After all the speculation that Alfa Romeo would share platform architecture with next-generation Chryslers and mount a return to the United States, Alfa never came up during today's 8-hour Chrysler-Fiat briefing.
Finally, a journalist asked, "What about Alfa?"
And Sergio Marchionne's reply? "We have Alfa in the 2014 sales numbers. But it's not much. Alfa needs to make a case for itself here, though."
That would be here, as in here in the U.S. But 2014 will apparently be no ordinary year. That's the year by which Fiat claims that Chrysler will more than double its current worldwide sales volume, topping out at 2.8 million units. That could happen, right?
Reporting by Dan Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
jackson611 says:
05:40 PM, 11/ 4/09
i can't believe that companies are even planning past 2012, the world will end by 2014, why waste money projecting that far into the future if it isn't going to ever come?
moparbad says:
07:08 PM, 11/ 4/09
Alfa is "art on four wheels". Alfa is the product to be the aspirational brand Chyrsler wants to be but may never be.
here is what was said about Alfa by Marchionne:
On whether Fiat’s Alfa Romeo brand is coming to the United States after all:
“Unless Alfa comes over here and somebody from that shop comes over here and makes a really good argument [of how Alfa serves Chrysler’s interests], Alfa is going to have a tough time.”
-end
My thought is that there is no need for Chrysler, just Alfa/Fiat, Dodge and Jeep.
efinils2 says:
10:13 PM, 11/ 4/09
moparbad, if Chrysler was out, who would compete against the Mercuries of the world!
notabigdeal says:
06:47 AM, 11/ 5/09
Right now, I think alfa is has a better argument then chrysler offerings. I wouldn't mind Alfa cars being sold as chryslers. Perhaps a fusion of the two brands could somehow work. I'll take the Alfa 159 over the Sebring any day.
notabigdeal says:
06:51 AM, 11/ 5/09
I just realized. if they can combine the 8C's looks with the Vipers performance for whatevery their new sports car is gonna be, that could be one sweet machine.
iskch says:
08:48 AM, 11/ 5/09
Base on the answer by Sergio, looks like Alfa is not going to share any floor space with FIAT or Chrysler products. Looks more of upscale brand stand alone.