Alfa Romeo plans to introduce new high-performance engines, including a range-topping V-6, in a bid to reconnect the brand to its sporty heritage.
The first of the engines — two petrol units and a diesel — will debut in Alfa’s new midsize sedan that will be unveiled in June, supplier sources told ANE. The sedan will go on sale in 2016.
Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne hopes that investing 5 billion euros ($7 billion) in Alfa Romeo will reverse a decade of losses and seven years of collapsing sales at the sporty brand.
Fiat doesn’t necessarily need to build the roadster announced with Mazda early last year with an Alfa Romeo badge, Fiat Chrylser Automobile CEO Sergio Marchionne said on Tuesday.”The brand that we use will be chosen in due time.
Fiat or its Abarth performance subbrand are likely to get a roadster from Mazda instead of Alfa Romeo, sources say.Fiat and Mazda product planners plan to meet soon to discuss the potential badge change for the MX-5-based two-seat car, the sources added.
Alfa, which will debut a concept version of its planned 4C convertible at the Geneva auto show on Tuesday, was supposed to get the Japan-build roadster at the start of next year.
Alfa Romeo’s new rear-wheel- and all-wheel-drive architecture will be code-named Giorgio, people working on the project stated. It’s one of the few details revealed so far about the struggling brand’s fourth revival plan since 2004.
