With Alfa Romeo's depart from the US automotive market in year 1995, the Italian breand and butter thoroughbred manufacturer had long for a vengeful return to US.
Long rumored on their possible return, Alfa had taken a slew of roller coaster rides, such as the sudden marriage between Fiat Group and GM a few years back that resulted in some rather disappointing, lack luster progress.
With the fame creation of the wonderful Alfa 8C Competizione, where Alfa does as a pre-stage marketing effort hyping up it's brand, upon long considering between ploughing those hard earned doughs into large billboards, or create a supercar for the attention it needed; it does seem very close for US fans that had long yearned to put their hands back onto those climax fetching thrills of driving an Alfa Romeo. However, 2 years on since the debut of the 8C Competizione, and there's still no news from the manufacturer whose cars, whenever Henry Ford passes by one, would tipped his hat off as a sign of respect.
This time around, Alfa Romeo is serious, the return to US, will not be some half-hearted, embarrass launches or campaigns, but a full scale onslaught of the Italian make, completing American's obsession with Italian food, aiming to once and for all demolish the Pizza delivery services, where the real thrill should be driving your own Italian auto, revving straight to the delivery windows. Alfa is aiming at a very optimistic boost in annual production to 300,000 units, twice what it currently makes.
The most likely 'when' would happen in year 2010, where Alfa aims to introduce 4 lineups consisting of the 159, Brera, Spyder and the recently unveiled Mito. (Which theoretically is only 2 lineup, with one offering 2 other variants) The Mito, will definitely suit current America's switch of taste following the fuel price hike and the complete sold out of Minis is a testament to this open door for Alfa. There are also talks of a possible SUV (Not the Karma) lineup further along, after the initial introduction.
As mentioned by Luca De Mio, in the next three years, there will be more models in the lineup of Alfa Romeo than there is in the last ten years. Which is actually not alot to be frank - (Last ten years: 147, 156, 166, GT, 159, Brera, Spyder, 8C?). Nonetheless, very exciting.
He also mentioned, that Alfa Romeo, will be doing REAL Alfas again, reviving the legendary Henry Ford's hat lifting gestures whenever an Alfa Romeo passes by. Does that mean Alfa will be creating those wonderful 3 ltr V6 revving rear wheel drive, tarmac scorching 3 series humbling sedans again? YES!Alfa are currently in talks with BMW and Jaguar on a possible RWD platform for Alfa's new replacement for the 166, production would most probably be done by hunting on idle factories of the Detroit Three, taking advantage of the low US dollar and NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) for competitive pricing and possible exporting of US made Alfas.
With platform availability, production feasibility issues seemingly solved, the next problem to tackle will be the channels on which Alfa would be utilizing to reach out to new Alfistis. Although there are 85 Maserati dealers in US, it's simply not enough to fulfill Alfa's grand goal of a complete assault on the American soil, this again goes to the German juggernaut BMW, with current talks between Fiat Group and BMW, the next Mini might be using the same platform and engine sharing with the current Alfa Mito, Mini's extensive dealer networks could be integrated with selling Alfa Romeos, of which both brands with strong nostalgic factors complementing each other's existence.
This is indeed very good news not for just American Alfistis, but a sign of revival of Alfa's past glory, longed by Alfistis for decades.
"On the day he finally beat Alfa Romeos, Enzo Ferrari cried like a baby."
