Alfa Romeo auto news

Alfa Romeo MiTo too small for the U.S.?

Small cars have historically struggled in the land of the free, home of the brave. Typically regarded as an afterthought by Detroit, our current domestic crop (Focus, Aveo, Caliber) needs more fertilizer. Imported "penalty boxes" fair somewhat better, but for every Honda Fit there's a Daihatsu Charade. Long story short, profit margins are slim and Americans are big people with big families that drive big distances. However, BMW's new Mini made serious and surprising inroads by giving small car buyers lots of content and high style (and a high price tag). BMW's sold 1.5 million of them, and given the Mini's success, it seems like a no brainer that Alfa Romeo (maybe via Chrysler) would bring the sexy little MiTo to our shores. Italian styling, sporty handling and high MPGs seem like a winning combo. Sadly, no -- maybe.

According to Alfa Romeo CEO Sergio Cravero, the MiTo is, "probably too small for today's U.S. market." In case you're wondering, the MiTo is the size of a Honda Fit. He goes on to say that, "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. That is not enough to make it a viable business case." Worrying about business cases in the U.S. is definitely a new paradigm for Alfa. But we're not going to fret too much, as Alfa Romeos will be making their way to American dealerships sometime in 2011. The first of which will probably be the Milano, a five-door mid-sized hatchback that we'll see at the Geneva Motor Show. Still, regarding the apparent no-show of the MiTo, we're a little bummed.

Gallery: First Drive: Alfa MiTo

REPORT: Alfa MiTo GTA merely postponed, not canceled

Following earlier reports that Alfa Romeo had axed plans to produce the MiTo GTA, the Italian automaker has reportedly clarified that the project has not been canceled completely, just postponed.

The MiTo GTA was unveiled in concept form at this year's Geneva Motor Show. At the time, Alfa said the car would be produced and on the market before the end of the year. Packing a 240hp 1.8-liter turbo four, the GTA was set to revive the company's performance badge with a package priced to undercut the Mini JCW. When harsh economic conditions hit - and Fiat started snapping up assets left and right - the hot hatch program reportedly took a hit. According to sources within the company, though, the automaker is still keen on getting it done... eventually. Certainly, that won't happen before the end of the year.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA

$300k Alfa 8C Spider the most expensive Alfa Romeo in history?

Alfa Rome 8C Spider - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you're hoping to get your hands on an Alfa 8C Spider, well... take a number, because really - who doesn't? The open-air version of the highly coveted - and almost universally admired - 8C Competizione, the 8C Spider is a product of pure demand. But with only 500 examples set to be produced and just 35 of those destined for American shores, only a handful of eligible parties will get them. And those Yanks who are lucky enough to do so do will have to pay at least $299,000 for the privilege.

That list price alone - confirmed to Autoblog courtesy of Maserati North America (which is handling the model's distribution) - makes the 8C Spider the most expensive production Alfa ever. But with demand far outstripping supply, you can bet most of them will be trading hands at far higher prices than that - at least in the short term. That's is no mean feat considering present economic conditions.

Gallery: Alfa Romeo 8C Spider

REPORT: Alfa Romeo cancels MiTo GTA hot hatch

Alfa MiTo GTA concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Oh, Alfa. We had such high hopes for you. The stoic Italian marque, it seemed, had wandered too far from its roots as a performance-oriented automaker anchored by decades of racing dominance. Heart-pumping roadsters gave way to mushy econo-boxes. And then came the 8C Competizione, whose dynamics may not be as inspiring as its looks (how could it?), but it signaled what we hoped was a new dawn for the resurgent automaker, even if it remained entirely out of reach for the common man.

Then Alfa followed up with the MiTo GTA, a positively drool-inducing hot hatch that debuted in concept form a few months ago at the Geneva Motor Show. Packing a 230-hp turbo four in an aggressive carbon fiber shell, the MiTo GTA looked nothing less than menacing. It was just a show car at the time, but Alfa said it would go into production by the end of the year. Well, according to emerging reports, that may not happen any time soon, if ever. Due to the financial crisis, Alfa has reportedly put the MiTo GTA on an indefinite hold. Does that mean it's been killed? Well, not necessarily, but we wouldn't recommend holding your breath. We'd save that for a hot lap behind the wheel... which may never come.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA

Spy Shots: Alfa Romeo Milano fresh off production line... still headed for America?

