Mazda and FIAT to build sports car together

[Perreby]

Mazda Motor Corp. (7261), Japan’s least profitable carmaker, said it’s agreed to jointly develop a sports car with Fiat SpA (F) as part of a broader partnership.

Production of the vehicle may begin in 2015, the Hiroshima, Japan-based carmaker said in a statement today. The vehicle will be produced in Mazda’s factories and sold under the Japanese company’s brand and Fiat’s Alfa Romeo name, according to the statement.

The agreement paves the way for Mazda to expand sales in Europe through Fiat as the Japanese carmaker seeks to end four straight years of losses. For the Italian owner of Chrysler Group LLC, the deal may help the company gain access to Mazda’s engine and lightweight technology.

Mazda has “good products and technology, but didn’t fully monetize the actual value of its technology,” Kohei Takahashi, a Tokyo-based analyst with JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) (JPM), said by phone before the announcement. “For Mazda it’s better to have an alliance with someone.”

Mazda, which produces more than 70 percent of its vehicles in Japan, is counting on fuel-efficient models such as the CX-5 sport-utility vehicle, the first vehicle to be fully fitted with its so-called “SkyActiv” technology to increase sales and profits after the appreciation of the yen eroded the value of exports.

Here is the official press statement:


Mazda Motor Corporation (Mazda) and Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A. (Fiat) have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development and manufacturing of a new roadster for the Mazda and Alfa Romeo marques based on Mazda’s
next-generation MX-5 rear-wheel-drive architecture.

The study calls for both Mazda and Fiat to develop two differentiated, distinctly styled, iconic and brand-specific light weight, roadsters featuring rear-wheel drive. The Mazda and Alfa Romeo variants will each be powered by specific proprietary engines unique to each brand.

The project assumption is that both vehicles will be manufactured at Mazda’s Hiroshima, Japan, plant with production for Alfa Romeo envisaged starting in 2015.

“Establishing technology and product development alliances is one of Mazda’s corporate objectives and this announcement with Fiat is an important first step in that direction. It is especially exciting to be collaborating with such a prestigious marque as Alfa Romeo on a
new roadster based on the next-generation MX-5, which is such an iconic vehicle for Mazda and recognized as the best-selling roadster of all time.” said Takashi Yamanouchi, Mazda's

Representative Director and Chairman of the Board, President and CEO.

“This agreement clearly demonstrates our commitment to Alfa Romeo and the determination to grow it into a truly global brand. By partnering with Mazda, we will be co-operating with the recognized leader in compact rear-drive vehicle architectures in order to deliver an exciting and stylish roadster in the Alfa Romeo tradition. We are appreciative of this collaboration with Mazda and look forward to maintaining a fruitful and continuous relationship.” said Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne.

The Final Agreement is expected to be signed in the second-half of 2012. Mazda and Fiat have also agreed to discuss further opportunities for co-operation in Europe.

[NICUS]

Great news. This isn't the first time they partnered up though. On a much smaller scale they made that alfa 145 automatic with only 35 units and seemed like a minor success. SEE a 2ettotanta kind of roadster in the future.Sweet!

[turbonutters]

ok

[El 4 Romeo]

Freaking awesome

[zeffsofresh]

If it handles anything like the current MX 5 and is powered by an Alfa engine putting out at least 190kw and is styled like the old spiders it could be absolutely awesome!

[Jaco14]

I like

[Perreby]

Only problem is 2015 is a long long long way away from now...

At least we have the 4C, C-SUV (Kamal), Giulia to look forward to in the meantime..

See the MiTo will not be facelifted.. Its rumoured to be replaced by a brand new small Alfa around 2014

And a few rumours of a sedan and/or sportswagon variant of the G

[AlfaDrivingFan]

Let's hope Fiat do the styling and Mazda the mechanicals

Sorry Flashback to the 70s

[NICUS]

Mazda and Alfa collaborate | topCar magazine online

I'll **** myself if it looks like this. Not cool.

[BussoV6]

Originally Posted by ADF

Let's hope Fiat do the styling and Mazda the mechanicals

Sorry Flashback to the 70s

The infamous Alfa Arna....

[dkr]

Originally Posted by BussoV6

The infamous Alfa Arna....

Oh dear, hope they have there thinking caps on this time round.

Oh dear.....

So..... Alfa, cannot build sports car on their own anymore..... To think they once built Giulietta SV's, Giulia GT's and Alfetta GTV's. And beautifull Spiders. Made in Japan?

[Master Paul]

its official

RWD Alfa Spider to have Mazda genes - IOL Motoring | IOL.co.za

[Guili]

OMG...I foresee a G GTA with a DisiTurbo engine lol.

[Gertie]

Originally Posted by Guili

OMG...I foresee a G GTA with a DisiTurbo engine lol.

