delivers 120bhp, the 1.9 16V 150 and the 2.4 20V 200.
But passing from the 156 to the 159 will not be so easy for customers. No matter if the 159 is far bigger than the 156 (466 cm vs. 444 cm), it’s also a great deal more expensive, with a basic price estimated at £20,000 vs. £16,370 for the 158 1.8 TS!
By way of example, here are the price estimations for Switzerland and Italy:
159 1.9JTS Progression 38.000 CHF, 29.000 €
159 2.2JTS Progression 40.000 CHF, 30.500 €
159 3.2JTS Q4 Distinctive 52.000 CHF, 39.500 €
159 1.9JTDm Progression 38.000 CHF, 29.000 €
159 1.9JTDm Progression 40.000 CHF, 30.500 €
159 2.4JTDm Distinctive 46.000 CHF, 35.000 €
Let’s hope these prices will drop, otherwise, if compared to the BMW 3-Series, the 159 would be penalised by its expected higher depreciation, even if quality seems to be the same level as a BMW's at first sight. Besides, many 156 owners could be tempted not to replace their car with a costly 159 and, for example, buy a cheaper Peugeot 407 instead.
See also : Alfa Romeo
