Alfa 159 replacement
Discussion
I was just looking on the Alfa site earler at the Mito (friend is thinking of getting one) and noticed that there are only two cars in their range now, the Mito and the Giulietta.
I hadn't realised they had stopped making the 159.
Are there any plans to build a replacement? I've not seen any news about one.
I hadn't realised they had stopped making the 159.
Are there any plans to build a replacement? I've not seen any news about one.
They stopped taking orders for the 159 last year i believe (could be wrong) and sales were winding down. It's funny, my favourite marque currently offers no new car that i would want to buy! luckily still have a good choice of stunning used cars!
This was the Giulia replacement scheduled for 2013/14. Whether or not it actually looks like this is another matter altogether!
This was the Giulia replacement scheduled for 2013/14. Whether or not it actually looks like this is another matter altogether!
Quite a few discussions on it http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...
But yes, only the two cars in the range currently
But yes, only the two cars in the range currently
I think the 159 cost too much to make.
They would need a shared platform and since Lancia are now using the less than sporting Chrysler 300 and Fiat don't do big cars (save the unloved Croma), it is hard to envisage a suitable platform without a partner - Fiat have done stuff with GM in the past but no more and the Fiat 500 shares underpinnings with the Ka so maybe they could come up with a Mondeo-based car in time - although given the new Mondeo looks very chic, is it worth competing with BMW without a RWD floorpan?
Cadillac have one under the new ATS but I can't see Fiat dealing with GM again.
They would need a shared platform and since Lancia are now using the less than sporting Chrysler 300 and Fiat don't do big cars (save the unloved Croma), it is hard to envisage a suitable platform without a partner - Fiat have done stuff with GM in the past but no more and the Fiat 500 shares underpinnings with the Ka so maybe they could come up with a Mondeo-based car in time - although given the new Mondeo looks very chic, is it worth competing with BMW without a RWD floorpan?
Cadillac have one under the new ATS but I can't see Fiat dealing with GM again.
kambites said:
If it's going to be as ugly as the Guiletta and MiTo, they might as well not bother. 
Absolutely agree with this statement, Alfa have in a relatively short space of time gone from producing some of the most stunningly good looking cars to some of the worst. The Guiletta styling is very meh and nowhere near as stunning as the 147 and the MiTo looks like a startled rabbit, not a good look. They need to get back to form and get some good looking new models out of asap.Guvernator said:
kambites said:
If it's going to be as ugly as the Guiletta and MiTo, they might as well not bother.
Absolutely agree with this statement, Alfa have in a relatively short space of time gone from producing some of the most stunningly good looking cars to some of the worst. The Guiletta styling is very meh and nowhere near as stunning as the 147 and the MiTo looks like a startled rabbit, not a good look. They need to get back to form and get some good looking new models out of asap.The new styling owes, in part at least to new safety regulations that cars must minimize injury to pedestrians in an accident, resulting in more bulbous deigns. The sharp, angular front end of the 159, etc. was criticised for being 'pedestrian unfriendly'.
Don’t know why they had to use this as their design inspiration though:
Don’t know why they had to use this as their design inspiration though:
PaperCut said:
They stopped taking orders for the 159 last year i believe (could be wrong) and sales were winding down. It's funny, my favourite marque currently offers no new car that i would want to buy! luckily still have a good choice of stunning used cars!
This was the Giulia replacement scheduled for 2013/14. Whether or not it actually looks like this is another matter altogether!
if they build that, and it looks like that. I'll have one. End of. (I'd keep the 155 of course, but as I cannot comfortably drive a Guilietta and I don't think it looks THAT bad, MiTo on the other hand)This was the Giulia replacement scheduled for 2013/14. Whether or not it actually looks like this is another matter altogether!
Needa308GT4 said:
PaperCut said:
They stopped taking orders for the 159 last year i believe (could be wrong) and sales were winding down. It's funny, my favourite marque currently offers no new car that i would want to buy! luckily still have a good choice of stunning used cars!
This was the Giulia replacement scheduled for 2013/14. Whether or not it actually looks like this is another matter altogether!
if they build that, and it looks like that. I'll have one. End of. (I'd keep the 155 of course, but as I cannot comfortably drive a Guilietta and I don't think it looks THAT bad, MiTo on the other hand)This was the Giulia replacement scheduled for 2013/14. Whether or not it actually looks like this is another matter altogether!
