Alfa Romeo ready for rebirth with ‘top secret’ sports car, says Fiat CEO

By Marcus Amick June 10, 2013

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne seems confident that the carmaker is all set to relaunch the historic performance marquee, Alfa Romeo.

Revealing very little details, Marchionne told journalists that the company’s product plans are “top secret.” But the Fiat CEO seemed assured that the automaker is well prepared to kick off a new era for the brand with a slate of new models.

Fiat “has everything we need” to relaunch Alfa Romeo, said Marchionne, according to a report by Automotive News following a Saturday Fiat update event.

The launch of new Alfa Romeo vehicles is being touted as a key part of the company’s strategy to increase overall sales with more premium models, notes the industry news source.

Slated to go on sale in Europe and the US later this year, the Alfa Romeo 4C sports car is expected to be the first in a number of new vehicles in the works.

The overall plan includes revamping Alfa Romeo’s two existing compact cars and adding seven new models to the line-up by 2016, reports Automotive News.

A key component of the strategy includes leveraging Alfa Romeo’s 103-year-old history as a performance brand to lure in new buyers.

After nearly a 20-year hiatus in the U.S., Alfa Romeo’s return to the states is considered pivotal to the longterm success of the brand.

The Italian carmaker has already proven that it’s capable of successfully pulling off a revival with the relaunch of the Fiat brand in the US after being absent 28 years. Though a far easier buy-in for consumers due to the price point, Fiat has gone from being the brunt of jokes in years past to a trendy fashion statement with the introduction of the new 500 compact. Even in tough-to-crack markets such as Los Angeles, the Fiat 500 has garnered a lot of appeal among consumers.

However, getting Americans to buy into a more expensive Alfa Romeo could prove to be far more challenging. Then again. maybe not.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Marcus Amick has been writing about the world of cars for more than ten years and has covered everything from new automobiles…

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?

The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.