Alfa SUV In The Works

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

In an interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Alfa-Romeo boss Luca De Meo revealed plans to relaunch as a global brand, an effort which involves offering a new SUV in 2010 and eventually, hybrid options. With potential customers in China, Japan, Australia and the U.S.A. in mind, de Meo wants to increase volume with the Mi.To, earn respect with the 8C Competizione, go green with stop-start technology, and pander to American tastes with an SUV. The SUV, currently in development under the name CX-over, will be "compact" says de Meo, with a production goal of 40k units per year and a price of about $40k. De Meo seems unfazed by the dismal American market (particularly for SUVs), which Alfa will likely enter in 2010, saying he is "convinced that no brand can afford to not be represented there." De Meo admits that decisions about a dealer network haven't been made yet, and that the firm still needs a large sedan, an automatic transmission and a six-cylinder engine to achieve its strategic goals. Interestingly, Alfa will forgo a major marketing campaign. "Alfa Romeo is not a brand that requires huge marketing budgets," says de Meo, "the brand is known worldwide." Yeah, for frequent breakdowns, insufficient dealer networks and head-spinning depreciation. Saying Alfa will never be an "Eco-brand," de Meo nonetheless sees stop-start technology as an unobtrusive way to improve efficiency, and will offer it in 2009 or 2010. Hybrid options are much further off, and will come from Fiat's developments of the technology.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Fellswoop Fellswoop on May 23, 2008

    Google Fu Says: Res ipsa locquitur is apparently actually spelled Res ipsa loquitur "the facts speak for themselves." +5 for smartypants latin usage -10 for incorrect spelling.

  • RedStapler RedStapler on May 23, 2008

    Arriving to the SUV party a bit late. Of course the narrow top demographic they are targeting really don't care about the price of gas. When you are blowing 200k on a car you don't much care if it costs $4k or 10k per year to fuel it.

  • Jerseydevil Jerseydevil on May 23, 2008

    mamma mia. if porsche can sell 100,000 dollar suvs here, so can they i guess. at least they will be pretty. deus ex bella machina

  • Stein X Leikanger Stein X Leikanger on May 23, 2008

    When Saab, after holding back for years, launched their SUV, I thought they'd be the last. Then came the Cayenne (pretty much at the same time, actually.) And wouldn't you know it, Audi had to make one, as if they needed it, after having pretty much "invented" the four wheel drive station wagon. And now Alfa. Someone please tell them that the last thing the world wants is an Alfa SUV.

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