Alfa Romeo has started development on three new models that will be key to the struggling brand’s turnaround. The cars are a midsize sedan to rival the BMW 5 series, a midsize SUV that will take on models such as the Audi Q5 and a flagship large sedan. The cars are the first wave of eight new Alfas announced May 6 as part of a strategic 5 billion euro (USD7 billion) plan to boost the brand’s global sales to 400,000 vehicles in 2018 from 74,000 last year.
Alfa and its parent, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, have declined to give specifics on the brand’s upcoming models since the May announcement when Alfa CEO Harald Wester also said the brand will switch to rear- and all-wheel drive configurations from front-wheel drive.
Here is Alfa’s latest future product plan,
Midsize sedan: Code-named Project 952, a midsize sedan will be the first of Alfa Romeo’s new products and will target models such as the Audi A6. The sedan is scheduled to debut in European showrooms in mid-2016 and in the U.S. by the end of that year. Originally due in 2014 badged as the Giulia, this sedan most likely will get a different name. It is a successor to the Europe-only 159 that was discontinued in 2011. On the sedan, Alfa Romeo will debut its new range of gasoline direct-injection engines featuring single or twin turbochargers. Planned are a 2.2-liter inline-four rated from 180 to 330 hp and a 3.3-liter V-6 with output from 400 to more than 500 hp. Meanwhile, two diesels are planned: a 120- to 210-hp inline-four and a 250- to 330-hp V-6.
Midsize SUV: This Audi Q5 rival is set to debut in the second half of 2016, sharing its underpinnings and engine range with the midsize sedan
Large sedan: Alfa Romeo’s new flagship, to rival the Audi A8 and BMW 7 series, will be a large version of the new midsize sedan. It will have powerful versions of the new engine range, but no V-8 is planned.
The timing and complete description of the rest of Alfa’s new range are still open.
