Alfa Romeo CEO: MiTo probably not headed to U.S.

[SVT666]

Alfa Romeo CEO: MiTo probably not headed to U.S.
07/27/2009, 12:00 PMBY ANDREW GANZ

 


Though a surge of Alfa Romeo products is on the horizon for the North American market, thanks to Fiat?s acquisition of Chrysler, the entry-level MiTo hatchback apparently won?t be making the overseas journey. The automaker?s CEO, Sergio Cravero, said that the company?s sales projections for North America are too small to realistically include the MiTo.

Among Europe?s most upscale compact hatchbacks, the MiTo features styling derivative of the 8C Competizione sports car but is based on a more pedestrian front-wheel-drive platform.

?A preliminary product assessment for a sporty three-door small hatchback showed potential volumes in the U.S. right now are roughly 20,000 units a year,? Cravero said. ?That is not enough to make it a viable business case.?

Alfa Romeo will instead anchor the bottom end of its lineup with the Milano, likely sold overseas as the 149. A five-door hatchback ? and possibly a four-door sedan ? it will debut next March at the Geneva Motor Show before going on sale in North America about a year from now.

Cravero said that the MiTo?s chances of coming to North America are unlikely to change unless buyers shift their interest towards small cars.

[SVT666]

I wish they would just fucking decide.  They announced it is coming, now they say it's not.

[2o6]

Yay!

[Yawn]

lol i thought I read last week that Marchione will be bringing the Mito with the 500.. lol

[nickdrinkwater]

Trust me, the Mito really isn't all that to look at.

[Pommes-T]

Trust me, the Mito really isn't all that to look at.

+1

[SVT666]

Yay!

The fact that you hate it, makes me want it even more.

[TBR]

Eh, I don't know why they would bring both this and the 500 over, too similar considering how small the premium small car market is in the USA.

[CALL_911]

Eh, I don't know why they would bring both this and the 500 over, too similar considering how small the premium small car market is in the USA.

+1

Whatever, that's fine. Just so long as other Alfas will make their way here.

[TBR]

+1

Whatever, that's fine. Just so long as other Alfas will make their way here.

I'd much, much rather have the 159 come over rather than the Mito. Now that is a gorgeous car.

[cawimmer430]

I'd much, much rather have the 159 come over rather than the Mito. Now that is a gorgeous car.

Consumer Reports will tear it apart and recommend the Camry!!! 

[TBR]

Consumer Reports will tear it apart and recommend the Camry!!! 

They might tear it apart, but it is more likely they would recommend a BMW 3-series.

[NomisR]

They might tear it apart, but it is more likely they would recommend a BMW 3-series.

He said CR, not Car and Driver.

[cawimmer430]

The folks at CR need to get it out of their heads that reliability is the all important factor. 

[2o6]

The folks at CR need to get it out of their heads that reliability is the all important factor. 

With the amount of driving, and how un involved Americans want to be in the driving experience, reliability IS the all important factor. They'll take a slow, boring car over a "soulful" car if it starts and drives.

[CALL_911]

I'd much, much rather have the 159 come over rather than the Mito. Now that is a gorgeous car.

I'd rather have the Milano.

But I'd love for the 159 to come over.

[the Teuton]

Who's to say that Alfa will have that much cache when it comes back to the US?  Besides enthusiasts, who really remembers Alfa Romeo here?

[MX793]

Trust me, the Mito really isn't all that to look at.

It can't be any worse than the Nissan Versa.  Of course, it probably also won't be nearly as inexpensive either.

[Raza]

The fact that you hate it, makes me want it even more.

Same thing with me and the Twingo 133.

[TBR]

He said CR, not Car and Driver.

Right. They don't recommend the Camry for every market segment. Truth be told, I don't know what their entry-lux sports sedan of choice is right now (I kind of guessed that it was the most boring option), but it certainly isn't the Camry.

[Madman]

Who's to say that Alfa will have that much cache when it comes back to the US?  Besides enthusiasts, who really remembers Alfa Romeo here?

I think there's a lot of truth in that statement.  Whenever I mention Alfa Romeo to (non-car) people, they seem to have the impression that it's some sort of super exotic on par with Ferrari and Lamborghini.  They're certainly not thinking of small affordable hatchbacks.

Still, it sucks that Alfa won't be bringing the Mito over.  I guess they're more than happy letting BMW make money hand-over-fist thanks to all the MINIs they're selling in the US?  I expect Sergio will be getting a "Thank You" letter from Munich very soon!


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[nickdrinkwater]

It can't be any worse than the Nissan Versa.  Of course, it probably also won't be nearly as inexpensive either.

Yeah the Versa is pretty ugly.  I've spent quite a lot time around Tiidas (which I presume are identical?) and the sedan version is the most horrifying.  The hatch is bad but not as bad as the sedan.

[NomisR]

Right. They don't recommend the Camry for every market segment. Truth be told, I don't know what their entry-lux sports sedan of choice is right now (I kind of guessed that it was the most boring option), but it certainly isn't the Camry.

ES350 probably.. which is the same thing..

[cawimmer430]

With the amount of driving, and how un involved Americans want to be in the driving experience, reliability IS the all important factor. They'll take a slow, boring car over a "soulful" car if it starts and drives.

Reliability is important here too, but our sources don't overblow it like CR tends to do it. 

[2o6]

Reliability is important here too, but our sources don't overblow it like CR tends to do it. 

We depend on our cars more. Aside from places like NY and LA, Public transit sucks. You need a car that is reliable and will start everyday to get to work.

[cawimmer430]

We depend on our cars more. Aside from places like NY and LA, Public transit sucks. You need a car that is reliable and will start everyday to get to work.

But why is a Ford Explorer unreliable because the trunk door won't open fully when the rear is parked so close to your garage wall? Or why is a Hummer H2 a "poor quality" car because of its bad fuel economy? CR has issues, seriously.

[2o6]

But why is a Ford Explorer unreliable because the trunk door won't open fully when the rear is parked so close to your garage wall? Or why is a Hummer H2 a "poor quality" car because of its bad fuel economy? CR has issues, seriously.

Pulling an iffy:



Sources.


CR is unrealistic and boring, but that's something they don't do.

[cawimmer430]

Pulling an iffy:



Sources.


CR is unrealistic and boring, but that's something they don't do.

It was posted all over C&D many years ago in the forums.

[2o6]

It was posted all over C&D many years ago in the forums.

I'm not from C&D.

[cawimmer430]

I'm not from C&D.

Then you missed it. It was a big deal over there and people couldn't believe that CR rated cars based on what some retarded owners reported. Either way, I think many people consider CR as a sort of light guide but not to be taken too seriously. Am I right?