Ferrari to help Alfa Romeo on engines, Marchionne says

[Evan Bottcher]

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130130/COPY01/301309649/ferrari-to-help-alfa-romeo-on-engines-marchionne-says&cciid=email-autonews-daily#axzz2JVdoQvB9

TURIN, Italy -- Fiat SpA will announce within a month a technical cooperation between its Ferrari and Maserati subsidiaries on engine work aimed at rebuilding the Alfa Romeo brand.

"Ferrari will take a more active role in engine development for Alfa, similar to what Ferrari already did for Maserati," Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said Wednesday in a call with analysts.

Marchionne added that "engines worth wearing the Alfa badge" remain the biggest issue he is facing in reviving the sports-car brand.

After struggling for years to relaunch Alfa, Marchionne in November announced a new plan, calling for nine new-model introductions from 2013 through 2016. He hopes to triple Alfa sales to 300,000 units annually in 2016, from about 100,000 last year.

[Paul Gulliver]

Evan, we all live in hope and have heard variations on this theme for many years. Seeing will be believing. 

Gully

[Evan Bottcher]

I didn't think there was much to complain about in the current run of Fiat four-cylinder motors. By all accounts the 1750 TBI is a solid performer...

[Alfamania]

Please Bring Back the V6!!!  with 300+ HP

[Paul Gulliver]

I didn't think there was much to complain about in the current run of Fiat four-cylinder motors. By all accounts the 1750 TBI is a solid performer

Neither do i but its getting to the stage where they are going to have to start delivering.  1000 sales in Australia last year and only 100,000 globally just doesn't cut the mustard. Hate saying it but if Fiat can't get "the wheels back on Alfa Romeo" , bring on VW ownership of Alfa. 

[colcol]

Fiat have mismanaged Alfa Romeo now for 27 years, now that they have got through their trial period, how much longer do they want?, in the boom times of Alfa Romeo in 1985 they sold lots more cars, that was despite their finacial woes, one of their more popular cars the 159, out of production last year and still no replacement, how bad can it get?, 1,000 cars in Australia last year and 100,000 worldwide, thats heading towards SAAB teritory, and they are mucking around with new four wheel drives, which they have missed the boat and a 4C that they have been talking about for years, but still nothing and the new Spider that is going to be built by Mazda, ARNA anyone?, Colin.

[Duk]

and the new Spider that is going to be built by Mazda, ARNA anyone?, Colin.

Why do people always draw reference to the failed ARNA when talking about the potential for the new Alfa Spider to be built by Mazda?
Are people that bias that they can't accept that the MX5 has been a massive success for Mazda with a huge world following for a very long time now?
Isn't that what Alfa Romeo need, sales success and loyal following?
Are people truly that ignorant that they think that the Japanese can't build a true sports car?

[Brad M]

and the new Spider that is going to be built by Mazda, ARNA anyone?, Colin.

Why do people always draw reference to the failed ARNA when talking about the potential for the new Alfa Spider to be built by Mazda?
Are people that bias that they can't accept that the MX5 has been a massive success for Mazda with a huge world following for a very long time now?
Isn't that what Alfa Romeo need, sales success and loyal following?
Are people truly that ignorant that they think that the Japanese can't build a true sports car?

Right on Duk!  Totally agree with your sentiment, I expect the new Spider be better than the last 2 versions we have had.

[GTV-074]

I don't care who they "share" cars with.... just start getting some new product out there!

Mazda is a fine partner to develop a car with and it we can only hope some of the "brand trust" that people have with the likes of Toyota, Honda, Mazda
can rub off onto our fine marque.

Alfa needs to sort itself out pretty quickly or it will go the way of Lancia and others, relegated to the pages of history and museums.

Cheers,

Paul.

[colcol]

Sorry to give you the impression i don't like Mazda MX-5's, i do, i reckon they are a no B.S. sports car, but it will always be a Mazda with an Alfa badge, and as for Ferrari helping Alfa Romeo on engines, Alfa Romeo were making twin cam engines when Enzo was in short pants, it will most likely be a cynical stunt with a badge on the engine cover, saying "developed by Ferrari" on one of their latest Chrysler motors, the last of the 159 had fantastic motors, the 1750 TBI and the ripper 2.4 5 cylinder Diesel motor, both built in Italy, Colin.

[1750GTV]

I thought that Ferrari/Maserati were already building engines for AR in the 8C Competizione.

Either way, modern Alfas boil down to being 'tricked-up' Fiats and that is a big part of their current global problem. They no longer stand apart as a brand.

Chris

[Duk]

Sorry to give you the impression i don't like Mazda MX-5's, i do, i reckon they are a no B.S. sports car, but it will always be a Mazda with an Alfa badge, and as for Ferrari helping Alfa Romeo on engines, Alfa Romeo were making twin cam engines when Enzo was in short pants, it will most likely be a cynical stunt with a badge on the engine cover, saying "developed by Ferrari" on one of their latest Chrysler motors, the last of the 159 had fantastic motors, the 1750 TBI and the ripper 2.4 5 cylinder Diesel motor, both built in Italy, Colin.

So is a rebadged or maybe rebodied Mazda any different to a rebodied FIAT?
Given what has come from Alfa Romeo in the last 20+ years, I'd welcome a rebodied Mazda based Alfa 'cause they haven't churned out anything that I aspire to own.
Actually, I'd like to see the old Mazda FC3S (Series 6-8) RX7 chassis resurrected with a V6 (but who's?) under the bonnet and an Italian styling house body on it (can you say Pininfarina?).
But even if they did something like that, it'd be over priced.

[ALFAAA]

Hey Duk,

I own a 2004 V6 3.2 Spider and I would say its a great car,
Goes like a rocket, handles and brakes like a dream , and looks the part.


Some of the cars that Fiat had released in the last 20 years are really not that bad.
From the 147 / 156 european car of the year ,with all the GTA models..

[Duk]

Hey Duk,

I own a 2004 V6 3.2 Spider and I would say its a great car,
Goes like a rocket, handles and brakes like a dream , and looks the part.


Some of the cars that Fiat had released in the last 20 years are really not that bad.
From the 147 / 156 european car of the year ,with all the GTA models..

I'm not saying that they are bad cars, I just don't call a powerful front wheel drive a true sports car.
And to me, it doesn't matter what diff or stability control system you put in 1, they are fundamentally a poor compromise. The front tyres are doing all of the hard work, the rear wheels don't even get to offer much in the braking department, plus the engine and transaxle are located forward of the front axle line, exacerbating the problems.

Give me a nice, clean, correctly engineered rear wheel drive sports car, where the working load is spread out over all 4 of the tyres as evenly as possible. With a light, rigid chassis, with the major masses positioned as centrally and as low as possible, sweet suspension geometry, spring rates and dampers to suit.
Then we have the DNA of a true sports car. 

[alfagtv58]

Give me a nice, clean, correctly engineered rear wheel drive sports car, where the working load is spread out over all 4 of the tyres as evenly as possible. With a light, rigid chassis, with the major masses positioned as centrally and as low as possible, sweet suspension geometry, spring rates and dampers to suit.
Then we have the DNA of a true sports car. 

So you want the 4C then.....me too.