RE: Alfa Romeo's first EV is exactly what you'd expect
Discussion
As others have said, the worst bit about this is just that it offers no excitement or standout Alfa character. Is it a Renault? Is it a Vauxhall? It’s not bad, just generic except for some signature lights (but that now wrap around like a Captur…)
There was a time I could watch passing cars and name every one of them from their stance or silhouette. Now it’s just “small crossover”, “mid size SUV”, “another small crossover”, etc…
I am an Alfa fan but sadly this hardly registers as newsworthy.
It’s a sad day when the most distinctive cars on the road are Hyundais and Kias (although they often make me think “what was their design team smoking?”). But at least they differentiate from the masses…
There was a time I could watch passing cars and name every one of them from their stance or silhouette. Now it’s just “small crossover”, “mid size SUV”, “another small crossover”, etc…
I am an Alfa fan but sadly this hardly registers as newsworthy.
It’s a sad day when the most distinctive cars on the road are Hyundais and Kias (although they often make me think “what was their design team smoking?”). But at least they differentiate from the masses…
bmv6197 said:
There was a time I could watch passing cars and name every one of them from their stance or silhouette. Now it’s just “small crossover”, “mid size SUV”, “another small crossover”, etc…
This is quite a challenge for the electric era. Aero efficiency means that everything in a given segment will have similar proportions because range is the biggest driver of form right now. So designers need to find other ways to build a unique identity out of a generic platform. The problem is when designers have to try too hard, you get monstrosities like that grille, or the last Ford Scorpio, for example.
However, the difference between the Scorpio and modern cars is the need to consider diverse market tastes. My impression of the new Alfa grille can best be described as "That's f
king awful" but will it be received positively in emerging markets and by people who will actually take out a PCP on one in BRIC countries, or in the USA where Stellantis are keen to make a foothold? I found it hard to believe that it will buy time will tell.VW learned in the the early 00's that you can't just have identical platforms, stick an Audi badge on it and expect people to pay double the price of a Skoda unless you do something else to differentiate them well. Stellantis need to learn from that VW group experience, and quickly, in order for any meaningful Alfa Romeo revival.
Otherwise, as another poster has suggested, why wouldn't you buy a (better-resolved) Vauxhall Mokka instead?
I think you've probably got to compare it against, say, the Giulietta or Mito, which were cheaper volume cars that stylistically didn't exactly set the world alight - rather than the more interesting products. In other words I don't necessarily think the expectations for this were all that high.
On that basis I think it remains to be seen what the Stellantis consolidation effect will be on things like the new Giulia.
On that basis I think it remains to be seen what the Stellantis consolidation effect will be on things like the new Giulia.
Alfa cant win unfortunately. They make beautiful cars with classic lines and yet nobody buys them, something about rust and electrics that harks back to the 1970s. So they change tact and make something more generic in the aim to increase volume to make a profit to survive as a business and they get slated for not making beautiful cars. I agree this doesn`t look typically Alfa but its certainly better to look at than a Nissan Juke which sold by the bucket loads.
I really do hope this sells in high volumes so Alfa can get back to making coupes/spiders/sportwagons etc otherwise I think Alfa, like Lancia before it will slowly die out.
I really do hope this sells in high volumes so Alfa can get back to making coupes/spiders/sportwagons etc otherwise I think Alfa, like Lancia before it will slowly die out.
jrock78 said:
Alfa cant win unfortunately. They make beautiful cars with classic lines and yet nobody buys them, something about rust and electrics that harks back to the 1970s. So they change tact and make something more generic in the aim to increase volume to make a profit to survive as a business and they get slated for not making beautiful cars. I agree this doesn`t look typically Alfa but its certainly better to look at than a Nissan Juke which sold by the bucket loads.
I really do hope this sells in high volumes so Alfa can get back to making coupes/spiders/sportwagons etc otherwise I think Alfa, like Lancia before it will slowly die out.
I sort of agree, it certainly stands out from some of the other small crossovers, I actually quite like some of the details. However, I can't see them selling coupes and spiders for a while yet as no one is buying many from any of the other brands.I really do hope this sells in high volumes so Alfa can get back to making coupes/spiders/sportwagons etc otherwise I think Alfa, like Lancia before it will slowly die out.
MarkJS said:
george123 said:
stevemcs said:
An electric Alfa, what could possibly go wrong.
Ah the old ones …If so, it's far from an Alfa in the normal sense I'm guessing. It probably shouldn't be a reflection on Alfa if it's got shoddy build quality or is unreliable. Anyway it won't matter, I suspect most sales will go to people that have never owned an Alfa previously but want an EV and like idea that it's marketed as an Alfa.
theplayingmantis said:
yeah because alfas so unreliable these days....!
the comments on any new car are 95% nonsense on PH as there not old sheds or 2nd hand or not cheap enough on the monthlies so vast majority of PH commenters are not in the market, or indeed the target, yet say they should have done this or that or they hate its looks, but these people will still never buy them...there are always a few sensible posts amongst the sea of nonsense, but its hard work. this bit is is not aimed at you toni as you usually make intelligent comments.
the car looks ok for what it is in the segment its in, but will live and die on the costs, and likely will die as wont be as cheap as the asians (nor the saturation given the dealer network in the UK) or non germans, but lacks the brand snobbery for 95% of joe public who would rather have a small premium german. Such is the ubiquitousness of the small electric merc 'suv', always driven incredibly poorly. But then the Uk is not an important market for AR, hence the constant empty promises about expanding/improving dealers.
I would actually try this as a runaround/citycar if it drove ok as it looks a bit different and quirky which is needed in the segment and price within reason isn't a factor, however i'm a small minority, and its will never sell in volume.
the styling is an improvement on the huge missed opportunity of the tonale, and to a lesser extent stelvio which are quite generic and ugly in the metal.
Hmm..not quite. the comments on any new car are 95% nonsense on PH as there not old sheds or 2nd hand or not cheap enough on the monthlies so vast majority of PH commenters are not in the market, or indeed the target, yet say they should have done this or that or they hate its looks, but these people will still never buy them...there are always a few sensible posts amongst the sea of nonsense, but its hard work. this bit is is not aimed at you toni as you usually make intelligent comments.
the car looks ok for what it is in the segment its in, but will live and die on the costs, and likely will die as wont be as cheap as the asians (nor the saturation given the dealer network in the UK) or non germans, but lacks the brand snobbery for 95% of joe public who would rather have a small premium german. Such is the ubiquitousness of the small electric merc 'suv', always driven incredibly poorly. But then the Uk is not an important market for AR, hence the constant empty promises about expanding/improving dealers.
I would actually try this as a runaround/citycar if it drove ok as it looks a bit different and quirky which is needed in the segment and price within reason isn't a factor, however i'm a small minority, and its will never sell in volume.
the styling is an improvement on the huge missed opportunity of the tonale, and to a lesser extent stelvio which are quite generic and ugly in the metal.
This is exactly the sort of car that should have got me back into an Alfa showroom again with intent (was in there last seriously looking at Tonale) but no.
I'd be happy putting our money into their product for exactly for the reason I'm an anti-badge snob, nothing "premium German" in our household or white coloured or with fake tan staining on the seats (unless the daughters were home). No problem with a SUV as it would replace our Skoda Karoq nor the cost as we are at the time of life when a new one is affordable or even it being EV...don't care.
The problem remains it looks frankly awful and I can't see any redeeming factors with the design and it's as simple as that. I could put up with the Alfa dealers if it looked good but it doesn't and remember this is the Veloce version (or similar) pictured not the base model.
As I said good luck Alfa selling this.
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