Captured in Ann Arbor, a new Alfa Giulietta. Photo by Larry Crane.
The rear is chunky but distinctive. Photo by Larry Crane.
Larry Crane was in his old stomping grounds of Ann Arbor, Michigan recently, and what should he see but a brand new spanking Alfa Romeo Giulietta four door sedan, sitting in a local bank’s parking lot. Being the sharp kinda guy he is, he grabbed his digital camera and got off these shots.
So, is Alfa really coming to the U.S.? Well maybe. The presence of a test car seems to bode well for the possibility. Maybe we are something like half way there. Nice looking car though and distinctive. The Giulietta has been awarded the prestigious Euro NCAP five-star rating and an overall score of 87/100: an extraordinary result that makes it the safest compact ever. In Europe, the Giulietta is offered with three turbo gas engines, 1.4 liter with 120 hp, 1.4 with Multi Air and 170 hp, and a 1750 cc with 235 hp.
Sorry, I don’t like it.
Alfa models over the last few years that didn’t make it here were much more attractive.
Oversized headlights and grill like so many other manufacturers just don’t do it for me.
Unfortunately, those manufacturer plates resign this particular vehicle to irrelevancy in the great Alfa wait-and-debate game. The domestic makers regularly bring over Euro-only models for evaluation. I’ve seen a BMW Z1, a Peugeot 405 coupe, GM and Ford Euro-models, a few others in the greater Detroit area wearing those diplomatic-immunity M plates. Sadly they never portended anything.
Hopefully we’ll hear more official word soon; as Fiat starts to get some traction, Alfa likely won’t be far behind.
It’s hard to get excited about a pseudo ALFA. Granted, it’s technologically advanced, but retains more-of-the-same FIAT mechanicals and underpinnings. It has lost the heart and soul engineering that was ALFA. It’s a sign of the times, and the way we’ve seen other marques go. FIAT has been producing much better product, but it remains to be seen if it can revive itself from the distinction of the Fix-It-Again-Tony memories that remain in the memory of North Americans. FIAT has a tough road to go for its’ brand, much less the reincarnating and marketing of ALFA. It’s akin to the Ford/Mercury similarities or GM’s badged engineering, where brands die because there’s too much of the same, and not enough distinction. The beautifully bodied 8C which gave hope to the revival of ALFA used previous generation mechanicals from Maserati, (like Damlier-Chrysler’s Crossfire that used previous generation Mercedes technology). Was it a better product? Yes. Does that product translate into an ALFA by the standards of its’ past heritage of being a trend-setter and employing state-of-the-art technology? What remains at the end of the day is if the ALFA brand can find it’s distinction and gain traction in the North American market.
Its a Sin to call It a Giulietta
I happen to know the new PR team leader and there is a US Alfa staff now in place. However, this Giulietta is unlikely to disuade a Hyundai/Toyota shopper (local Chrysler dealer?), and if the Alfa guys aren’t lining up, they will be in trouble. We can dream of the new roadster proto they have been showing for a year or so.
Disappointed. It looks like a Saab bathtub.
Yes …Yes ….& YES !… Bring it on !
You’d have to be crackers to like that thing.
I don’t know how many ways you can spell ugly, but this car sure says it. Hell, I was an Alfa dealer back in the 1960s, but I wouldn’t even think of trying to sell one of these.
Word in the LA Times business section yesterday was that an upcoming small car from Dodge will use the same platform as that Giulietta. This will be the first Chrysler use of a Fiat-designed platform. Businesswise, this is a much more intelligent undertaking than their last use of a foreign master’s underpinnings, building the Crossfire on the then-obsolete SKL chassis. As nifty a car as that was, or almost was, it was not something a lot of people wanted or needed. Dodge emphatically needs some affordable vehicle other than the ghastly Caliber. The article said the new car will debut next year, while the Caliber will stay in production (WHY???) through 2012.
As for this Alfa, though it doesn’t look too appealing, I do think that this talk of “sacrilege” and “pseudo-Alfas” is just silly. Cars do not have bloodlines; they have histories and engineering legacies, true, but they are built to be sold and to make money, neither of which are objectives that can be met using the kind of craftsmanship used to make the Alfas we remember and love the most, unless they revert to being toys for millionaires. Their appeal is of course personal and subjective; I might very well change my mind about this one if I were to drive it and find it enjoyable, as all the Alfas I’ve driven in the past have been.
I personally like it and would seriously consider one if it was the type of car I was in the market for. Having said that, I have a feeling that the American consumer might associate it with the unloved first generation Subaru Tribeca.
I have owned eight Alfa Romeos. Their looks haven’t always been the greatest, but always different from the run of the mill. Does it have that unique Alfa Feel when driving? That’s important. Why not a stripped-down driving machine for affectionados?? With a true Italian-inspired body design. Low. Lightweight. Sleek. Room for two. Simple ragtop. High reving dohc. Manual rack and pinon. Five speed manual. Minimum electronics-just enough to pass Califonia emissions (and safety requirements). Red. Picture it in your mind, like I have. Are you drooling?
Unfortunate as it may be, it all comes down to the lowest common denominator: a connection with Chrysler dealerships and all their baggage. What a combination, the Fiat orginization trying to overcome all the past history in North America being paired up with dealerships in the US that have a world class ability to alienate their customer base with with a culture of mediocrity. Who is going to buy an Alfa and have that experience diluted by going thru Chrysler sales, and especially service facilities?
