05 August 2010

2012 Alfa Romeo Montreal . . . ?

Large RWD Lancias and Alfas to be built in Canadian factory...  that much we know




As previously announced, FIAT Group will drop the Chrysler nameplate in Europe as its Chrysler and Lancia brands are being integrated together into a large-car line marketed as either nameplate in various markets.  Now, a forecasting firm says that the automaker will begin building Lancias and possibly Alfa Romeos at its Brampton plant in Canada beginning from 2012:


U.S.-based industry research company AutomotiveCompass said that Chrysler will produce a Lancia Thesis replacement based on the soon-to-revealed 2011 300 sedan, which will continue to make use of the previous generation Mercedes architecture .

Doug Shepard, forecasting manager for the research firm said that the Lancia version of the redesigned Chrysler 300 won't differ radically in appearance from the American sedan.

"There will be cosmetic changes like the distinctive Lancia grill but otherwise nothing major," said Shepard adding that that the Brampton plant, which currently builds Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Charger models, will probably target annual output of 10,000 to 12,000 Lancia-badged cars.

The report goes on to say it's also possible that the Fiat / Chrysler group may also build an Alfa Romeo convertible off of the Dodge Challenger muscle car.

While a Challenger-based Alfa sports car sounds a bit far-fetched, a Lancia "300" has been on the table ever since the Fiat Group took over Chrysler.

In fact, in a December '09 meeting with representatives of the Italian government and trade unions in Rome, the group's CEO Sergio Marchionne revealed plans for a new flagship luxury sedan for the Lancia brand to be launched in 2011, without, however, going into any more details.

With a large Alfa based on the Challenger convertible in the works, why not a new 2012 Alfa Montreal based on the Challenger coupe?  It would be very similar to the original in 1970 Alfa Romeo Montreal, which featured an almost all-out race engine of V8 configuration with rear-wheel drive, in a short-decked coupe of some early 70s American styling influence. 


The above is how I propose a 2012 Alfa Romeo Montreal could look like... simply adding the  current Alfa tailight theme of two to four round, basic red retro-style lenses with thick chrome bezels in the back, that would work on the back of the Challenger bodywork.  


With only fresh sheetmetal from the cowl-forward, such a proposal merits consideration... as does including a top-of-the-line Quadrifolgio version with Maserati/Alfa 32-V V8 power.   Here was the original 1970 Montreal, originally planned as a mid-engine car, but that was not to be...


1970 Alfa Romeo Montreal



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5 comments:

  1. You Sir are twisted

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  2. Very good looking cars! If I drove, I would buy one.
    Love this site!

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  3. They are planning to destroy what remains of Alfa Romeo heritage. A Chryler always remains a Chrysler, whatever name they put in front of it, no one in Europe will ever buy it (I wouldn't). Alfa Romeo has always been a completely different world. It is not difficult to foresee a significant contraction in Alfa Romeo selling...


    (An italian)

    PS: similar considerations are valid for Lancia as well.

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  4. Viva L'italia, Marchionne, you are a fantasic stupid person, why not a Ferrari with a USA look. Not that I am against USA a cars but each make should have it's identity. Marchione what do you drive..... a Porsche, a Audi ??????

    Shaka An italian with to REAL Alfa's in his garage

    ReplyDelete

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