F1GTRUeno said:
They've got a seriously hard act to follow with the 159.
One of the best looking saloon/estates ever made.
Will have one as my next car.
I'm sure Mangoletsi still had a few new 159s a couple of weeks ago. Crying shame to see the range decimated. How long can Alfa remain in the UK with just 2 cars in the range, building RHD?One of the best looking saloon/estates ever made.
Will have one as my next car.
From this
To this
Who ever thought that was a good move should be shot. In fact I think this "corporate face" trend that seems to have swept through the industry is completely stupid and has produced some of the ugliest cars I have ever seen. Something that suits a large sports coupe won't suit a small hatchback and vice versa. It's another failed example of "Marketing Comittee" lead design and it sucks.
Come on Alfa, your unique selling point has always been that you've produced stunning looking cars made with passion and in the head vs heart struggle of car purchasing, meant you stood a chance against the ubiquitous German brands. What chance will you have to tempt people away if you start producing ugly souless cars. In a bid to win sales by being more like the Germans, they are in danger of loosing the thing that makes them unique.
To this
Who ever thought that was a good move should be shot. In fact I think this "corporate face" trend that seems to have swept through the industry is completely stupid and has produced some of the ugliest cars I have ever seen. Something that suits a large sports coupe won't suit a small hatchback and vice versa. It's another failed example of "Marketing Comittee" lead design and it sucks.
Come on Alfa, your unique selling point has always been that you've produced stunning looking cars made with passion and in the head vs heart struggle of car purchasing, meant you stood a chance against the ubiquitous German brands. What chance will you have to tempt people away if you start producing ugly souless cars. In a bid to win sales by being more like the Germans, they are in danger of loosing the thing that makes them unique.
Edited by Guvernator on Sunday 13th May 00:24
Guvernator said:
.Come on Alfa, your unique selling point has always been that you've produced stunning looking cars made with passion and in the head vs heart struggle of car purchasing, meant you stood a chance against the ubiquitous German brands.
You have a short memory. Some of the 60's Alfa saloons were no oil paintings, the Alfetta was quite plain, the Giulietta quirky, the 75 quirkier still and the 90/Six fairly ugly. The 145/145 were not great lookers, the 147 no better than average. It's only more recent Alfas like 164,166,156,159, GTV and Brera that recaptured the spark of creativity.I agree that these Alfas are not lookers but then so many modern cars fail in this department now.
The Giulia picture above is the purely fictional invention of Auto Express or some such. The unseen real design was supposedly sent back to the drawing board by Sergio.
The platform will probably be a long wheelbase version of the FIAT C-Evo platform used in the Giulietta and Dodge Dart. It doesn't have anything to do with old Chryslers like the 300.
The platform will probably be a long wheelbase version of the FIAT C-Evo platform used in the Giulietta and Dodge Dart. It doesn't have anything to do with old Chryslers like the 300.
LuS1fer said:
You have a short memory. Some of the 60's Alfa saloons were no oil paintings, the Alfetta was quite plain, the Giulietta quirky, the 75 quirkier still and the 90/Six fairly ugly. The 145/145 were not great lookers, the 147 no better than average. It's only more recent Alfas like 164,166,156,159, GTV and Brera that recaptured the spark of creativity.
I agree that these Alfas are not lookers but then so many modern cars fail in this department now.
I'll agree with some of what you've said and disagree with others. While Alfa have certainly had their fair share of "quirky" cars during some periods, I'd say that on the whole their cars have always been at least different enough to provoke interest and when they have gotten it right, it's been oh soo right. I'd also have to strongly disagree with the 147 statement, I think it's one of the prettiest hatchback designs ever, especially in GTA guise. I agree that these Alfas are not lookers but then so many modern cars fail in this department now.
Yes they have had patchy spells but the period immediately proceeding the latest batch of cars has probably been up there with some of their best work, just very surprised that they have seem to have gone off the boil so quickly.
Guvernator said:
From this
To this
They were trying to make the MiTo look like a mini-8c, which was a good idea, but with bad execution. The current Guilietta just looks like a Fiat Bravo with MiTo bits added, very poor 2-car range ATM, IMO!To this
Bring back the 159/Brera! (but lightened and with decent engines!!)
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