Alfa Romeo to be re-invented - again....

[threespires]

It's reported that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne plans to turn Alfa Romeo into a standalone company.

Is it too late for Alfa? They are the luckiest car company as it seems everybody wants to love Alfa Romeo.

But years and years churning out upgraded Fiats that are hardly world beaters or limited edition beauties that are let down by their driving experiences, can Alfa be turned around ?

[kambites]

I think we'd all love to see a thriving Alfa Romeo, but I don't think independence would be a route to it. They need the economies of scale that Fiat group can give them; especially for engines.

[richs2891]

Fingers crossed they can, but can car manufacturers afford to turn out quirky cars ?
Interesting article in this months evo that cars / car manufacturers are becoming germanic in the way make and design cars - simply as they seem to sell.

[flatso]

Exept the hardcore Alfisti most everybody else is sick and tired of hearing this played out slogan over and over again. You can only count on your luck so many times.
As much as I loved them I am no longer holding out any hope for Alfa. Just like Citroen, it has completly lost touch with its tradition and no longer offers any unique selling points.

[Bluebarge]

threespires said:

It's reported that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne plans to turn Alfa Romeo into a standalone company, and then sell it.

EFA

No other reason to hive it off as a separate company.

Wouldn't be surprised if the Chinese buy it and re-brand it like they did with "Roewe"

[Ali_T]

Unlikely. It's about transparency to the shareholders. Alfa will be separate from Fiat Auto, not Fiat Industrial. They did the same thing a few years ago with Maserati. It's also about removing Alfa from Fiat for image as well. For too many years, Alfa have been accused, sometimes rightly, of being upmarket Fiats. Though that accusation never seemed to afflict Audi, even their rubbish models.

Having spent millions on developing the C-Evo platform for the Giulietta/Dart and forthcoming small SUV, and even more millions on the new platform for the Giulia, why would he sell? Fiats future depends entirely on Chrysler and Alfa. They are the only brands in the group that have significant growth potenial. Selling the only brand they have a hope of breaking the lower premium market with would be akin to financial suicide. Mind you, this is Fiat.....

Edited by Ali_T on Thursday 1st May 11:21

[MysteryLemon]

They need to corner the affordable sports car market imo.

As much as I love Fiat, they seem to have done a Peugeot and swayed far too deep into the boring family/boring shopping car sector to ever come back out. Yes, they have their Abarth arm now but it's a seperate brand that wants to be evertything that Fiat is not. Plus, not everyone looking for a sporty car wants to drive a rebadged shopping trolley with a turbo bolted on.

I miss the Coupes and the Barchettas. The GTVs and the Spiders. This is where Alfa needs to go, not making Punto rivals. Make something we don't have any more... affordable Italian sports cars.