Big Alfa investment begins launching models

conaero

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The Alfa Romeo Giulia is expected in U.S. showrooms in late 2016.

No brand in the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles portfolio is getting more attention -- or investment -- in the next four years than Alfa Romeo.

The products being developed by hundreds of engineers squirreled away in Modena, Italy, may hold the key to FCA's long-term future, if just making sure the automaker gets a return on its 5 billion euro (about $5.5 billion) investment.

The first Alfa Romeos, the 4C coupe and 4C Spider, are already on sale in the U.S., and so far, results have been tepid at best for the low-volume roadster.

In late June, the brand previewed the first product from its Modena engineering project, the Giulia, which will arrive in the U.S. in late 2016. New vehicles are planned in six-month intervals after that debut until the brand's eight-vehicle lineup is filled by 2019.

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4C and 4C Spider: Launched in 2014 and early 2015, there are no refreshes planned before 2019. A more powerful GTA variant is under consideration.

Giulia: The midsize sedan previewed in late June will be publicly unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show in September. The Giulia should be in U.S. showrooms in late 2016. The car initially will come with a Ferrari-derived, 503-hp, twin-turbo, 2.9-liter V-6 to compete with the BMW M3. A 2.0-liter, turbo inline-four will follow, possibly in 2017.

Midsize SUV: The Audi Q5 rival is set to debut in early 2017. It will share the Giulia's underpinnings and engine range.

Large sedan: Alfa Romeo's new flagship, to rival the Audi A6 and BMW 5 series, will be a large version of the Giulia. It will have powerful versions of the new engine range, but no V-8 is planned.

Roadster: Alfa Romeo is working on a larger roadster than the Mazda-based Fiat 124. The Alfa roadster will use a shortened version of the Giulia platform and share the same powertrain offerings.

Midsize coupe: This Giulia derivative will basically be a roofed version of the new roadster and is set to compete with the BMW 4-series coupe and the Audi A5.

Large SUV: Alfa Romeo has long planned a large SUV, mainly for the U.S. and China. The production model will share its underpinnings with the large sedan and compete with the Audi Q7 and BMW X5.

Compact hatch/sedan and coupe: A final decision has not been made on these models because of the different needs of various regions. Europe is asking for a five-door hatchback to replace the current front-wheel-drive Giulietta and a station wagon variant to rival the Audi A3 Sportback.

North America and Asia have little need for compact hatchbacks and wagons, so they are pushing for a four-door sedan and a compact coupe. FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne said that "technically," Alfa's future compact models could switch to rear-wheel drive, using a shortened Giulia platform, but a decision to do so has not been made.
 

conaero

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The midsize Coupe (GTV/Brera replacement) in 2019 looks interesting, especially in QV guise.

Midsize coupe: This Giulia derivative will basically be a roofed version of the new roadster and is set to compete with the BMW 4-series coupe and the Audi A5.