[PR]

What a load of cack. You dont see the other manufacturers doing this...

FRANKFURT – Alfa Romeo has cancelled or delayed the launch of new models due to the poor economic outlook.

The Fiat S.p.A. sporty brand has scrapped plans to launch a midsized SUV due in 2014. A compact SUV, due in 2012, is now slated for 2013.

The Giulia midsized car will be introduced in 2014 instead of next year, while the launch of a new Spider, orginally due in 2013, is now moved to 2014.

The product changes were outlined in a presentation given by Alfa CEO Harald Wester to financial analysts at the auto show here on Wednesday.

The changes have led Alfa to reduce its target to sell 500,000 units a year by 2014 to 400,000.

The move follows gloomy comments on Europe's economy made by Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne at the auto show on Tuesday.

He said the euro debt crisis has prompted Fiat and Chrysler to examine the timing of vehicle introductions.

"We are reviewing volumes and the timing of new products to see when it is really necessary to launch them," Marchionne said.

The Giulia is a key car for Alfa. It will replace the Alfa 159. Sedan and station wagon versions are planned.

In the past 18 months Marchionne has rejected three rounds of styling proposals for the car.

The five-door MiTo subcompact is the only Alfa model to keep its timing for a 2013 launch.

The Alfa 4C coupe will suffer a minimal delay. It will launch in mid-2013 instead of the end of next year.

A large Alfa sedan derived from the next generation of the Maserati Quattroporte will be launched after 2014 instead of the cancelled midsized SUV.

According to Wester's presentation, Alfa plans global sales of about 155,000 units this year, from 115,000 it sold both in 2009 and 2010.



Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110914/ANE/110919901/1172#ixzz1Y05NWKoM

 

[David P]

Good to see Alfa are prioritising though & keeping probably the most important car in the future lineup on it's target for launch ....

... The 5 Dr Mito :nutter: :headbang:



Not good news for anyone looking for a new Alfa in the near / not so near future is it

 

[ACAPULCO AL]

leaving such a gap before the replacement for the 159 is mental - think how many 159 drivers will be ready to change their car end up in audi/bmw/mercs and probably never come back

kinda ***** up my plans as well - i was planning on keeping my 159 until sometime in 2014 by which time there would be plenty of 1-2 year old used giulias on the market in my price range. not any more - and i won't be buying one brand new.

wonder if they'll now re-start production of the 159 with a minor facelift?

 

[divadiva]

This is surprising news indeed.

I have been looking at possibly having a new car again due to a change in circumstance, so that's the Giulia out then!

I must admit, the 159/Brera are truly stunning cars anyway - the best design ever IMO.

 

[miketi]

It's pretty unbelievable. I mean, are Alfa serious about wishing to compete with the BMW, Audi squad or what??

So, for the next 2+ yrs they've got the MiTo and the Giulietta and that's all.

Nonsense.

 

[trashbat]

Not very good is it. I guess this means no US re-entry too?

 

[Guest]

Saw this coming, It's one of the reasons I'm now selling Nissans for a living instead of Alfa's. The next 2 years are going to be really tough for Alfa with only MiTo and Giulietta.

 

[Guest]

Agree, it will be tough for Alfa dealers. They must be looking at a tough 18 months with such a limited range.

 

[miketi]

I guess it'll be an advantage to those considering buying these two models as Alfa will be pretty keen to get them out. There'll be some good deals to be had, I reckon.

For myself, I'll be looking to change my 159 in 2014. I was kinda hoping the Giulia would be well broken-in by then. Doesn't look like it though.

 

[Ralf S.]

Yeah but.. Alfa is and always has been pretty skint. They probably feel a bit nervous to invest in the launch of several new models if they're not going to sell in enough numbers to pay back the investment quickly enough.

I guess in due course they'll have enough sales momentum (c.o USA and these new models) that they can act more like a normal car manufacturer.. but for the moment, I guess they have to be cautious.

And.. probably it's an excuse for being further behind schedule than they thought they would be..

Ralf S.

 

[ACAPULCO AL]

maybe they keep designing the giulia with mito eyes and marchionne keeps being sick all over the plans?

 

[Happy Man]

:cheese:

 

[dcystar147]

Agree, it will be tough for Alfa dealers. They must be looking at a tough 18 months with such a limited range.

