For the 2013 model year, a new Dodge Avenger, Jeep Comapss and Liberty, and a Chrysler 200 all have new versions being released. It has recently been released that they will all be sharing the underpinning of the 2013 Dodge Dart Compact U.S. Wide platform.

The CUSW platform is actually a bigger version of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback, and although shared amongst all the models, none will be manufactured with the Dart in Belvedere, Illinois, but in Toledo, Ohio where the Liberty is currently built.

On the positive side, one platform amongst six models is cost effective; however automakers may be met with some degree of challenge to satisfy its SUV clientele. This change also leaves the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country models with undetermined futures.

The Chrysler brand is supposed to expand as well, although no details are out just yet as to how. There is a possibility for a 100 model compact hatchback, or bringing U.K. models over to the U.S. Alfa Romeo’s U.S. return is also in the works for next year, as well.

By: Alexandra Koken

Source: USAToday

A compact wagon has been absent from the Fiat, Alfa and Lancia brands since the 2008 retirement of the Fiat Stilo Multi Wagon. Now, Alfa Romeo is bringing the wagon back to its European Giulietta line for 2013.

In Italy, Germany, and other key European markets, wagons account for as much as three quarters of compact segment sales, and close to a quarter of the sales in Europe overall. With no current competitor in the segment there, this will fill the gap for Fiat S.p.A.

As Alfa expands its line up, the new Giuletta wagon will also help dealers increase sales until upcoming Chrysler-provided crossover and mid-sized Giulia models hit showrooms. The brand only now has the MiTo subcompact and the Giulietta available.

The Giulietta made up 60 percent of total European sales for Alfa, data from the ACEA shows, and Alpha’s sales increased to 122,401 units, up 21 percent through November this year. The wagon is expected to further improve these numbers.

Alpha has no plans to bring the wagon variant to the U.S., as the body style does not do as well as crossovers and sedans, but may send a hatchback to the U.S. for 2013 instead.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: AutoNews

Click here for more news on the Alfa Romeo 4C.

Expected target weight will come in right under 2,000 with a 230-hp engine out of Giulietta Cloverleaf. The engine is already advanced but the production Alfa 4C will use an aluminium-block direct-injection turbo that’s lighter. The engine will be mated to a twin-clutch with steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters. 0-62 mph will come in around 4.5 seconds.

Sources say that the model will eventually get a new engine in the future making around 300-hp. A convertible version is also in the works.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: TopGear

I always had a lot of fun with water balloons as a child but I never thought that putting cars and water balloons together as an adult could be so much fun.

Alfa Romeo recently handed 10-time Guinness World Record holder Terry Grant the keys to their top of the range MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde. Grant ended up annihilating over 2,500 water filled balloons that shaped out the Alfa Romeo logo.

It’s a brilliant 1 minute and 37 second video that will probably become the highlight of your day.

Check out the video after the jump.

- By: Omar Rana

Back in 2008, Ferrari teamed up with the Fiat brand to offer its 500 subcompact courtesy car for its customers. Two other Fiat brands have now teamed tup two offer similar service – Maserati and Alfa Romeo.

Maserati has chosen Alfa Romeo’s Giulietta as a courtesy car for its clients in Europe.

Known as the Giulietta for Maserati, the model carries special touches on the outside including 18-inch alloy wheels with large red brake calipers. Inside, the Giulietta for Maserati features ‘Maserati Brown’ Venere leather, brushed aluminum inserts along with a plaque that reads ‘Alfa Romeo for Maserati.’

The Giulietta for Maserati is based on the range-topping Quadrifoglio Verde line, which is powered by a 1.8 liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine making 235-hp.

- By: Omar Rana

Insiders say that the new Alfa Romeo roadster will be a key part of the brand’s strategy when it returns to the United States in 2013 after a 15 year hiatus. The first model to debut in the U.S. will be a production version of the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept – that will be followed by the 159 sedan.

Power for the new Alfa roadster will come from a turbo 4-cylinder delivering around 150-hp. A new chassis is also reported to be under development that would help the car weigh in less than 2,204 pounds.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoExpress

Alfa Romeo has been known to be prepping for a big reentry into the US market after almost a 20-year absence. And to follow up on these efforts, Fiat’s CEO Sergio Marchionne has announced some details regarding their strategies.

Marchionne started off by announcing that he will be appointing a new boss for the North American branch of Alfa Romeo by the end of 2012. This move will allow the process of reestablishing the Italian brand in the US much easier he added.

