4C to Spearhead Alfa Romeo's US Offensive, Giulia Sedan Is Key

Why reporting on Marchionne’s actions we sometimes get the feeling that Fiat’s efforts are stretched a little thin, as the 500’s launch in the US was not the most successful ever and Alfa’s return to the new continents has seen delay after delay. However, the CEO insists that Alfa’s American return is on track.

According to Motor Trend, the offensive will be lead by the upcoming 4C sportscar, which will pave the way for a slew of other models. We’ve heard the story before, only with a car with twice as many cylinders and a similar name, the 8C Competizione, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t hopeful.

Instead of arriving together with cars that are already in Alfa’s stable, namely the MiTo and Giulietta, the Italian brand is cooking up something that will be more palatable for the American consumers. One of the new members of the family will be an SUV based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee, while the other is the new Giulia sedan that will come to replace the 159.

At around 4.8 meters long (a bit under 16 feet), the Giulia is the right size preferred by many Americans. "If we butcher that one, we're done," the exec said.

"We are already working on alternatives," confirmed Fiat Group design chief Lorenzo Ramaciotti Wednesday, while talking about the redesign work on the sedan. "The problem is that we have to work on a certain platform. We are, in a way, like fashion designers, and if you have to make a suit for a model you can do things you can't do if you have to make it for a fat lady."