We're not entirely sure where they originated, but some brazen soul has taken a series of camera phone photos of what appears to be a brace of production-line Alfa Romeo Milano hatchbacks. Although low-res, these shots provide the best look yet at the Italian automaker's forthcoming model, with blurry glimpses inside-and-out of what looks for all the world like a plus-sized MiTo (not a bad thing). From the appearance of things, the shots were taken in an Alfa production facility (they're likely early production small batch cars), suggesting that the model is nearly ready for its debut... perhaps in Frankfurt?

The voluptuous five-door certainly integrates styling cues from the smaller MiTo (which itself sought design assistance from the gorgeous 8C Competizione supercar), particularly up front, but the rear end eschews the Mito's traditional round brakelamps for larger, whistle-shaped horizontally oriented units. In typical Alfa fashion, the hatchback also receives a handsome looking instrument panel with a pair of tunneled main gauges (speedometer and tachometer), as well as simple rotary controls for the HVAC system and plenty of metal (or metal-effect) trim.

As you may recall, the Milano was reportedly one of the vehicles named in internal documents as one of the offerings that Alfa will use to spearhead the automaker's return to North American soil. There has been some discussion that Stateside model plans between Fiat, Chrysler, and Alfa will be tweaked, but as far as we know, the hatch is still a solid bet for the U.S. market. Thanks for the tips, everyone!

Gallery: Alfa Romeo Milano production spy shots

REPORT: Dodges to be rebranded as Alfa Romeos in Europe

With the ink still wet on the Fiat/Chrysler deal, many auto sites (including Autoblog) have had a bit of fun prognosticating which Fiat/Alfa models would be rebadged as Chrysler products. U.K. site Autocar is reporting that Fiat is exploring bringing in Dodge models to Europe to be rebadged at Alfa Romeos. CEO Sergio Marchionne is said to be considering the move, saying that the two brands share the same core identity.

Autocar quotes Marchionne as saying that Dodge is the muscle car of the U.S. while Alfa is the muscle car of Europe, the latter being an interesting bit of positioning that we Statesiders don't normally associate with the brand. If the right Dodge-branded products were to make their way to Europe, the theory is that the Auburn Hills marque could actually bolster the products already offered by Alfa. The problem is, though, that there are few (if any) Dodge models that could reasonably be expected to perform well in Europe. The only models that are likely to be of interest are the Charger, Viper and Challenger, and the there is a chance that the Viper could soon find itself outside of the Chrysler portfolio altogether. The Charger and Challenger are likely too big for Europe as well, and would probably only sell in small numbers.

Marchionne also tells Autocar that the Chrysler group is still losing money, but the rate has slowed due to production and labor cuts.

REPORT: Alfa Romeo to lead American charge, Fiat 500 to go it alone

With Maserati and Ferrari already present in North America and Lancia offering little to entice North American buyers, the Italian side of the partnership looks poised to enter the market with Fiat and Alfa Romeo models. However, while future Chryslers, Dodges and Jeeps will share underpinnings with their Fiat and Alfa Romeo counterparts - including an Alfa GTX to be based on the new Jeep Grand Cherokee - the Fiat brand itself will have a very limited presence in the North American market, offering only the 500 retro hatchback as a stand-alone model... not unlike BMW's Mini brand. Other Fiat models will carry Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep badges, while Alfa Romeo will take the higher profile on this side of the Atlantic, offering cars under the stoic marque to compete with other European luxury brands. As the Freep points out, Chrysler and Alfa had collaborated in the early '90s to bring Alfas Stateside with limited success, but Marchionne evidently thinks it'll have better luck this time around.

Chrysler pondering whether Sebring/Avenger replacements should go rear-wheel drive?