Sorry " The memorandum calls for Fiat and Mazda to develop two distinctly differently styled lightweight rear-wheel drive roadsters on the fifth-generation MX-5 chassis, each with a specific own-brand engine."

[Guili]

I did a "search" and the crystal ball said 2.3 disiturbo in G GTA.

[Perreby]

MasterP, its been official since yesterday morning when FIAT and Mazda announced it

[Gertie]

Originally Posted by Guili

I did a "search" and the crystal ball said 2.3 disiturbo in G GTA.

Aha...

[Guili]

Originally Posted by Gertie

Aha...

[masonGTA]

Originally Posted by Jacques L

Oh dear.....

So..... Alfa, cannot build sports car on their own anymore..... To think they once built Giulietta SV's, Giulia GT's and Alfetta GTV's. And beautifull Spiders. Made in Japan?

I agree

[Perreby]

Ja mason you never agree with anything Alfa does these days

Best selling roadster ever is the mazda. It will be cheaper to manufacture in Japan than Maserati building it.

The 8C was not exactly the greatest rwd car. But the mazda is well known for its capabilities as rwd car.

If this comes off it will be a master stroke by Fiat. And iTs part of their plan to get back inTo the US.

Don't haTe whaT you haven't tried..

[masonGTA]

Originally Posted by Perreby

Ja mason you never agree with anything Alfa does these days

Don't haTe whaT you haven't tried..

I never said I hate it. I just agreed with Jacques views. Everyone knows the MX-5 is a legend, but I don't see why a brand like Alfa Romeo need any help to build a rear wheel drive car. Its like Alfa can't do anything by themselves any more.

Sergio Marchionne promises a whole lot but what does he actually deliver? I tell you what he delivers, he delivers a positive bottom line. Everything he does is about cutting costs and selling in volumes.

So when I see the partnership with Chrysler, and I see that Chrysler are still building 800HP V8's for Nascar, and roaring around a track. I ask myself, "Why not Alfa?" Why can't Alfa enter into some form of racing? Just look at how the 156 dominated WTCC. Just a few years back. You should know the saying, Win races on Sunday and sell cars on Monday. When last did Alfa come near a race track?

But Chrysler can continue, why? I tell you why, "the bottom line". Nascar is huge business in the states and it builds reputation. The Giulietta could be an awesome car on the track, but why have they not got it racing anywhere?

When I see that they need to form a partnership with another company, all I see is another cost cutting exercise. So they can't take a plunge and go at it themselves, No, they would rather partner with someone and atleast get something out to please the Alfisti.

I think its disappointing. But remember, its only my opinion.

[Perreby]

Do you blame Sergio trying to cut or least share costs with another company when Alfa Romeo has been losing at least 50 million dollars a year for the last 5 years?

The cost of developing a new spider was slated at 1.3billion euros to start from scratch.. And would have taken 3 years to develop (before production even starts) That kind of money and time Alfa doesn't have... Mazda's development on the new mx-5 is in advanced stages already. So for minimal money Alfa gets the best rwd platform (for affordable cars) and Mazda gets to offset costs of development by building the spider on Alfa's behalf.

Alfa needs partners if it's going to survive. Plain and simple.

Let's be honest, if Sergio did not take over FIAT, FIAT and Alfa Romeo would be dead right now. And I mean dead as in no more Alfa's EVER!! Now we have Alfas to look forward too.

4C, an SUV, new Giulia, new spider, apparently a MiTo replacement..

He is using yanky profits to help rebuild Alfa.. and with that I have no problem
Europe car sales are dead... He is shifting all attention to the US now. Look at the FIAT 500, started slowly now sales are booming in the US. If Alfa can replicate that once they back in the US they will break even by 2014.

Europe will be dead in terms of car sales for year's to come. He can't fix Alfa in a dead car market.

As a business orientated guy and Alfa mad guy I think what Sergio is busy doing could turn out to be the best thing that ever happend to Alfa Romeo.

Ps as a FIAT shareholder I expect him to cut costs and boost the bottom line.

[NICUS]

I'm glad he said up yours germans."The currently VW designer Giorgetto Giugiaro spoke with an Italian source. According to this striking designer, Machionne is against selling Alfa Romeo. Taking into account that this would be a German buyer, he can’t imagine ever doing so. Marchionne would rather let the brand go bankrupt before selling (no matter how high the offer would be)"

So why can a company like BMW survive without a so called partner? Why do BMW not share platforms? I don't buy your argument Perreby.

If Alfa Romeo is only about providing a big fat profit for greedy shareholders, then I would much prefer that Alfa die with the last little bit of dignity left in it.

Alfa was once a company that produced the most desireable cars on the planet, no matter what the profit. Today....

Where there is a will, there is a way.