Here’s another familiar report on Alfa Romeo’s product plans, this time from Autocar magazine, which states that an SUV will be released soon, basing their information on insiders and their own unique sources. Still, since it’s Alfa Romeo (again) that they’re talking about now, and we, like most other petrolheads, have a soft-spot for the red cars with the shield-shaped grille, we’ll give it a shot…with a grain of salt.
So apparently the UK publication is reporting two things: first is the fact that the Fiat-controlled brand will “step up a gear with the arrival of its first new-generation mainstream model in 18 months’ time,” which “according to company executives” will be a compact SUV, and not the 159-replacing sedan everybody was expecting.
Next, they’re saying that all new Alfas will embody a downsized-engine-and-lower-weight philosophy, epitomized by the 4C sports car, which thanks to extensive use of carbon fiber, weighs a smidge under 900 kg (or 1985 lbs and lighter than a Lotus Elise, with its bonded aluminum structure). That’s good and sounds a bit like what Mazda is trying to achieve with SKYACTIV, and it may be a result of Alfa’s collaboration with the Japanese automaker.
Moreover, the 1750cc four-pot turbo unit powering the 4C will be maintained as the brand’s main performance engine, but while it may propel the featherweight sports car past the benchmark sprint in 4.2 seconds, it won’t be enough for a big rear-wheel drive sedan ready to take on the Germans – they need a bigger unit to accomplish that.
Finally, the same report says that the brand’s most mainstream performance model currently on sale, the Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde (QV/Cloverleaf), will be getting a major makeover relatively soon, while the smaller MiTo will be replaced by a new model set to feature two more doors, as a response to poor sales of 2/3-door vehicles in Europe.
By Andrei Nedelea
Note: Alfa Romeo 156 Crosswagon Q4 pictured below – their last attempt at an all-terrain vehicle…
PHOTO GALLERY
