Audi to acquire Alfa?
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excel monkey

Original Poster:

4,822 posts

258 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
quotequote all
Couldn't see an existing thread on this. Apologies if already discussed elsewhere.

What are people's thoughts on Audi taking over Alfa? Obviously it would be heresy to the Alfisti, but I think a lot of normal people would quite like the idea of Audi mechnicals combined with Alfa styling and interiors.

http://wardsauto.com/management-amp-strategy/alfa-...

CYMR0

3,940 posts

231 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
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Seems like that article should be about 3 days newer...

Assuming it's even slightly true, where does the brand go? Rebadge the SEAT range and call them Alfas outside Spain? Build sporting DNA into VW instead of FIAT chassis?

Krikkit

27,941 posts

212 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
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Coming soon... The Alfa Romeo Guilieta TDi S-line quattro. Not a fan, personally - if Alfa has any chance of becoming a decent manufacturer again it can't get away with re-facing the boring hatchbacks produced by VAG in 4 other guises. (Or Fiat for that matter, but I think they're turning a corner with the Giulia and the 166-sized car too.)

Edited by Krikkit on Thursday 4th April 09:26

AV12

5,346 posts

239 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
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I hope not. I can see the positives and negatives and with a major new sharing platform arriving at VAG, this could see the end of any sort of personality in their cars. Cars will just have nice engines, good styling but ordinary to drive with technology to absolutley dictate how the car feels.

For Alfa - no thanks.

Triumph Man

9,652 posts

199 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
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Coming soon! The new Alfa 169 with a 90 degree V6 overhanging the front wheels to such an extent you understeer everywhere and FWD...

trashbat

6,318 posts

184 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
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Discussed in the Alfa forum already. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

An old story that has strangely resurfaced, and it isn't true.

article said:
Fiat’s Pomigliano assembly plant also is on the table.
What, the one that has just been retooled to make the Panda? Lazy journalism.

Edited by trashbat on Thursday 4th April 09:36

y2blade

56,322 posts

246 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
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At last...some reliable Alfas yes


emicen

9,258 posts

249 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
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Triumph Man said:
Coming soon! The new Alfa 169 with a 90 degree V6 overhanging the front wheels to such an extent you understeer everywhere and FWD...
Never driven an already existing 159 diesel then?

Veeayt

3,139 posts

236 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
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Stop moaning people. And remember what Audi did to Lambo. And then recall what Alfa does now. In any way, I'd prefer a rebadged Audi rather than rebadged Chrysler. But that wouldn't happen. I imagine a high-revving V8 in a reliable mid-sized Italian estate for very reasonable price and then no petrolhead can resist it smile

AV12

5,346 posts

239 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
quotequote all
Referring to my previous post. This is the "MQB" platform:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/vw-coul...

Brilliant for business, obviously (Lets be honest here..). Not so good for some of us who want a memorable car and not a restyled clone of a cheaper model. I wouldn't be so dismissive of it appearing on larger cars in their range, either.


trashbat

6,318 posts

184 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
quotequote all
Oh, and this has been going on, factlessly, at least as far back as 2010.

http://www.dasalfaromeo.it/?paged=9 (in Italian)

viggyp

1,919 posts

166 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
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trashbat said:
Discussed in the Alfa forum already. An old story that has strangelyy resurfaced, and it isn't true.

article said:
Fiat’s Pomigliano assembly plant also is on the table.
What, the one that has just been retooled to make the Panda? Lazy journalism.
I really hope It's not true. I admire Audi but no, I wouldn't like to see this happen.

trashbat

6,318 posts

184 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
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The mention of MQB always raises a smirk. I don't say this too seriously, but it's funny how MQB is often revered as strategic dynamite, whilst Italian cars of a certain era are all 'Tipos in a frock'.

Captain Muppet

8,540 posts

296 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
quotequote all
excel monkey said:
Couldn't see an existing thread on this. Apologies if already discussed elsewhere.

What are people's thoughts on Audi taking over Alfa? Obviously it would be heresy to the Alfisti, but I think a lot of normal people would quite like the idea of Audi mechnicals combined with Alfa styling and interiors.

http://wardsauto.com/management-amp-strategy/alfa-...
I don't have any thoughts of my own, but I have found the thoughts of two other people that might be relevant, in your link...

"We do not comment on speculative rumors," Fiat spokesman Richard Gadeselli says here.

Ingolstadt-based Audi spokesman Juergen De Graeve says, "There is no substance in the news.”

VeeDub Geezer

461 posts

185 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
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Triumph Man said:
Coming soon! The new Alfa 169 with a 90 degree V6 overhanging the front wheels to such an extent you understeer everywhere and FWD...
They don't need Audi's help for that...




Triumph Man

9,652 posts

199 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
quotequote all
VeeDub Geezer said:
Triumph Man said:
Coming soon! The new Alfa 169 with a 90 degree V6 overhanging the front wheels to such an extent you understeer everywhere and FWD...
They don't need Audi's help for that...
True, but a longitudinal engine hanging way out front driving the front wheels would surely be worse. I'm not being anti Audi, my Passat is basically one!

excel monkey

Original Poster:

4,822 posts

258 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
Coming soon... The Alfa Romeo Guilieta TDi S-line quattro.
I know you're joking, but if that car was built, and sold well (because it's what the European public seems to want), surely that would be a good thing if it kept Alfa alive and gave them the funds to carry on making the pretty V6 coupes that everyone on PH loves them for?

Any parallels with Lamborghini since Audi took over? Nobody on PH likes the Urus 4x4 (which shares a chassis with the Audi Q7), but if it sells well to rich Middle Eastern buyers and keeps the lights on at Lamborghini, then we accept it as a necessary evil, right?

Obviously this whole Audi/Alfa thing is only speculation. It's highly unlikely to go ahead, but other arguably more unlikely mergers have happened in the past.

trashbat

6,318 posts

184 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
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Running with that then, what would it actually deliver, apart from the public perception of German quality?

Is there some unique VG technology or selling point that you think is currently unavailable to Alfa?

Similarly, is there some market position or strategy?

Ali_T

3,379 posts

288 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
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y2blade said:
At last...some reliable Alfas yes
Really? Because last year's JD Power had the Mito equal to the Golf, just behind the A4/A5/A6 & 3 series and far ahead of the TT, 1 series and Mini. It also came ahead of all Mazdas and most Mercs.

The Giulietta hasn't been sampled yet, but Marchionne seems to be keeping to his word about improving quality. He is also likely to keep to his word that he will never sell Alfa to VAG.

Bjam99

231 posts

166 months

Thursday 4th April 2013
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Audi / VAG have MUCH deeper pockets than Fiat and Alfa needs a much bigger range.

As mentioned, an old story though and probably unlikely to happen for a while. (well until Fiat stops being able to pay the bills)