It was about time: Alfa Romeo will reportedly launch its much-awaited new rear-wheel drive midsize sedan in June 2015. Alfa Romeo brand chief Harald Wester said at the Los Angeles Auto Show that the company will launch a new model in June, but declined to comment on the type of vehicle.
However, sources cited by Autonews Europe said the new model is the midsize sedan, which will be positioned “between the BMW 3-Series and BMW 5-Series”. Codenamed project 952, the new sedan is a successor to the Alfa Romeo 159, discontinued in 2011. However, it will not be badged as the Giulia, with the sources saying it will most likely get a different name.
Alfa plans to introduce eight new models by 2018 as part of Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne’s ambitious plans to increase sales to 400,000 units in 2018 from 74,000 last year. Alfa has reportedly started development on three of the eight new models, with one of them being the midsize sedan.
The other two are a midsize SUV and a flagship large sedan. The latter will be sized between the BMW 5-Series and BMW 7-Series, while the midsize SUV will be about the same size as the Audi Q5. A larger SUV is expected to arrive later on.
Alfa’s midsize sedan will be a key model for the brand’s relaunch in North America, where Marchionne expects to go from nearly zero to 150,000 sales by 2018.
Renderings by MPCardesign
PHOTOS
