The arrival of the Stelvio will please the Americans — whose approval will do most to propel any quick Alfa Romeo recovery — and the prospect of up to two more SUVs could generate real excitement. But will it?
The Alfa Romeo Stelvio has been revealed at the LA motor show - read about it here:
In modern times — which means in the 15 years since the marque achieved the reasonably good annual sales mark of 200,000 cars — the car-owning world seems to have settled into a bit of a stalemate with Alfa. Car people like having the cars around without actually buying one.
Perhaps they like the exotic sound of a name whose ownership can be contemplated for a reasonable price, and possibly at a discount. Real success depends on Alfa scaling some mighty hurdles.
The first is to produce new cars of such desirability that they’re irresistible. The Giulia goes some of the way, or would have done if it had appeared on time. The Stelvio must be brilliant, because no marque needs a quick and easy smash hit as badly as this one.
Read about the LA motor show here:
Even then, there’s another hurdle. Alfa has never had an SUV before. If it becomes the seller of three in short order, we’ll have to see whether the market is willing to see the sports and race-oriented Italian company as a predominant maker of family load-luggers. It worked for Porsche, but that transition was managed magnificently, and from a high base. Alfa’s challenges are even bigger.
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And for Maserati ? Even with
And later for Ferrari ?
You could argue Ferrari
I don't think it's going to
At the lower end Mazda has it tied up with the excellent CX-5, also relaunched as the second generation.
Also, I think electric hatchbacks are where it will be now, with the i3, the new I-Type, and VW's all new all electric hatch due in 2020. The new Giulia is really great, but the Stelvio is a misstep I think.
I'd say yes. Alfa Romeo must
What is Alfa Romeo a manufacturer of? As has been posted above it has already produced a huge variety of models, some better than others, some very good and some that were dire. The models it now produces are not deserving of its poor reputation, only the Mito remains as its weakest product. The Giulietta has quietly provided a solid footing for the company and deserved to sell in far greater number than it did, or does. Until recently I owned a Giulietta 1.4 Multiar, purchased from new with my own money. It has been one of the best cars I've owned, fast, economical, very well built and 100% reliable. On top of that it retained some 50% of its value come trade in, only patchy dealer service let the ownership experience down, that is more than can be said for the Jaguar F Pace we have also have. Two months into ownership and a number of issues along with poor dealership back up.
As long as it's carefully managed any automotive brand can produce any model they want now, many younger buyers, and buyers outside UK and Europe know nothing of Alfa's heritage and will be more than willing to accept new models, particularly those currently en vogue.
The Giulia and Stelvio are clearly Alfa Romeo's and I believe they both look stunning, personally I'm glad they still have a few foibles and are not sterile like many other models, that's what gives them character and it's character that many other models lack.