Western Alfa in Perth.
They sell Alfa and Saab.
One cutting back and the other in administration for the third time. Oh dear!

 

[PR]

Same as Alexanders in Stockton on Tees....

 

[Guest]

Western Alfa in Perth.
They sell Alfa and Saab.
One cutting back and the other in administration for the third time. Oh dear!

That's one of the other reasons I left.

 

[alfabeat]

Brings back the debate, would Alfa be better off under ownership of a different company with deeper pockets and a more forward thinking attitude.

You don't see Audi, VW, BMW, Jaguar (basically pretty much all other car producers) slowing down on model releases and they must study the same market foces/sentiments as Fiat.

No serious car company can survive with just 2 models in its line up. The dealer network will abandon Alfa faster than its loyal customers....

There is more to it than just being the wrong time to release new models. Either there are serious design issues or just not the cash to push to production. It would seem that Fiat Group would rather put their limited cash resources elsewhere than investing in Alfa Romeo.

I'm thinking now that I would prefer to see Alfa under new ownership - at least they would then have a chance of survival. This just confirms to me that Fiat really do not value the Alfa brand at the moment.

 

[miketi]

Could we be looking at serious long-term survival effects/issues here?
As someone above said, the dealer networks won't think twice about abandoning the make if things continue in the direction in which they appear to be heading.

 

[Spider95]

Brings back the debate, would Alfa be better off under ownership of a different company with deeper pockets and a more forward thinking attitude.

You don't see Audi, VW, BMW, Jaguar (basically pretty much all other car producers) slowing down on model releases and they must study the same market foces/sentiments as Fiat.

No serious car company can survive with just 2 models in its line up. The dealer network will abandon Alfa faster than its loyal customers....

There is more to it than just being the wrong time to release new models. Either there are serious design issues or just not the cash to push to production. It would seem that Fiat Group would rather put their limited cash resources elsewhere than investing in Alfa Romeo.

I'm thinking now that I would prefer to see Alfa under new ownership - at least they would then have a chance of survival. This just confirms to me that Fiat really do not value the Alfa brand at the moment.

Completely agree. I argued along these lines in another thread at the beginning of this year, and got slated for it!

But nothing is surprising in this news release from the Fiat Group. The move to the SUV market was madness anyway - people are moving away from SUVs and downsizing, so expect the other version to get ditched as well. The delay in the Giulia is frustrating and perplexing - no other brand would get away with this. It's only because Alfa Romeo has been consistently bank-rolled by the Fiat Group since 1986 that it's still with us. Since 1986 Alfa Romeo has never, EVER, made a net profit for the Fiat Group.

Whether Alfa Romeo survives in it's current set up over the next two years will be the greatest question of all.

 

[Guest]

Completely agree. I argued along these lines in another thread at the beginning of this year, and got slated for it!

But nothing is surprising in this news release from the Fiat Group. The move to the SUV market was madness anyway - people are moving away from SUVs and downsizing, so expect the other version to get ditched as well. The delay in the Giulia is frustrating and perplexing - no other brand would get away with this. It's only because Alfa Romeo has been consistently bank-rolled by the Fiat Group since 1986 that it's still with us. Since 1986 Alfa Romeo has never, EVER, made a net profit for the Fiat Group.

Whether Alfa Romeo survives in it's current set up over the next two years will be the greatest question of all.

Have to agree with you. It's quite sad really. The time for the SUV's was 5 years ago, if not more.
Alfa Romeo have to be just about the most frustrating company in the world, a company full of if's and but's. Hate to say it, but maybe it is time for change

 

[phil-gtv6]

Completely agree. I argued along these lines in another thread at the beginning of this year, and got slated for it!

But nothing is surprising in this news release from the Fiat Group. The move to the SUV market was madness anyway - people are moving away from SUVs and downsizing, so expect the other version to get ditched as well. The delay in the Giulia is frustrating and perplexing - no other brand would get away with this. It's only because Alfa Romeo has been consistently bank-rolled by the Fiat Group since 1986 that it's still with us. Since 1986 Alfa Romeo has never, EVER, made a net profit for the Fiat Group.

Whether Alfa Romeo survives in it's current set up over the next two years will be the greatest question of all.

I don't think there's a move away from SUVs in the UK, most of the new plated cars I see are a 4x4 of some sort. - especially the small/midsize SUV that are shifting quickly