Just last week, we reported that Mazda and Alfa Romeo were teaming up to build the next Alfa Spider in 2015, which will be based on the next-generation Mazda MX-5. It was intended for a global market, but we were still wary that Fiat-owned Alfa brand would actually offer it Stateside, as the brand has yet to return to the US. Now, however, our hopes seem to be coming true, once again.
Reuters is reporting that Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has confirmed the return of Alfa Romeo for the US market in late 2013. In an interview with Reuters, Marchionne explained, “Its [sic] ready in the sense that a lot of work has gone on in terms of architectures and models. We’ve got to make sure we hit the powertrains dead on. This remains my key objective right now.”
Alfa has been struggling with sales in Europe and elsewhere as of late. Marchionne hopes that Alfa could upend its current sales track with the launch of the 4C sports car in late 2013 for the American market followed by the Giulia for 2014 and the Mazda-built Spider for 2015.
Alfa Romeo was last imported to the US in 1995. Since Fiat’s acquisition of Chrysler in 2009, Marchionne has been promising Alfa’s American return. Even as recently as last week, Marchionne had said that Alfa wasn’t ready for a US revival. Apparently things have changed in the last few days.
We’re unbelievably excited by the promise of the return of Alfa. Sure, its cars might not be very reliable but as Jeremy Clarkson has always said, “You can’t be a true petrolhead (the British version of gearhead) until you’ve owned an Alfa Romeo.” And as true petrolheads, we aim to own an Alfa here in the states as soon as possible even if it will break our hearts and wallets.
