Alfa Romeo's midsize sedan due in June, and we'll get it

[cawimmer430]

Alfa Romeo's midsize sedan due in June, and we'll get it

As the calendar shifts, so do Alfa Romeo's plans. At the LA Auto Show, Harald Wester, head of Alfa Romeo, said the brand would unveil its second US model – after the 4C – next June, but he wouldn't identify the type of car. A report in Automotive News Europe, quoting sources, says that it will be a midsize sedan in the mold of the erstwhile 159 (pictured) that was supposed to become the Giulia but now has a new brief and perhaps a new name.

"Giulia" should be familiar because we've been hearing about it for more than three years – in fact it was 2011 when it was thrown back on the drawing board for a complete redesign. Last year the plan – or the anonymously-sourced bits of the plan that we kept getting – were for the platform to go rear-wheel drive and do duty for both a BMW 3 Series and 5 Series competitor. ANE's latest intel is that the coming midsize sedan will be come in between the 3 Series and 5 Series – a strategy used by the original Cadillac CTS – slotting in beneath a "flagship sedan" that would fit between the 5 Series and 7 Series. That would appear to contradict a direct challenge to the entry-level segment's standard-bearer, and perhaps the M3, too.

Those two Alfa sedans would be part of an eight-model onslaught happening over the next four years, which is a new matrix compared to April of this year when that was reported to be six models over the next five years. ANE says work has started on three of them, a midsize SUV said to be the third. The push is to get Alfa to 400,000 annual sales – 100,000 more than the April target – with the US accounting for 150,000 of that.


Link: http://www.autoblog.com/2014/11/26/alfa-romeo-midsize-sedan-june-us/

[12,000 RPM]

They made good on the 4C but I dont think there was much hype about it until they actually had it built. Like all automakers' grandiose plans I'll believe it when I see it.

[SVT666]

Their sedans are terribly ugly.

[FoMoJo]

Fiat is, seriously, over-using that fascia.  That car reminds me of that old expression "you can put lipstick on a pig...".

[68_427]

The car in the picture is 10 years old and is not representative of what the car in the article will look like.

[sparkplug]

that is an older looking design from what's I've seen on top gear.

[68_427]

Yeah it hasn't been produced since 2011.

[Payman]

Their sedans are terribly ugly.

We don't know what they'll look like yet.

[SVT666]

Let me rephrase: All their sedans to date, have been terribly ugly.

[12,000 RPM]

If the 4C/8C are any indication of their future design language they may be able to make an impact.

One thing the entry level luxury sedan segment is in desperate need of is some god damn style. Everything ranges from boring (A4, 3, ATS, pre-2015 C Class, Q50, ES, Regal, TLX) to downright bizarre (IS). There's no car in this segment I can say looks GOOD... not just in the $60K 300HP sport trim, but out of the gate across the board. With enough accoutrements a Corolla can look good, that doesn't make it a good looking car. Hopefully Sergio is smart enough to realize that. Given his abuse of the 500's design language I'm guessing no. If he ruins the Panda with that 500 bullshit I'm sticking a fork in FCA.

[FoMoJo]

Yeah it hasn't been produced since 2011.

It was ugly then and it's ugly now.  Let's hope they can do a better job in the future.  Back in their hay-day, Alfas were, always, one of the best looking cars on the road and their fascia was, singularly, distinctive.  You can't just paste that onto a run-of-the-mill appliance and expect it to be an Alfa.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I'd be in if they are RWD, it would be nice to have something in the non luxo mainstream segment that is RWD for us normal's.

[Raza]

What the hell is wrong with you guys?  The 159 is one of the best looking sedans of all time.

[2o6]

What the hell is wrong with you guys?  The 159 is one of the best looking sedans of all time.

I agree....

[68_427]

Alfa 159 picture thread!

[cawimmer430]

There are a lot of Alfa Romeo 159s on the used car market today for decent prices. What are you waiting for? Import one! 

[Payman]

There are a lot of Alfa Romeo 159s on the used car market today for decent prices. What are you waiting for? Import one! 

No can do. Canada is 15 yrs, USA is 25 yrs.

[SVT666]

Looks great...except for the front end. That part is hideous.

[Madman]

Looks great...except for the front end. That part is hideous.

http://www.lenscrafters.com/

[Raza]

Looks great...except for the front end. That part is hideous.

The front end makes me want to cry, for my eyes have gazed upon beauty that may never be surpassed. 

[12,000 RPM]

Importing shouldnt be a problem... just take the engine out and import it as decorative art. Thats about all its good for

[cawimmer430]

No can do. Canada is 15 yrs, USA is 25 yrs.

Solution? Move to Europe. 

[SVT666]

The front end makes me want to cry, for my eyes have gazed upon beauty that may never be surpassed.

Ugly as all hell.

[Tave]

I can see why some people might not like it, being somewhat unconventional, but I agree with Raza that it looks great.

[Payman]

I like it too. Gawd, that black wagon is gorgeous. 

[93JC]

Does anyone give a damn about Alfa Romeo rumours anymore? Even if they did bring their next mid-sized sedan to North America—and I doubt they will, I doubt they'll ever come back to North America—who would buy it? There's no cachet left in North America, they'd be starting from scratch. They would bring nothing new to the table, nothing to build any sort of brand equity upon. Alfa Romeo would get their asses handed to them by the rest of the established players in North America.

The (little) interest they created when they started cockteasing a North American return has completely evaporated in the fifteen years since we first started hearing rumours they were coming back. They took too long.

[2o6]

Does anyone give a damn about Alfa Romeo rumours anymore? Even if they did bring their next mid-sized sedan to North America—and I doubt they will, I doubt they'll ever come back to North America—who would buy it? There's no cachet left in North America, they'd be starting from scratch. They would bring nothing new to the table, nothing to build any sort of brand equity upon. Alfa Romeo would get their asses handed to them by the rest of the established players in North America.

The (little) interest they created when they started cockteasing a North American return has completely evaporated in the fifteen years since we first started hearing rumours they were coming back. They took too long.

To be fair, my local Fiat dealer is now officially an Alfa dealer and has already taken stock of the 4C.

[AutobahnSHO]

Those cars above have a fron end which looks like a sexy sinister Camaro. I like them.