The as-of-yet unnamed model will be badged as Dodge and powered by a Fiat-derived 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. It’ll also do 40 mpg combined, or at least it will if Fiat wants to net itself a further 5% of Chrysler from Mr. Monopoly Uncle Sam.
To our knowledge, Alfa Romeo is not planning to introduce a crossover version of its forthcoming 149 C-Segment model. And to be honest, neither is Infomotori supporting something like this. What the Italian website is doing, is asking our opinion on whether we’d like to see Alfa Romeo creating an AWD version of the 149 hatch. Seeing Nissan’s Euro success with the compact crossover Qashqai, we can’t find a reason to as why Alfa shouldn’t also add a model like this to its range. Maybe we’d prefer a station-wagon bodystyle than the proposed liftback model, but overall, we like the idea . –More pics after the jump
Via: Infomotori
In a year’s time, most probably at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, Alfa Romeo will unveil the successor to its 147 compact sport hatch that has been in the market since 2000 having received a facelift in 2004. The 149 will be available in 3door and 5door variants and it will compete in the premium compact hatch segment against the Audi A3 and BMW 1-Series. Using an official sketch of the 149 that Alfa Romeo released last year (see here) as a base, Italian car magazine Quattroruote created a set of renderings to give us an idea of how the sport hatch could look like. There’s no way of telling how close the renderings are to the final product that we’ll see in 2009, but from what we’ve been told by Alfa Romeo sources, the 149 will indeed borrow several design cues from the 8c Competizione as Quattroruote’s sketches imply. -Continued
The 149 will be based on a modified version of the Fiat Bravo platform and according to Alfa Romeo, it will feature a multi-link rear suspension and Active Roll Control. Power will come from a wide range of petrol and diesel units including a base 120 HP 1.4-liter Turbo gasoline engine and a 265 HP 3.2-liter V6 unit for the top-notch GTA version that will compete with the Audi S3 and BMW 135i.
Pics: Quattroruote – Thanks for the pics Tommi!
Last Tuesday, during the 10th Morgan Stanley Automotive Conference in So let’s see what Alfa Romeo has in store for us. Beginning from the Junior, Alfa’s “MINI killer will go on sale in the second quarter of 2008 with a starting price of €16.000.- $21.800. Based on the B-Segment Fiat Grande Punto,” the Junior will be available with a variety of engines, from an entry-level 95Hp unit (Fiat’s 1.4-liter 16v) to a 230Hp top-notch version wearing the GTA badge. All Juniors get a standard 6-speed gearbox with an automatic transmission being offered optionally. As you can seen on Alfa’s official sketches, the premium sport hatch’s design is inspired from the extravagant 8c Competizione. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below
Following the Junior, in the first quarter of 2009 Alfa Romeo will present the successor to its 147 C-Segment hatch that will most probably be called 149. Designed to compete against the likes of Audi’s A3 and BMW’s 1-Series hatch, the 4.3m long 149 will use an evolution of the Fiat Bravo platform featuring a multi-link rear suspension and Active Roll Control. In the engine department Alfa say’s that the 149 will be offered with several powetrains starting from a base 120Hp unit (Fiat’s 1.4-litre T-Jet) up to 265Hp (Alfa’s 3.2 V6) for the GTA version. Transmission options include a standard 6-speed gearbox and an automatic. Like the Junior (though less aggressive), the 149’s design takes several design cues from the 8c Competizione.
All well? Mmm, I’d definitely say no, because I nearly had a heart attack upon viewing the 149’s basic price tag: €28.000 or…$38.200! For the love of God Alfa, that’s BMW 3-Series territory! Even if you get everything right -which I seriously, seriously doubt judging from the Fiat Group’s latest product portfolio (…), who the hell will give €28.000 for a 120Hp 1.4-litre 149 when you can get a 160Hp Audi A3 1.8TFSI for much less? Tell me that was a typo mistake, please…
Crazy but anyway, before we close this post lets see the other two products that Alfa’s readying for 2009/2010. Alfa 169: think of it as something like a “poor-man” Maserati Quattroporte. The sporty 4-sedan will cost between €40.000 to 55.000 ($54k to 75k) but it remains unknown whether it will get a FWD, 4WD or RWD biased platform –yeah right… Second up the CXover, Alfa’s first ever SUV that will be available in the first quarter of 2010. Unlike the Junior, the CXover will be (?) priced logically at €28.000 to 45.000 ($38k to 61k).
