It was reported earlier today that BMW and Fiat are going to collaborate on front-wheel-drive car that will be the basis for the next MINI and other future Fiats and Alfa Romeos. Now comes word that the partnership is also going to help bring Alfa Romeo back to the US in 2010.
Fiat released a statement today that included "as part of a possible cooperation, BMW Group will provide Fiat Group Automobiles with support in launching the Alfa Romeo brand in the North American market." A Fiat spokesperson also told the Automotive News that "MINI U.S. dealers would have the possibility to also sell Alfa Romeo cars."
This is great news since many of us have been wondering when the brand would finally return to the US.
Full Story: Autoblog
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Comments (12)
Competition is a good thing. Ever wonder why Ford does so well in the euroland, its because they have to compete to sell.
Makes you realize why they suddenly decided to start bringing the euro models over to the US. Maybe they caught wind of developments like this.
The small car market looks better every day.
Posted by Sandman | July 8, 2008 3:10 PM
Posted on July 8, 2008 15:10
Japan is an incredibly competitive market... supporting Sandman's analysis...
Posted by Competitor | July 8, 2008 5:37 PM
Posted on July 8, 2008 17:37
why do we need Alfa here? We have Pontiac, Saturn, Buick, Mercury already?
Posted by lowest iq | July 8, 2008 6:13 PM
Posted on July 8, 2008 18:13
I'm bored of reading about yet another FWD mini-car, there are literally hundreds of choices. We need more competition in the RWD small/weak sports car category, there are like 0 choices(currently).
Posted by Rich Spoiled Prick | July 8, 2008 7:18 PM
Posted on July 8, 2008 19:18
Does anyone else think this car is a hot damn mess or is it just me?
Posted by gilly | July 8, 2008 7:23 PM
Posted on July 8, 2008 19:23
It's not just you. Why'd they put a beak on it?
Posted by Tommy Boy | July 8, 2008 11:54 PM
Posted on July 8, 2008 23:54
I dig it! Hope to see one cruising the streets soon. What would be the starting price of the car pictured?
Posted by Alex | July 9, 2008 4:05 AM
Posted on July 9, 2008 04:05
I can't judge the appearance on this one photo but bird beak LOL as Tommy Boy said looks about right.
Posted by Tom T | July 9, 2008 5:57 AM
Posted on July 9, 2008 05:57
People that is an Alfy 8c Spider.
4.7L V8 450HP
6 speed, rear wheel, with LSD
And priced at supercar figures as well.
Apparently I am the only one that sees a problem with this. Anyone remember Subaru? How about the B9 Tibeca? Oh wait, that's was designed by an Alfy designer.... And what did it have? That lovely, very distinctive, beak as you put it. Sure on a small car, that is ACTUALLY made by Alfa then it's fine. It's much like you know a Porsche, BMW, or Aston Martin just by it's shape. But having Alfy design a Mini, ugh..
Great, you can take two good looking car and made a hideous mess out of it. You know it's really hard to keep a single car line going forever. Frankly BMW should be realistic about the Mini line, and not and try and reinvent it every couple of years. Much like VW and the Beetle.
Alfa looks to have good tech to backup the looks, but for the likes of me I don't think BMW will learn much from them. If it was Ford or GM, then by all means, but BMW?
Well it's either going to be a good thing, or a very very bad thing.
Posted by Brian | July 9, 2008 6:12 AM
Posted on July 9, 2008 06:12
I'll be happy to see some more Alfas driving around town, they do make beautiful cars. That being said, you'd never catch me buying one (though maybe test driving one). They're supposed to have terrible build quality. Just imagine if they started manufacturing them in the US, the quality would get even worse.
Posted by gm0n3y | July 9, 2008 12:00 PM
Posted on July 9, 2008 12:00
soul and passion and as most of us watch BBC Top Gear we all saw last weekends episode with the 1000$ alfas. they are not reliable to say the least.
Posted by dennisil | July 9, 2008 12:46 PM
Posted on July 9, 2008 12:46
@dennisil
Mate if you belived everything on topgear you would also believ Mazda's are broing, Jagaurs and Landrovers are the best yada, yada, yada.
In Australia we are a real test for cars, pretyy simalar to the USA. Now Alfa's do have their problems, but they are not major probelems. Abnd generally from what I've seen there is nothing wrong with the fit and finish. Thats just the British being really picky, if they see one panel misalighned by 1mm they see it ias a bad car. Never trust the British when it come to car qauility they have no idea, plus the climate is completly spastic! Rain and more rain. Plus they seem to have a habbit of winging about car dealers on servicing, havn;t they heard of their local mechanic its a no brainer.
Posted by Luke K | July 9, 2008 2:56 PM
Posted on July 9, 2008 14:56