REPORT: Alfa Romeo 166 replacement to be built in the U.S.
The last new Alfa Romeo to be sold in the U.S. market prior to the recent low-volume 8C Competizione was the 164 sedan. Fittingly, perhaps, it now appears that its descendant could be among the first Alfas to be produced in North America.
Seemingly reconfirmingg earlier rumors, Inside Line is reporting that the successor to the (now discontinued) 166 is expected to shift from a front-wheel drive to a rear-drive platform shared with the next generation Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger. While the current LX platform shares much of its suspension architecture with a previous-generation Mercedes E-Class, the new model is expected to be developed in-house by Chrysler.
The new big Alfa sedan will likely be built exclusively in Brampton, Ontario and exported to Europe. Inside Line is also reporting that the new rear-drive platform could be shortened and used for the next Brera and Spider as well. We expect to find out more some time in November when Chrysler/Fiat plans to further clarify their forthcoming product lineup.
[Source: Inside Line]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Papercutninja 4:35PM (9/25/2009)
So Canada is official in the United States now?
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Mike Se7en 4:42PM (9/25/2009)
You didn't hear...?
DJ 4:42PM (9/25/2009)
SOLD in the US, BUILT in Canada....
Mike Se7en 4:48PM (9/25/2009)
@DJ
"REPORT: Alfa Romeo 166 replacement to be built in the U.S."
DJ 4:52PM (9/25/2009)
Sorry, but I never reed the haedlines on AutoBlog or Engadget or the others. They our usilly filled with typoz and gramrical errers.
MBZ4me 5:59PM (9/25/2009)
I thought Prez Bush sold Canada?
dal20402 4:42PM (9/25/2009)
Sloppy headline writer is sloppy.
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itascawjm 4:42PM (9/25/2009)
YES.... best chrysler EVER.....
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Mark R 4:43PM (9/25/2009)
Anybody have any idea about what kind of price range this car would fall into? (More than a top-line 300?)
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massib5 4:52PM (9/25/2009)
no the Alfa 159 is sized like a bmw 3 series, the new 166 will costs a little less than an 5 series or an audi A6, and it'll probably powered by the planned 3000 turbo multiair. Rear drive....mmm that's hot!
F50 4:43PM (9/25/2009)
I think they mean North America.
The full sized LX to underpin something like a Brera?(Isn't it sized like a 3 Series or 370Z?) they would be better off buying the Kappa and making that work for it.
Good luck Fiat/Chrysler.
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letsgetspocked 4:53PM (9/25/2009)
The thought of a RWD-drive Alfa being sold here, stateside, is very nice...but I do hope they cut down a bit on weight. Current LX-platformed cars are (frankly) porkers.
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rxallan 5:14PM (9/25/2009)
A RWD Alfa built in Canada, holy molly !
I would buy the 166, Brera, and Spider.
Please please please Fiat, DO IT !!
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Shiftright 5:16PM (9/25/2009)
I'm a long time Alfa devotee, having owned several and have been eagerly awaiting Alfa's return to the US market, but have mixed feelings about this. I'll wait to see the result, of course, but the idea of an Alfa engineered by Chrysler doesn't set my enthusiast heart aflame. They are two completely different philosophies on car design, and that concept didn't work too well in Chrysler's previous marriage. Also, I like my Italian cars Italian, thank you very much, and I fear badge engineering and the dumbing down of Alfa to merely another brand in place of a marque.. Maybe it's time to restore my 100% Alfa RWD GTV6...
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rxallan 5:29PM (9/25/2009)
I would argue that Chrysler engineers are just as good as Fiat's engineers. Chrysler's management is to blame for their current pile of poo offerings.
Fiat has already restructured Chrysler's executive structure to reflect the Italian style. I would assume they have plans to (or already have) alter the vehicle development process too.
Shiftright 5:36PM (9/25/2009)
I hope you're right rxallan...
Kip 6:32PM (9/25/2009)
It didn't work too well in Chrysler's last mix with an Italian brand either (Chrysler TC by Maserati, anyone?)
I'm with you, Shiftright. I desperately miss my '76 Alfetta Sport Saloon despite it being quite a headache. I've also been waiting for Alfa's return with baited breath. The 146 GTA and MiTo GTA are about as enticing to me as the 8C (yeah, you read that right). I'd hate to see Fiat try to create an Alfa for the American market by rebadging a 300c and adding some "Italian flare", whatever the marketing departments determine that to mean. An Alfa needs to feel and sound like they always have.
Time will tell, and I'll try to be optimistic, like rxallan, but history leaves me a little concerned.
t 5:19PM (9/25/2009)
Slightly off topic but I think they should even make the sebring/avenger a smaller version of the rear drive 300/charger. Sure it's non traditional but they are already rock bottom in the market. Nothing to lose and they might even gain something.
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Eric & Yahoo 5:59PM (9/25/2009)
The next big Alfa Romeo would be the second European car made at a factory that first produced the Renault Premier... Funny.
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inline6 6:09PM (9/25/2009)
I stopped reading at "Alfa Romeo 166 replacement to be built", did a victory dance, and came back to read the rest of the (confusing) article.
I hope it's good. And I can't wait to see Alfa get their chops back with an E-segment executive sedan. And of course, the prospect of RWD makes me even happier.
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