Official : come back of Alfa Romeo in the USA

[Neutrino]

Originally posted by Jimster
Italian V6 is questionable- Alfa are going to soon be using GM blocks- heavily modified by Alfa Romeo

so is that a certain fact or it is more of a rumour......i just hope they don't use opel engines.....they are probably the worst (as reliability goes) european engines......

[talo]

DO NOT WAIT until 2007, they are just 2200 miles a way in Central America. I just moved from California to Guatemala Central America for family reasons, I was ver sorprice since my first car was an Alfeta 1.8 1981 brand new, and I loved and hated, well Alfa`s in Guatemala has been in the same way; but now days they had the Toyota dealer selling them which is a very reliable dealer. Now that I was ready to by my second car (1 is a Fiat Punto HGT, very fast and fun for a city drive) I when to Alfa's and got for around $26,000+tax 12% a brand new 156, 2002 v6 2.5 alfa with sport kit, which makes it a great deal compering to Europe $36,000 and the dealer has 2 more at this price? ship to the US is $500.

[Stefanel1]

Excellent choice ! a new 156 on the forum

[ricardonz]

gee i hope the don't use any gm engine......the holden boys will give me hell

[Stefanel1]

Originally Posted by Neutrino

so is that a certain fact or it is more of a rumour......i just hope they don't use opel engines.....they are probably the worst (as reliability goes) european engines......

Opel is not really European, it's almost American, and belongs to GM. As "Ford Europe" which does the Ka, Fiesta, FOcus, Mondeo, Galaxy.

[darioleo]

Hello all,
Fiat is currently separating itself from the GM alliance. Ergo Alfa will be an independent agent on the US market. The 159 and the Brera will be part of the package as well as the Sportwagon, the redesigned 166 and... hopefully, the ever amazing 147. GTA versions will be available. Given this separation a use of any GM platforms would not be feasable.
NO COMPROMISES

[franzzz]

GooD!

I Think Alfaromeo 159 AMERICA !

(remember the 75 America e 75 Milano?)

[porscheguy9999]

All I have to say:

Thank You Jesus. Hallowed is thy Alfa returing to America.

I keep hearing conflicting reports about the comeback; some are now saying 2008 while most are saying it won't happen at all.

What is the latest news from the company itself? Have they actually committed to coming back here, and how will they do it without the help of GM? If they do attempt a comeback without GM's help, they're resigning themselves to remain a hobbyist brand in this country...they really could go mainstream if they were able to sell at GM dealerships or at least have some warranty service available at GM dealerships...biggest problem people I know who owned Alfa's back in hte early 90's was that they had to go to the same place to service the car, which normally wasn't convenient (my father was one of very few people who actually knew a mechanic that knew Alfa's well enough to work on them close by!).

[porscheguy9999]

Thats the thing. Fiat isn't exactly rolling in the dough. But I think it would be a smart decision, financially, and would be a good BMW alternative. Just have a dealership or two (GM) in the major cities in each state that has people who know somthing about Alfa engines. That would work for a while. They would need to build the Kamal SUV concept to compete here well.

[Stefanel1]

Jimster : where do you live ? In Turin ? Where more or less ?

[Jimster]

No no, I moved away to Genova about 2 years ago, I spend about 50% of my time in Milano and the other 50 in Genova.

[tenstringer009]

IF Alfa comes back to the US, I will be one of the first to buy a 159 sedan. Those look amazing. However, servicing it could be a problem if they don't get enough of their own dealerships into the US, or don't have some deal with another major company, such as GM. Please let the debut be in 2007 for the US.

[simonepietro]

unfortunately be the V6 Jts they that the 4 Jts cylinders are not built by the Romeo alpha. the V6 Jts complete and adjusted by the factory Port Melbourne Holden already arrives by sea, while the 4 1.9 Jts and 2.2 Jts cylinders are building in the Gm Kaiserlauthen factory in Germania and arrive in Italia by train. you say hello from the Italia

[Jaguar D-Type]

GM will have to pay Fiat $2 billion. Alfa Romeo will now work with Maserati instead of Ferrari.