“We are going to target the U.S. market first and work our way back into Europe,” Marchionne said in an interview. “We have run market tests on the desirability of the Alfa brand in the U.S. and — notwithstanding our long absence from the market — it’s still one of the best brands in the world, and I think we need to go back and grab it.”

To add to the influx of new information, a separate interview was conducted with Chrysler Group’s head of network development and fleet, Peter Grady. He added that with Fiat back in the US already, the corporation plans on offering a completely different dealership network for Alfa Romeo to aid in expansion and awareness.

Lastly, despite Alfa Romeo’s slumping sales in the European markets, Marchionne has been hard at work with all of the participating companies to help streamline Fiat SpA’s production, which is something they hope will decrease production costs and increase sales.

- By: Chris Chin

Source: Automotive News

The new Jeep model will be produced at Fiat’s plant in Mirafiori in Turin, alongside a similar vehicle for Fiat brand that will replace the Sedici. The plant will also build a new Alfa Romeo subcompact car for sale in Europe and North America.

Fiat originally planned to build the replacement for the Jeep Compass and Patriot (a separate model) in Mirafiori. The change-up implies that the model to replace the Patriot and Compass and its Alfa Romeo sibling will be built in the United States.

Jeep builds the Patriot and Compass in Belvidere, Illinois.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News

The engine is designed for both transversal and longitudinal applications. The 4-cylinder engine will have a displacement of 1.8 liters and a maximum output of 300-hp, setting a new performance standard in its category.

“It will also be compliant with future emissions standards in both Europe (Euro 6) and the U.S. (Tier 2 Bin 5),” Fiat said in a statement.

“This is an extremely important step for Alfa Romeo, as we continue to reposition our brand and prepare it for global distribution. The United States remains our primary objective as we prepare for a 2013 introduction of our models,” added Harald J. Wester, Fiat’s Chief Technology Officer and head of the Alfa Romeo and Maserati Brands. “The dedication of Group-wide resources to develop specific powertrain solutions for the specific needs of Alfa Romeo is a reflection of the renewed thrust we are placing on the development of this brand. This is a first step in a series of initiatives to be implemented in the near future which will reconnect Alfa Romeo to its historical roots as a premium Italian sports car brand.”

- By: Omar Rana

Fiat is aiming to compete globally in the ‘near-premium’ market with plans to release a rear-wheel drive flagship instead of an Alfa SUV for 2014. There is also a possibility for a Jaguar Land Rover competitor by way of a joint venture with Jeep.

Alfa plans on powering the upcoming flagship with a V6, which could possibly be a sister car to Chrysler’s next 300 and built with it in the U.S. These plans have resulted in the delay of the Giulia, the 159 follow up, by about a year, pushing the release back to 2014. This leaves a year long gap for Alfa with no competitor in that price range.

Alfa’s CEO Harald Wester claimed at the Frankfurt Motor Show that Alfa will still move 155,000 units this year, with a target of 400,000 by 2014. Sales for the Giulietta are anticipated at around 90,000 units, which leaves the upcoming SUV as the mainstream vehicle to keep sales numbers up, and 2013’s new Mito.

The 2013 SUV is said to be roomy, reliable, and handle the road well, along with being cost efficient to build and drive. For 2014, the Giulia and Giulia Station Wagon will be released, along with a new design for the Giulietta.

The brand is continuing with plans to rebuild its reputation with quality, reliability, and overall consumer satisfaction ratings on par with the market. Alfa says its goal is to “provide advanced cars that deliver Italian design and a dynamic and active driving experience,” and seeks to use past mistakes as ways to improve for the future.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: AutoCar

The Alfa Romeo 4C, which debut in concept form at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show this week, was supposed to be the first Alfa launched in the United States in 2012. The car has now been pushed back to 2013.

An Alfa Romeo SUV has also been delayed to 2013, rather than 2012. A decision on where to build the SUV model is expected later this month.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan and the Giulia station wagon will now come out in 2014, instead of 2013.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Free Press

Not that this will make any difference to your life as an everyday enthusiast, but Fiat SpA is considering shifting production of Jeep and ALfa Romeo SUVs from its oldest plant in Turin to North America. Instead of producing SUVs at the Turin plant, Fiat plans on building a small city car.

What’s the reason? It’s cheaper for Fiat to build a small car at the plant after the strengthening euro against the dollar made the possibility of building SUVs mainly destined for the U.S. a less competitive option in Europe, a source said.

