Alexandre
The long awaited FCA conference (the first of the group since Fiat S.p.A), finally took place! It was about Jeep, Chrysler but also Fiat and Alfa Romeo. It is therefore Harald Westerthe CEO ofAlfa Romeo and Maseratiand not Sergio Marchionne who presented the future of the Italian brand.
After a long but interesting presentation on the history of the brand, citing names such as Enzo Ferrari, Antonio Ascari, Tazio Nuvolari or Niki Lauda, without forgetting all the models that have made the brand famousLet's get down to business.
We have to admit that contrary to all the presentations we had the right to every year, this one was really worked. Here is an extract below.
At this conference, Harald Wester recalled the 5 keys that make up the DNA of Alfa Romeo :
- Innovative and technologically advanced engines;
- Perfect weight distribution (50 - 50);
- A set of exclusive technologies;
- An excellent weight/power ratio;
- An Italian design.
Following this, the presentation confirms that in recent years, these keys have not been respected (except for the design). The Germans are getting ahead of the game every year and the brand is not very credible regarding future plans (a mistake is half forgiven?). A radical solution is needed to relaunch the brand!
The Alfa Romeo solution: skunk-works
The what? The Skunk-Works. According to Alfa Romeo, this is an experimental laboratory or department of a company or institution that is generally smaller than them and independent of its main research branch (are you following?).
It would be for Alfa Romeo to deploy a team of "skunkers" dedicated to research and development. Could they be the famous ghost ships that Sergio Marchionne mentioned several months ago?
To go into more detail, About 200 skunkers are currently led by two Ferrari leaders who follow the operations day by day. There should be more than 600 by 2015 worldwide.
Specifically, the skunkers are working on powertrain and 4×4 platforms and are able to cover from the C-segment to the E-segment without forgetting SUVs. The first fruit of their work will arrive in the second half of 2015 and 8 novelties will arrive by the end of 2018. All made in Italy! A Alfa Romeo Giulia by the end of 2015?
Still according to Alfa Romeo, 3 gasoline engines and 2 diesel engines are on the program. For the first, the power will go from 110 hp to 500 hp and for the second, from 110 hp to 350 hp. A 6-cylinder engine at Alfa Romeo!
The last announcement is probably the most surprising, going from 74,000 to 400,000 sales / year...
In conclusion
Positives: As underlined at the beginning of the article, this presentation has nothing to do with what has been done in the past. Nothing to do with the presentations of Fiat and Maserati either, the package has really been put together. Also note the arrival of the Alfa Romeo Giulia for late 2015, the return to sportiness and performance. Note also that two SUVs are on the program.
Negatives: The Alfa Romeo Giulia, we have been waiting for it for years and we can regret in this presentation not to see a bit of its hood... Moreover, if a model is promised by Alfa Romeo for the end of 2015, for the others the range of 2016-2018 is too imprecise...
Come on, we'll really believe it when we see the first prototypes on the road!