Report: Fiat CEO confirms U.S. launch for Alfa Romeo in 2012

Report: Fiat CEO confirms U.S. launch for Alfa Romeo in 2012

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By Drew Johnson

After a near two-decade hiatus from the United States market, Fiat’s sumptuous Alfa Romeo brand will reportedly return to the Colonies in 2012. Fiat’s plan to revive the Alfa Romeo brand in the United States has been in flux since the Italian automaker acquired a 20 percent stake in Chrysler last year.
According to the latest Automotive News report, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has confirmed that the company’s Alfa Romeo brand will return to the United States in 2012. “I’m a lot more confident now that Alfa Romeo will reconstitute a product offering that is acceptable globally, and more in particular in the United States and Canada,” Marchionne reportedly said at an event in Toronto. “There is a strong likelihood that the brand will be back here within the next 24 months.”
Inside sources have revealed the company’s 159-replacing Giulia models would be the first to come online in the United States, likely hitting the market in mid-2012. The U.S. should have access to two of the front-driver’s body styles – a sedan and wagon.
Following sometime in 2013 will likely be an Alfa Romeo model based on Chrysler’s next-generation 300. The Alfa version would be built alongside the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger in Brampton, Ontario, possibly even for global export.
33 COMMENTS
1. MoDo163 days ago
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  Sell them out of Maserati stores. Build brand equity…
  
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2. mobile1ph163 days ago
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  Yeeesssss!!!!!!
  
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3. hollow1928years163 days ago
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  This makes me so happy. I love Alfa’s styling.
  
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4. idrinorbarsaku163 days ago
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  hmmmmmm…
  
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5. 85ZingoGTR163 days ago
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  Ah cmon. They been saying this since 2000. What are they waiting for the world to end? Although technically they already sell in the US. The 8C is sold here already.
  
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6. johnnycanuck163 days ago
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  Actually the beak looks pretty good on the front of whatever that is in the picture. And I think that model was in the opening chase scene of Quantum of Solace.
  
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7. Borat163 days ago
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  Johnny, sorry. Schnooze comes to the shores near you! Hey, they are great cars.
  
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8. iluvamcars163 days ago
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  Thats the Brera.
  
  -iluvamcars
  
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9. muycaliente163 days ago
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  just make sure the pedals dont stick and the brakes work properly and we’re ok!
  
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10. Borat163 days ago
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  Don’t confuse it with ‘yota . Alfa had more electrical diseases then mechanical. You didn’t need brakes when car wouldn’t start. Hopefully it’s in the past. They are better cars now.
  
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11. leftwingagenda163 days ago
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  pretty sexy…i like…i probably won’t like the price, though…(seems to be the case with pretty much everything these days)…
  
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12. Ashes to Ashes_Dust to Dust163 days ago
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  Alfa has had a long line of dick tease automobiles: They look fantastic, but put out very little, and most of the time not at all. Great garage queens!
  
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13. NRG163 days ago
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  I think everyone is going to be pleasantly surprised in the next 2-3 yrs. It seems Sergio is going to have a lot going on by then for Fiat/Chrysler. We just need to wait another1-2 yrs. Chrysler is going to bounce back big time.
  
  I like the car. Kind of reminds me of a BMW, but I can’t remember which model it was. It had the slant nose with pop up lights. Hmmmm.
  
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14. Raf163 days ago
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  @NRG
  
  You’re probably thinking of the BMW 8-series.
  
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15. Borat163 days ago
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  @Ashes, few years back I drove Alfa of my wife’s cousin in Europe. It was fantastic car(an amazing diesel engine)l. He totaled it few months after we left, and I understand it is easy to do. You can’t drive this car slow, it begs for speed and my mrs. had no idea that it was diesel (even after she drove it). She thought it was V6.
  
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16. howsmydriving163 days ago
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  Alfas are absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. The Italians have a grasp of aesthetics like no others.
  
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17. h82w8163 days ago
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  There will be no Chrysler dealers for them to sell at!
  
  In 2 yrs, Chrysler is dead without further bailouts from Uncle Sugar. Sure as hell Sergio won’t be dropping a nickel to keep that outfit on a respirator.
  
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18. 85ZingoGTR163 days ago
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  In rome they have the police cars. They’re Alfa Romeos.
  
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19. aexcorp163 days ago
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  Bring that good diesel and them good looks to this remote shore
  
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20. 85ZingoGTR163 days ago
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  I’ve been anticipating this for so long too. They say Alfas are some of the best cars ever built on the road. What do you think will be their biggest competitors? Benz? BMW?
  
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21. James Soucie163 days ago
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  THANK YOU GOD!!!!!
  
  I’ll take my Giulia with the 1750 TBi engine (245hp) and six speed manual. Oh and if there is a performance handling package, throw that in too.
  
  I choose the turbo 4 because I doubt FIAT will bring back the Tradtional Alfa V6. And i don’t want my alfa plagued with a dodge pentastar engine.
  