While no decision has been made, Fiat announced last November that it will invest 1 billion euro ($1.44 billion) to produce around 280,000 Jeep and Alfa Romeo SUVs at the Turin plant starting in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Since then, the euro has gained about 9 percent against the dollar.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News

Designed by Marco Marchese, the concept is a small sports coupe that “takes inspiration from the ancient Minoan civilization, melting it carefully with style elements from different models of Alpha Romeo’s past and present,” says the designer.

The Minhoss would be around 162-inches in length, powered by a front mounted 1.75-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, putting out about 265-hp. Both the gearbox and driving axle would be in the rear.

Marco Marchese is part of an Italian studio called IDECORE, that considers itself a group of independent creative professionals.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: Idecore (via CarScoop)

Beginning with the Guiletta, Alfa Romeo will be debuting a new double-clutch TCT transmission for the 1.4L turbocharged MultiAir gasoline and 2.0L turbocharged diesel engines on the Guiletta. The new transmission is said to boost fuel economy to 45.2 mpg US for the gas engine and 52.3 mpg US for the diesel. Performance was also kept in mind as the new transmission still maintains the performance of the previous models not equipped with the dual-clutch system (0-60 in 7.7 seconds for the 1.4L MultiAir and 7.9 seconds for the diesel).

Alfa Romeo’s MiTo city car update includes a new 900cc turbocharged two-cylinder engine that first made an appearance in the Fiat 500 and won Ward’s “International Engine of the Year 2011” award. The new two-banger makes 85hp and depending on the trim level can produce as little as 81 lb-ft of torque to as much as 107 lb-ft.

Pricing and available should be released at the world debut in Frankfurt.

- By: Chris Chin

Click here for more news on the Alfa Romeo 4C.

The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept weight has been confirmed at 1,873 pounds with power coming from a 1750 turbo gasoline engine with direct injection. That’s good for more than 200-hp, giving the sports coupe a weight/power ratio which is lower than 4 kg/HP. The engine is mated to the ‘Alfa TCT’ twin dry clutch transmission, allowing the 4C to go from 0 to 62 mph in under 5 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph.

We love the fluid metal color and definitely think it gives the car a more aggressive stance.

- By: Omar Rana

German tuner Novitec has given a Alfa Romeo’s Giulietta hatchback some fresh styling and upgraded performance.

Exterior mods are quiet but aesthetically pleasing, with a ground effects kit, quad exhaust, sports suspension kit, and a nice set of wheels sized form 18- to 20-inches, that come in either black or gray color.

Performance upgrades are available for diesel and gasoline motors, with 195-hp on the TB petrol and 261-hp on the 1.8-liter TBi.

Novitec Alfa Romeo Giulietta:

2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta:

By: Alexandra Koken

Alfa Romeo has been known to be planning a reintroduction to the US market for quite some time now. But due to the complications with the Fiat and Chrysler merger after Chrysler went down, there has been confusion as to when the Italian brand would reintroduce themselves into the US market. The last time Alfa Romeo sold a car in the US was in 1995. But now, with things settling down with the Fiat and Chrysler merger—Fiat owns Alfa Romeo—Alfa has announced that they will officially be returning to the US in late 2012.

Alfa has already hinted at their return to the US by offering limited editions of the 8C Competizione to the US market in very small numbers. For the return in late 2012, Fiat’s CEO Sergio Marchionne said that if they reach the deadline, the first car to make an appearance on US soil since Alfa’s leave in 1995 would the be new 4C limited-edition sports coupe.

Alfa’s full return is planned for about mid-2013 with a compact crossover, a midsize sedan that will most likely be a 159 replacement, and a Guilia model.

Marchionne’s plan originally was to sell 85,000 Alfa Romeos in the US by 2014. However, because of delays with redesigning the Guilia sedan and its larger vehicles, the target is getting harder and harder to reach.

Either way, it’s great to see that the Italian make is reappearing on US soil because as Top Gear UK has taught us: you can’t consider yourself a true petrol head until you’ve owned an Alfa Romeo.

- By: Chris Chin

Source: Automotive News

The Alfa Romeo 4C will be coming to the United States in limited numbers during late 2012. While you wait, you might want to watch this special promo for the sports car that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Click here for more news on the Alfa Romeo 4C.

Check out the video after the jump.

Refresher: The rear-wheel-drive Alfa Romeo 4C Concept weighs less than 1,873 lbs and is powered by a 1750 turbo gasoline engine with direct injection. The engine is mated to the ‘Alfa TCT’ twin dry clutch transmission and gives the Alfa Romeo 4C a weight/power ratio which is lower than 4 kg/HP allowing it to go from 0 to 62 mph in under 5 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph.

Alfa Romeo 4C Concept:

- By: Omar Rana