Setting the Challenger and 300 aside, what Chrysler needs now most of all is a C/D segment car that moves more metal than the pitiful performance of its current offerings. According to Automotive News, Chrysler shifted just 133,626 of its Sebring and Dodge Avenger platform-mates, a number that pales in comparison to class leaders like the Toyota Camry (436,617) and Honda Accord (372,789). The constant clamor to put the 200C concept into production in some form has got Chrysler looking for ways to make that car a reality, but finding a platform that will play on Main Street is a thorny little chestnut.

Replacing the universally jeered Sebring and Dodge Avenger (and their Mitsubishi platform) by going rear-wheel drive is a possibility. The 200C show car sat on a shortened version of the LX platform, in theory inviting both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations. Fiat's D-Evo platform, debuting with the replacement for Alfa Romeo's 159, is another possibility, but there are concerns it may not be flexible enough to grow to the size the 200C needs. Fiat's bid for General Motors' Opel unit brought with it speculation that the 200C could snag the Epsilon platform, but that's since fallen off the radar.

While a rear-drive Chrysler midsizer sporting the sharp exterior and interior design of the 200C and priced like a Fusion would be something distinctive, the sales case for such a departure from the class-norm of FWD remains yet to be convincingly argued. Tuned properly, such a vehicle could give much higher-zoot iron a run for its money, and performance enthusiasts likely would embrace such a model; though they may not actually buy one. Chrysler needs to close sales, not set internet chatrooms abuzz, so regardless of how it comes to market, the 200C must be more fully realized than the current Chrysler midsizers.

Gallery: Chrysler 200C Concept

Future Chrysler, Alfa Romeo and Fiat product plans revealed?

According to automotive consulting firm IHS Global Insight, the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep lineups are going to look drastically different over the next few years under Fiat control. No surprises there, but the report goes on the forecast which current Chrysler vehicles will be dropped and which ones will be transferred to new platforms. We've already heard that the next Alfa Romeo 169 sedan will be built atop Chrysler's LX platform in Ontario, Canada and that the Fiat 500 will be built ASAP in Toluca, Mexico, but that's only the beginning.

If IHS is right, joining the 500 in Toluca will be the Jeep Panda, which, as you may have guessed, will be a version of the Fiat Panda wearing Jeep's trademark seven-slot grille. Furthermore, Alfa Romeo may get two new SUVs that would be built in Jeep factories in Jefferson, Michigan and Toledo, Ohio - one midsize 'ute called the GTX that's based on the WL platform that underpins the Jeep Grand Cherokee and a smaller one built on Fiat's C-EVO platform, which will also underpin the next Jeep Liberty. That leaves the unloved Jeep Compass and its somewhat more likable brother, the Patriot, to die slow and inglorious death.

Fiat's C-EVO platform will also spawn the next-gen Dodge Journey, Chrysler Sebring (and presumably the Dodge Avenger if it survives past its current form), and Dodge Caliber. Moving downward in size a notch will (finally) be the Dodge Hornet, which will forgo Bad Chrysler's old deal with Nissan in order to share its Fiat 199 platform with the Alfa Romeo MiTo, both of which will be assembled in Belvidere, Illinois sometime in 2011. Thanks for the tip, Dad!

Gallery: Alfa Romeo Kamal concept

Alfa Romeo to build 169 sedan on same platform as Chrysler 300... in Ontario, eh?

According to a new report in Financial Post, Alfa Romeo may build its forthcoming 169 sedan in Chrysler LLC's Brampton, Ontario facility - a development made possible by the latter's tie-up with Fiat (which owns Alfa). The article cites a projection by automotive research firm IHS Global Insight that states that the 169 will be built on the same underpinnings with the next Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger. That news would make sense as Alfa was reportedly shopping for a rear-drive platform that could be sold in North America as early as a year ago.

If IHS' report is accurate and production on an Ontario-assembled 169 indeed comes to pass, it would mark the first time that a premium European luxury auto is assembled in Canada.