RE: New Alfasud on the way?
Wednesday 14th December 2005
Alfa Romeo Alfasud SprintThere could be a new Alfasud on the way, according to this week's Autocar. Although only at the planning stage, the reports talks of a speech made by Fiat chairman Sergio Marchionne in which he revealed that Alfa Romeo is considering unearthing plans for a new, sporty compact car -- the Alfasud could be reborn.
New Alfasud on the way?
Alfa Romeo hints at great revival
Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint
A company with more than its fair share of troubles due to low sales -- though no lack of new and exciting ideas -- Alfa Romeo believes there's potential for a car that competes directly with the next generation Mini, which is due in 2006.
However, it's more than just thin air. Students at Turin's Institute of Applied Arts and Design have been commissioned to produce quarter-scale models of potential designs. The new small Alfa would be a bit bigger, said the report, at four metres long rather than the Mini's 3.7 metres. And the chassis could handle up to 200bhp, making it a pretty potent device.
Other niches Alfa is looking at are the Golf segment -- here be dragons, surely, especially since Alfa doesn't have an obvious platform with which to compete with upmarket hatches such as the Audi A3, BMW 1-series and the Golf, although it could be based on the Brera's shorter-wheelbase underpinnings.
The report also suggests that Alfa may be working on a more upmarket car to replace the 166. If made, the new 169 will look, apparently, a bit like the Mercedes CLS four-door coupé -- if that's not a contradiction in terms.
Discussion
This is how Fiat will ruin the AlfaSud legend, by using cost cut carry over common platform mechanicals and wrap it up in a pretty face with no substance whatsoever a bit like alot of their modern offerings.
The old AlfaSud was a legend and properly engineered, it had inboard disc brakes, a boxer engine- mounted low to lower the C of G, and a sophisticated rear dead axle (for the time) and a wheel to each corner.
Each variant, such as the SC or Ti, had a different engine spec rather than just a marketing trim change.
May it RIP
The old AlfaSud was a legend and properly engineered, it had inboard disc brakes, a boxer engine- mounted low to lower the C of G, and a sophisticated rear dead axle (for the time) and a wheel to each corner.
Each variant, such as the SC or Ti, had a different engine spec rather than just a marketing trim change.
May it RIP
I'm puzzled by the article. Doesn't the very capable 147 compete in the market sector once occupied by the glorious Sud? I would have thought that the 147 is the spiritual successor to the Sud.
I was a huge Sud fan and it was the first car I ever bought - absolutely brilliant in its day.
I was a huge Sud fan and it was the first car I ever bought - absolutely brilliant in its day.
That Alfasud Sprint in the pic looks exactly like the one I drove when I was 19.
What a beautiful car! Even in orange
And what a pity that it rusted so badly you could almost hear it crumble...
Anyways...
They can not build another Sud: the name is too much associated with 'it already rusts in the brochure'.
>> Edited by klassiekerrally on Wednesday 14th December 12:25
What a beautiful car! Even in orange
And what a pity that it rusted so badly you could almost hear it crumble...
Anyways...
They can not build another Sud: the name is too much associated with 'it already rusts in the brochure'.
>> Edited by klassiekerrally on Wednesday 14th December 12:25
peter450 said:
Souds good but what they need more than anything is a decent RWD platform
yep i think alfa the brand has what it takes to be in the premium sector but the cars need rwd engineering
Even Lexus realised that, it's more likely Alfa will try AWD though.
Had the Sud Ti, previous shape to the one the picture, brilliant little car that out handled anything, including the Mk1 Golf GTI's of the day. Loverly free revving boxer engine to 
.
Only down side was the inboard discs used to cook off quiet easily with spirited driving
. Oh yes and the wnidows used to open on their own over a bump 
.
Found memories, hope they don't ruin it.
Harry
. Only down side was the inboard discs used to cook off quiet easily with spirited driving
. Oh yes and the wnidows used to open on their own over a bump . Found memories, hope they don't ruin it.
Harry
peter450 said:
Souds good but what they need more than anything is a decent RWD platform
yep i think alfa the brand has what it takes to be in the premium sector but the cars need rwd engineering
Another vote here! Alfa do have the brand and they have the engineering heritage ot compete with anybody. However they need any product revival to be engineering rather than marketing led - their prime (german) competition are....
Mind you, decent, frisky, light, FWD Alfasud would be a winner too..
Wot? Another platform spin-off (Punto Grande?). Yeah - great
Why oh why oh why (cont pg69)
Now if they were brave enough to go head to head with the Bangle1 then it might be worth something.
Someone ought to tell them that blah blah blah. I'm sure they know coz the gorg concepts keep coming but dont make production.
Why oh why oh why (cont pg69)
Now if they were brave enough to go head to head with the Bangle1 then it might be worth something.
Someone ought to tell them that blah blah blah. I'm sure they know coz the gorg concepts keep coming but dont make production.
LooseCannon said:
I'm puzzled by the article. Doesn't the very capable 147 compete in the market sector once occupied by the glorious Sud? I would have thought that the 147 is the spiritual successor to the Sud.