March 1, 2005

- wardsauto.com

The price of a corporate divorce can be steep, as General Motors Corp. now can attest.

GM agreed last month to pay $2 billion to its ailing Italian alliance partner, Fiat Auto SpA, to nullify a pesky clause in their original pact that would have forced GM to purchase by 2010 the 90% stake in Fiat Auto it did not already own.

The clause and the entire pact now is dead. After months of saber rattling, GM will pay Fiat a direct cash payment of $1.3 billion immediately.

The remaining $700 million will be delivered as the two auto makers finalize the process of shutting down joint ventures formed in the original pact, signed in March 2000, when GM paid $2.4 billion for a 20% stake in Fiat Auto.

GM also will return its 10% equity holding in Fiat Auto, which will be transferred to corporate parent Fiat SpA.

Along with the cash payment, GM and Fiat agree to dissolve their GM-Fiat Powertrain JV, which was one of the few bright spots in the alliance. The joint venture gave GM access to Fiat's small diesel engine technology, which it desperately needed for the European market, while Fiat gained access to improved gasoline engine technology.

Each auto maker will regain control of the assets each contributed to the powertrain JV, while engines will be supplied to both auto makers without interruption.

Separately, the Italian auto maker says it will transfer full ownership of Maserati SpA under Fiat Auto “as soon as practicable.”

The announcement was followed by a series of management changes, including the ouster of Fait Auto CEO Herbert Demel, who was replaced by Fiat SpA CEO Sergio Marchionne, who negotiated the settlement with GM.

The newly installed chief also gave walking papers to Maserati CEO Martin Leach and moved Ferrari SpA chief designer Frank Stephenson to run the Fiat, Lancia and commercial vehicle styling center.

(end of article)

Detroit free press:

Fiat is putting together a Maserati station wagon

June 23, 2005

BY MATHIAS WILDT
BLOOMBERG

Fiat SpA plans to introduce a Maserati station wagon using an Alfa Romeo design and parts as the automaker increases cooperation among its sports-car brands.

"Maserati and Alfa Romeo will share platforms, components and sales networks," said Fiat Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo in a briefing for journalists in Maranello, Italy, on Wednesday. Fiat owns 56% of Ferrari, which controls Maserati.

Fiat is counting on new models and a reorganization of its brands to turn around the unprofitable car business controlled by the Agnelli family. The company hired Karl Kalbfell from BMW AG in January to run Alfa Romeo and Maserati. The new car will be a sporty crossover wagon.

Fiat will take over the running of Maserati from Ferrari. Maserati and Alfa Romeo will work together on technology, marketing and sales, including selling Alfa Romeos in the United States, Montezemolo said. Maserati and Ferrari sell cars in the United States.

"This will lift Alfa Romeo's market positioning," he said.

In 1997, Ferrari acquired Maserati, which was founded 91 years ago in Modena, Italy. It provided Ferrari engine and body technology in a bid to revive the brand.

Maserati, which built 700 cars in 1997, sold 4,600 vehicles in 2004, including the $90,000 Quattroporte, which is driven by singers Bono and Jose Carreras. Maserati is targeting sales of 10,000 vehicles a year by 2007.

Alfa Romeo's 2004 sales in western Europe, its main market, declined 3.7% to 153,516 units, according to the European carmakers association. In the five months through May, European sales fell 19% to 50,142 vehicles.

The brand aims to boost sales with two new models being introduced this year: the Alfa Romeo 159 sedan and the Brera coupe.

Alfa Romeo began making cars in 1910. The company is known for its racing team and gave Enzo Ferrari, the founder of Ferrari, his start as a driver. Fiat bought Alfa Romeo in 1986.

Montezemolo also said that there are no plans to spin off the automotive business of Fiat and no plans for an initial public offering of shares in Ferrari.

Here is the Maserati Kubang GT Wagon. It was shown at the 2003 Detroit auto show.











Here is a link to the 2003 Alfa Romeo Kamal Concept

2003 Alfa Romeo Kamal Concept