Let us get the camel in the tent first, then we can see what Alfa will produce and what the U.S. consumer will buy.
Being a former Alfa owner (1991 164L), I can say some owners have a love/hate relationship with the brand. When and if Alfa does return, I hope the build quality is much better, or else they will not make it in the US.
Personally, I like this car but the somber grey color does it no favors. Let’s remember, it’s been 15 years since Alfa sold cars in the U.S. and the last few year’s sales totals could be counted in three digits, tops. In Europe where the sales “bloodline” had been unbroken, this is a popular and well-regarded car.
I think the challenge to them selling in the U.S. is that the general public here either has no idea what Alfa Romeo is or just know them primarily for poor quality and bad customer service, deserved or not. When a Mazda3 or VW GTI offers similar performance for less money and less perceived “risk,” then they have a real uphill battle. Throw in a group of unenthusiastic Chrysler/Dodge salespeople (sounds familiar to those looking for an Alfa in the early 1990’s, no?) and the mountain becomes even bigger.
Personally, I’d take the risk but I read Veloce Today and know what a Lancia is so I’m far from representative of the general public in the U.S.
I don’t think it ugly, and agree with a poster above that the grey color fails to show off its actually-pretty lines – white would’ve been more like it (just Google and official white photos should appear).
I recall watching James Mays on Top Gear test a recent Alfa 159 (Fiat underpinnings and God-knows what else!), and the object was to NOT utter words such as “passion”, “soul”, “emotion”… you get the idea; each time Mays mouths these words while he drives, he’d throw money into a little can on the dashboard; the can got heavier. Having watched a fair number of TG episodes, I think that Mays (and the rest of the TG crew) knows and appreciates the Alfa story, and if he can’t but helplessly compliment this slow, nose-heavy, Fiat-based car, perhaps Alfa is STILL doing something right, despite our misgivings. I for one am very much looking forward to Alfa’s return to the U.S.
L’ho vista, l’ho provata: è una FIAT Bravo con LOGO “ALFA ROMEO” di ALFA non ha nulla solo il marchio……
Alfa: send your model MITO, all the youngsters will purchase thousands……………
In my opinion this is not a car that I would want to introduce having been gone for over 15 years. When you think of Alfa Romeo for those that have any past knowledge you don’t think of a sedan…you think of sports cars and spiders. This might well be a very good car but it looks too much like body styles that are already here and would not be a head turner. The 8C is a “dream car” and not to be thought of as our next toy. I want to see a $40,ooo to$50,000 Spider to wet my appetite or a low fat coupe…that would open the doors of excitement.
What is an Alfa Romeo? It’s a sporting/sports cars with a racing heritage. Back in the day, particularly the Fifties/Sixties, Alfas were light years ahead in technology compared to other sports cars of the era. Engines with double overhead camshafts, light alloy blocks and head, five-speed transmissions, alone with some of the best brakes in the industry; disc brakes all the way around! All created by a business owned by the Italian government! Is this the best (other than the 8C) that Fiat can do?
I would prefer a proper sedan w/ trunk or a 3 door hatch over this body style. If this was cost competative with the GTI / Mazda 3 then it would have favor in my eyes. Or I can drive my GTV6 for the next 7 summers and buy a $1500 beater for the winters each year. Cost is probably the same.
Personally I like the looks of it. If I had to decide between an Audi A3, a Subaru WRX hatch or this, then the Alfa would be a definite contender. The make or break for me would be whether it was an AWD car.
I really like the way they did the rear doors with the hidden latches. Gives it a 2 door look with the advantage of 4 doors.
It needs to have 200+ horsepower and get about 28-32 mpg.
I’ve had several Alfa’s and their build quality sucked and reliability was even worse so I find it hard to understand the “Alfisti” mentality. Why put up with that stuff. You DO want to be able to drive the car – dealerships of any kind instill fear in me – I avoid them like the plague.
there’s also a red diesel mito running around ann arbor. been seeing that one for a while now. it looks a lot better in person, tho still by no means a beautiful alfa. what’s going on? i really want them to bring the 159 here. how long will we have to wait…
The Brera would be a good model to bring to USA. Alfa has got style, no matter how it drives. Alfa has the same market as Mini and women will buy Alfa’s in hoards. There are few really beautiful, personality cars at that price point besides Mazda or Hyundai. The sales in Europe support coming to the USA. If they want to step up against the 30K cars, it better be rear wheel drive, have some power and sound &steer like an Alfa.
Not easy on the eyes. Big mistake as a U.S. launch prospect. If Alfa hadn’t brought us the 8C, I’d have given up completely by now.
Wolf! Wolf!….yeah, right.
Give is Giugiaro for crying out loud.
Actually, isn’t the first Alfa to be sold in the US in receetn memory the 8C Competizione? Now THAT’s a beautiful Alfa! Pity that model didn’t go into full production instead of such a limited run.
I agree with a lot of the posters here that this new fangled Giuletta is not the best model with which to open the US Alfa Launch. The MITO would have been far better. I rented the MITO this past May while in Italy and loved it. But Alfa has never been smart about wooing the US consumer. Some things never change.
Mary Ann