Alfa Romeo road cars set for Sauber influence
Swiss racing outfit is lending its F1 engineering talent to Alfa's performance car division
As part of ongoing efforts to reignite its sporting image, Alfa Romeo is collaborating with Formula 1 partner Sauber in the development of its future road cars. The Italian marque, which was recently promoted to Sauber title sponsor and technical partner, is working with the Swiss team's engineering division on a secret project that is said to be nearing completion.
"We are already working on another project [outside of F1] together and you will see the result quite soon," explained Team Principal, Frederic Vasseur. "It's a huge opportunity for us [Sauber], but it will involve only the guys at the factory in Switzerland, as the trackside guys are focussed on the racing."
While Vasseur wouldn't budge on specifics - his interview with PH took place in the busy Sauber motorhome after day one of pre-season testing in Barcelona - he added that Alfa and Sauber would "have more collaborations" in the future, suggesting a line-up or series of Sauber-influenced road cars might be produced - in much the same way as Red Bull Racing's relationship with Aston Martin has subsequently blossomed.
However, before we get excited about the prospect of an Iceman-edition Giulia Quadrifoglio (or, perhaps, a Polestar-like performance division that spawns from Sauber's race team), Fiat Chrysler Automobiles European design boss Klaus Busse suggested something less drastic lies at the heart of any future Sauber-Alfa road car tie-up.
"If you look at the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglios as they are now, they're already a handful," he noted. "Unless you are a semi-pro race driver, you don't need much more than that. So the idea that something [more extreme] will come in response to our F1 team; I don't think that it's necessary because our cars now are extremely capable as they are. Their Nurburgring lap times prove that."
No Valkyrie-rivalling Alfa hypercar with a Sauber chassis, then. It's more likely that any collaboration with the Italian car maker will focus on fine-tuning and production methods. It's been done before, of course, with Renault producing numerous versions of its performance cars using a similar philosophy (see Clio 197 F1 Team and the Megane 230 equivalent), although the premium pricing of Alfa's models ought to enable an even greater take up of F1 tech.
Yes, that probably means more carbon trim on the dash and decals, but also the possibility of higher spec variants of Quadrifoglio-badged cars with F1-influenced suspension components and geometry, as well as variants signed off by Kimi Raikkonen and teammate Antonio Giovinazzi. Mix in Alfa's voracious V6 and for those of us who can't afford an AMG One or Valkyrie, it's quite the prospect...
im sure their owner and f1 parent has more input in sports cars ?
does ferrari know much about sports cars ????
ffs piston heads
can we filter this crap and oh maybe talk about the green carrera that EVERY WEBSITE COVERED APART FROM YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/supercars/porsche...
im sure their owner and f1 parent has more input in sports cars ?
does ferrari know much about sports cars ????
ffs piston heads
can we filter this crap and oh maybe talk about the green carrera that EVERY WEBSITE COVERED APART FROM YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/supercars/porsche...
im sure their owner and f1 parent has more input in sports cars ?
does ferrari know much about sports cars ????
ffs piston heads
can we filter this crap and oh maybe talk about the green carrera that EVERY WEBSITE COVERED APART FROM YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/supercars/porsche...
Maybe the development team could have a hand in a new Giulia Sprint/GTV/6C Coupe, I just read on the italian FCA-blog, Passione Auto Italiane, that AR is bringing a concept car there, probably another SUV though.
It certainly won't have the impact of the 'Prodrive' breathed on Brera as the Giulia QV is very well fettled from the start.
Suspect a bit more Fiat Stilo Schumacher or the 147 Ducati edition.
Happy to be surprised though, if they were to do a 6C esq collaboration, or a Caterham 7 alternative...all wishful thinking and I suspect the existing Ferrari Skunkworks team they have would package it better.
Surely then, Ferrari can stick with the pinnacle of F1 yet assist Alfa with Touring car engineering support and focus?
Presumably because “technically” Ferrari are not part of the FCA Group anymore? They were spun-off in 2016, though everyone seems to have forgotten that...
te on any suggestion of making high-performance cars.If a road manufacturer, that has already utilised commercial relationships to phenomenal results, adds a commercial relationship with it's partner F1 team, how can that be a bad thing? It's hardly likely to be a badge engineering exercise, Alfa Romeo has a significantly more emotive brand than Sauber....
Even if it is getting engineering input, use of facilities/technologies, set-up input...the outcomes are usually staggering. See Honda NSX for an early example.
The Giulia QV's Ferrari input has been on the lines of above and it would be a brave man that claimed it was a pointless exercise?
Presumably because “technically” Ferrari are not part of the FCA Group anymore? They were spun-off in 2016, though everyone seems to have forgotten that...
While we have no idea what's coming, one thing's clear: Sauber's engineers are keen to get stuck in with road cars. We're hoping they get their way and have some technical input. It is a technical partnership, after all!
Surely then, Ferrari can stick with the pinnacle of F1 yet assist Alfa with Touring car engineering support and focus?
Also, and usually, and as highlighted above, the could be as much for the benefit of the F1 teams profile as for the road car manufacturers.
te (and inflated resale) is just manufacturer tweaks (see Porsche and BMW GTS). If this truly is technological input it stands the chance of being more walk and talk.(And I like Porsches, but not sure why the lack of a Carrera GT article needs to be brought up here!)
Alfa is at last making good products again. Fingers crossed this takes them onto the next level relative to their peers. If only Jaguar could make more interesting cars too, then the Germans would have a real fight on their hands
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