  Nothing against the pentastar, i just don’t want it in my alfa.
  
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22. 1911163 days ago
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  I would like to think Chrysler will be around in two years to sell these cars through their dealerships. I truly want to believe that statement. What sells? The minivan and the Ram. Fiat can’t get their product here in the USA fast enough…….I think competition would be Volkswagen, maybe Volvo. I like the MiTo, but a two door will not cut it, give me the style, performance of the MiTo in a 4 door, even then it’s competing against the Buick Insignia (no reason to resurrect the Regal name). I wish Chrysler and Alfa Romeo/Fiat success, but it’s hard to sell a car or image today for a car that will not be here for 2 years. Timing is everything, think of the possibilties, if they had cars here today they could capitalize on Toyota’s problems.
  
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23. 85ZingoGTR163 days ago
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  This is actually what happened with Alfa Romeo as to why their plans for the US was postponed. And of course, no thanks to GM.
  
  http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/autosblogpost.aspx?post=1635319&_blg=1,1635319
  
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24. JohnnyViking163 days ago
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  Selling Alfas in Maserati dealerships would really increase brand equity, but it might scare off potential customers due to Maseratis pricetag. I would love it though… together with Abarths.
  
  In Europe Alfas har priced similar to BMWs and Audis, but you always get a bit more HP and much more standard equipment for that price Quality has improved a lot the last years, and Alfa even beat Audi, Mercedes and BMW at their own game. In JD Powers last customer satisfaction survey (rating quality, dealers, experience, service) in GERMANY Alfa beat ze Germans and came in second place. The Alfa 147, that the new Giulietta will replace, came in second place when monitoring errors and breakdowns on 3-5 year old cars in Germany. Beaten only by Mazda 3, but came in before Toyota Yaris.
  
  MiTo will only exist with two doors. If you want four doors, then pay attention to this years Geneva-show, it will be the Giulietta. The Giulietta is also the first car to launch the new Compact-platform, which will be used by the rest of the group later…
  
  The Brera is a really beautiful car and the 159 has the same front. It was the 159 that raced the Aston in James Bond: Quantum of Solace. In the words of my cousin; “now I don´t have to buy an Aston, the Alfa keeps up “
  
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25. lostitnachrysler163 days ago
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  How much is this thing, I have Italian friends that would love this so would I but my heart belongs to the Panamera if they try to price it like a Maserati, no dice. NO one ever sees the C 8 or whatever it is…That $200k coupe Alpha has out in the US, unless its surprisingly cheap Im gonna wanna see some of that C8 italian rollyness, some pics it looks down right slippery… This design looks a little wedgier, ohhhhh it totally looks like those old late 70′s or really early 80′s (I’m guessing) Alpha 2 doors!!! It’s that hoooood!! Yep think I remember those from childhood, come on Uncle Vinny!!! Spice it up!!! Dash more of C8 please…..
  
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26. lostitnachrysler163 days ago
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  ok let me rephrase, i think that all alphas are just going to look like that to me, they need to mess with the grill a little more on this one, weren’t the grills on the 164′s from the early 90′s a little wider and not so pinchy??? And that bridge in the middle of the hood looks a little to edgey/wedgy/hard/OFF!!! The thing about alphas that have that narrow grill is that there was always a whole lot more leading up to it, so much bod no need for a big grill. Yeah, that raise on the hood and beaky grill make it look like a big blue eagle or hawk.
  
  THEY NEED TO PLAY WITH THE GRILL LIKE BMW WORKS THE KIDNEYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAMA MIA!!!!!!!! Grandma Pagliaci’s takin a nap have some fun with her!!!!!
  
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27. JohnnyViking163 days ago
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  Alfa, not Alpha. 8C, not C8…
  
  If you haven´t seen the 8C it´s probably because production was limited to 500 and the US only got around 200.
  
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28. smoke1485162 days ago
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  whats the latest on reliability of these latest alfas?
  
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29. 1911162 days ago
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  Fiat/Alfa Romeo would have been out of business if it were not for GM. GM had to pay up, then and only then did Alfa/Fiat come out with some nice cars. If GM did buy Fiat (the shares that they originally agreed to) Fiat would be dead today, no doubt about it.
  
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30. 1911162 days ago
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  Should have added Alfa Rome to the statement ” Fiat would be dead today, no doubt about it.”
  
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31. lostitnachrysler162 days ago
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  forgive the misspelling but the point was DEAD ON, that 8C!!!!!! Is freakin sexy, just finished look at some pic, drooooooooooooooooooooollllllllllllllllllllllllll………………….
  
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32. lostitnachrysler162 days ago
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  the front of this thing almost looks like a thicker BMW 8 series’s
  
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33. STromeo146 days ago
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  Alfa Romeo. Please bring the Giulietta to America too!!!
  
  Reply
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