Photo: Dragos Savu for Alfa Romeo Romania
Remember when Alfa Romeo was saying that it would finish introducing eight all-new models by the end of calendar year 2018? The skeptics among us didn’t believe the Italian automaker’s claim, and for good reason. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Alfa Romeo appears to be hampered down by a further delay.
The information comes courtesy of Automotive News, which calls the Tipo 961 as being a “large sedan” when the newcomer is actually of the mid-size variety. According to the cited publication, Alfa Romeo has delayed the new flagship sedan for unspecified reasons. Essentially “a longer and larger version of the Giulia,” the Alfetta (name not confirmed) would rival the Audi A6, BMW 5er, and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class to make the German trio complete.
So what the hell happened? Wasn’t Alfa Romeo boasting that €5 billion is enough to make its product plan happen by the end of 2018? That’s exactly the thing that puts off discerning customers and informed enthusiasts from believing the make-believe. Overpromising is in the nature of Alfa Romeo ever since Fiat Chrysler decided to pour money into the rear- and all-wheel-drive Giorgio platform, though all the carmaker managed to do is underdeliver.
Reading between the lines, the Alfetta’s delay made some people wonder if Fiat Chrysler has enough money to continue developing underperforming brands such as Alfa Romeo. With chief executive officer Sergio Marchionne increasingly desperate to find a buyer for the failing company, it’s highly likely that only Jeep and Ram are currently keeping FCA on the floating line.
It was only recently that Marchionne called Alfa Romeo (and Maserati) too immature for a spin-off, which is another way of saying that the buyer won’t pay as much money as FCA wants for the automaker. And as long as brands within Fiat Chrysler depend on in-house synergies (i.e., platforms) to make things happen, it’ll be nigh impossible to part ways with Alfa Romeo.
In related news, things aren't looking too rosy at Chrysler either.
So what the hell happened? Wasn’t Alfa Romeo boasting that €5 billion is enough to make its product plan happen by the end of 2018? That’s exactly the thing that puts off discerning customers and informed enthusiasts from believing the make-believe. Overpromising is in the nature of Alfa Romeo ever since Fiat Chrysler decided to pour money into the rear- and all-wheel-drive Giorgio platform, though all the carmaker managed to do is underdeliver.
Reading between the lines, the Alfetta’s delay made some people wonder if Fiat Chrysler has enough money to continue developing underperforming brands such as Alfa Romeo. With chief executive officer Sergio Marchionne increasingly desperate to find a buyer for the failing company, it’s highly likely that only Jeep and Ram are currently keeping FCA on the floating line.
It was only recently that Marchionne called Alfa Romeo (and Maserati) too immature for a spin-off, which is another way of saying that the buyer won’t pay as much money as FCA wants for the automaker. And as long as brands within Fiat Chrysler depend on in-house synergies (i.e., platforms) to make things happen, it’ll be nigh impossible to part ways with Alfa Romeo.
In related news, things aren't looking too rosy at Chrysler either.
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