Alfa Gloria Might Be The Next Giulia

Due to launch in Europe, Asia and the United States in 2015, the Giulia is a crucial part of Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne’s plan to boost Alfa Romeo’s sales to 300,000 units by 2016 from 100,000 last year. The Giulia will be sold as a sedan and wagon and replaced the Europe-only Alfa 159 model line that was discontinued in late 2011.
Students from IED’s transportation design master program were asked to create their vision of a sedan that would appeal to customers in North American and Asian, two markets where Alfa currently is not present but are expected to play a key role in meeting Marchionne’s sales target.
In the design brief the students were told that the mid-sized sedan “remains a symbol of elegance and prestige” for the U.S. and Asian markets and that to capture this essence they would need a model that uses its length to convey “comfortable space both at the front and the rear.”
At 4700mm long, 1920mm wide, 1320mm tall and with a 2900mm wheelbase, the Gloria’s proportions are close to those of the forthcoming Giulia sedan. The next Giulia will have the longest wheelbase among models underpinned by Fiat-Chrysler’s compact wide architecture. Other models using the compact wide architecture are Alfa Giulietta, which has a 2635mm wheelbase, and the Dodge Dart with a 2700mm wheelbase.
Alfa says the Gloria’s hood “powerfully evokes the Alfa Romeo shield through the lines of the car, which highlight the three-dimensional aspects of its form.” The leather strips at the front recall the memorable leather luggage straps used on vintage Alfas, the company said.