Agreed.
I know where you`re coming from but the 147 is not really a spriritual successor to the `sud but merely the smallest Alfa you can currently buy. I think of it more as an A3 rival rather than a hot hatch.
ettore said:
I'm puzzled by the article. Doesn't the very capable 147 compete in the market sector once occupied by the glorious Sud? I would have thought that the 147 is the spiritual successor to the Sud.
Agreed.
I know where you`re coming from but the 147 is not really a spriritual successor to the `sud but merely the smallest Alfa you can currently buy. I think of it more as an A3 rival rather than a hot hatch.
There are hot versions of the 147...! Only problem is, they aren't price competitive with Mini
JJ
ettore said:
I know where you`re coming from but the 147 is not really a spriritual successor to the `sud but merely the smallest Alfa you can currently buy. I think of it more as an A3 rival rather than a hot hatch.
Agreed, but then I don't think of the Sud as a hot hatch. Firstly, it wasn't designed as a hatchback - it had a conventional boot for most of its lifespan. Also, it was never particularly quick, having only 63 bhp in original 1186cc form, although later versions were quicker.
What made the Sud so special was the fact that it set new standards for small cars in so many areas - roadholding, handling, braking (discs on all 4 wheels), ride, comfort, quietness at motorway speeds, interior space and best of all it was fantastic fun to drive. The motoring press ran out of superlatives.
IMHO the early Suds were nicer to drive than the more powerful later cars fitted with lower profile tyres which spoilt the beautiful pure steering (another of the original Sud's outstanding features). The front suspension allowed for quite a bit of camber change and the whole car seemed to work much better on more round shouldered tyres.
The article suggests that if Alfa recreated the Sud, it would be smaller than the 147, or more accuratly, the 149 which will replace the 147. If they do it, let's hope they do it properly and create something really special. I wish them the best of luck!
r988 said:
Souds good but what they need more than anything is a decent RWD platform
yep i think alfa the brand has what it takes to be in the premium sector but the cars need rwd engineering
Even Lexus realised that, it's more likely Alfa will try AWD though.
Well, I could live with a cross-breed between an SZ30 tarmac-hugger and a Skyline-like 4x4 system.
Althoug rwd would do nicely thank you.
And for the love of god stop with the large frontal overhang already! (see 159)
harry miller said:
I know where you`re coming from but the 147 is not really a spriritual successor to the `sud but merely the smallest Alfa you can currently buy. I think of it more as an A3 rival rather than a hot hatch.
Agreed, but then I don't think of the Sud as a hot hatch. Firstly, it wasn't designed as a hatchback - it had a conventional boot for most of its lifespan. Also, it was never particularly quick, having only 63 bhp in original 1186cc form, although later versions were quicker.
I agree with you and I hope they do make a proper `sud successor (that`s light!). Much as I like 147`s - and I`ve had a couple - they are more germanic in outlook that your traditional Alfa!
Currently the 147 IS the spiritual successor to the Sud, 105ti Green Cloverleaf = 147 GTA, the same DNA
And the GT is the Spiritual successor to the Sud Sprint, in fact it was going to be called the Sprint...
This new one will be the re-incarnation and be utterly cool
Glad Alfa are keeping true to sporting heritage and not just trying to go 'luxury'
And yes I confess... I am an Alfaholic, having owned a Sud 105ti Green Cloverleaf, Cannonballed and tracked a 147 GTA and currently run a 156 JTD Sportwagon as a daily driver 8-)
And the GT is the Spiritual successor to the Sud Sprint, in fact it was going to be called the Sprint...
This new one will be the re-incarnation and be utterly cool
Glad Alfa are keeping true to sporting heritage and not just trying to go 'luxury'
And yes I confess... I am an Alfaholic, having owned a Sud 105ti Green Cloverleaf, Cannonballed and tracked a 147 GTA and currently run a 156 JTD Sportwagon as a daily driver 8-)
jazzyjeff said:
I'm puzzled by the article. Doesn't the very capable 147 compete in the market sector once occupied by the glorious Sud? I would have thought that the 147 is the spiritual successor to the Sud.
Agreed.
I know where you`re coming from but the 147 is not really a spriritual successor to the `sud but merely the smallest Alfa you can currently buy. I think of it more as an A3 rival rather than a hot hatch.
There are hot versions of the 147...! Only problem is, they aren't price competitive with Mini
JJ
Way to go Fiat.
Like a few people here I owned a Sud back in the late eighties and what a car it was. It was a 1982 95bhp Tix which was pretty rare (only made for a year).
It was that good it made my third car (a 280 injection Capri) feel very flat and unexciting. Throttle response and handling was unmatched
Lets hope they can do the original car justice.
Like a few people here I owned a Sud back in the late eighties and what a car it was. It was a 1982 95bhp Tix which was pretty rare (only made for a year).
It was that good it made my third car (a 280 injection Capri) feel very flat and unexciting. Throttle response and handling was unmatched
Lets hope they can do the original car justice.
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