X

A decade of delays: Alfa's full U.S. return pushed to '13

Automotive News reports on the new timing for the return of Alfa Romeo cars to the U.S.

Automotive News
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Giulia
The Giulia: By late 2013 (or not) Alfa Romeo
 

It's official: the full-fledged return of Alfa Romeo to the United States now has been delayed for 10 years. American Alfisti must feel a little like Charlie Brown making another kickoff attempt only to have Lucy yank the football away again.

Chrysler/Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne still says Alfa, which is owned by Fiat, will make its comeback in late 2012--which had been the plan since April 2010--but only for a few units of the limited-edition 4C coupe.

A full return now isn't scheduled to happen before mid-2013, starting with a compact crossover. The midsized Giulia sedan could follow by the end of 2013 at the earliest.

Alfa pulled out of the United States in 1995 with a reputation for poor quality. But in 2000, then-Fiat Group CEO Paolo Cantarella said a new Alfa Spider would be sold here in 2003 as part of Fiat's ill-fated alliance with General Motors. It didn't happen.

In 2002, the plan was put back a year because of delays in developing the Spider, and that began a series of holdups that continues to this day.

What caused the latest delay? Marchionne has rejected the proposed styling for the sedan three times in the past 18 months.

Technically, Alfa already is back. It has sold about 100 units of the limited-edition 8C models at U.S. Maserati dealerships. But when the sporty, Fiat-owned brand returns in force, it will be through U.S. Fiat dealerships that also get Alfa Romeo franchises.

(Source: Automotive News)