Rumor: If Volkswagen gets Alfa Romeo, Alfa could get assistance from Porsche

March 15, 2011March 15, 2011 Omar Rana Alfa Romeo 4C

Volkswagen has been pretty persistent about its desire to purchase Alfa Romeo from Fiat SpA and rumor now has it that Alfa is likely to receive direct assistance from Porsche if V-dub has its own way. Reports suggest that Alfa Romeo would get help from Porsche, which is developing a new flat 4-cylinder engine for a new entry-level roadster that will sit below the Boxster.

Volkswagen considers Alfa Romeo as a key potential asset in its goal to become the world’s largest manufacturing group by 2018. It also has some free production capacity at Seat’s Martorell facility.

A Fiat Group spokesman has told AutoCar that the company has “drawn a line” under any sell-off. “We shut the door in their faces and now they’re trying to get in the window,” he said.

At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen’s Chairman Ferdinand Piech said that he can bring sales of Alfa Romeo to nearly 400,000 units within 5 years.