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The Next Premium Alfa Romeo?
Whats in store for the future of Alfa Romeo? Well, due to parent company Fiats financial challenges it probably wont be entering the North American market by 2007 as previously announced, as much as the brand could use the sales. Most analysts believe that it will come across the Atlantic eventually though, which makes it interesting to look at the future of the brand.
The new Visconti concept car, designed by ItalDesign, could hold the secret to the brands future styling. Without running around the point too much, the Visconti is what ItalDesign figures the replacement to the 156, the 157, might look like.
This is yet another vehicle designed by the master himself, Giorgetto Giugiaro, who through his carrozzeria ItalDesign is closely
With Alfa Romeo coming to North America sometime in the future, the new Visconti concept car is a glimpse of what may be in store for us. (Photo: Fiat Auto) knit to the legendary Italian marque that switched over from Pininfarina in the 80s. This is the firm that is responsible for the recent facelift of the 156 and its Crosswagon brother, as well as the Brera sports coupe, one of the most inspired new designs to come about in years, a version of which is now headed for production. The Visconti concept packs the know-how of Alfas mechanical expertise together with the sensual styling that has made ItalDesign one of the worlds top design houses.
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The Visconti is a great mix of Alfa mechanical know-how and ItalDesigns sensual styling. (Photo: Fiat Auto) nearly sixteen and a half feet long and over 6 feet wide, the Visconti is too big to be a direct replacement of the 156. Rather, the large platform looks to part of the brands future. The Visconti has been created to target a larger, more luxurious segment of the market. Giugiaro was very clear that his Visconti concept car was the first hint at the development of Alfa Romeo and Fiats new "premium" platform. What were seeing here is the makings of the next generation of large Italian sedans which could also include Lancia under the Fiat group umbrella. With the success of the 156 as a midsize sedan that can truly tackle the corners (as demonstrated with normal and the GTA variant) it is critical that Alfa Romeo get
The Visconti has been created to target a larger, more luxurious segment of the market. (Photo: Fiat Auto) the large car right. I have no doubts that theyll manage to find the perfect blend between performance and luxury. From a styling standpoint its basic configuration shows yet another approach on the coupe-sedan take. In the same way that Benz created a sleeker, lower three-box design with the CLS or Bugatti with its EB116 concept, the Visconti uses the same line of approach in combination with an elongated rear glass panel to achieve the sportier look. Up front is the Alfa family face with the added grace courtesy of Giugiaros personal pen. While the angled headlamps, triangular crest grille and offset "whiskers" are present, the manner in which theyve been arranged is thoroughly unique. Other details such as the chrome line that trails the length of the hood hints at the brands elegant past, contrasted by the large glass panoramic
The Alfa concept packs two surprises which could possibly end up in other models, all-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. (Photo: Fiat Auto) roof that points to the future. The Visconti concept is different than most Alfas in the fact that it is all-wheel driven. This leaves me wondering whether the upcoming 157 and 167 will be front-wheel, rear-wheel or all-wheel driven, opening doors to dozens of different variants. The concept car also packs the added surprise of four-wheel steering, an unusual but beneficial feature. Whether or not 4WS will be used in production is unclear.
Whats in store for the future of Alfa Romeo? Well, due to parent company Fiats financial challenges it probably wont be entering the North American market by 2007 as previously announced, as much as the brand could use the sales. Most analysts believe that it will come across the Atlantic eventually though, which makes it interesting to look at the future of the brand.
The new Visconti concept car, designed by ItalDesign, could hold the secret to the brands future styling. Without running around the point too much, the Visconti is what ItalDesign figures the replacement to the 156, the 157, might look like.
This is yet another vehicle designed by the master himself, Giorgetto Giugiaro, who through his carrozzeria ItalDesign is closely
With Alfa Romeo coming to North America sometime in the future, the new Visconti concept car is a glimpse of what may be in store for us. (Photo: Fiat Auto) knit to the legendary Italian marque that switched over from Pininfarina in the 80s. This is the firm that is responsible for the recent facelift of the 156 and its Crosswagon brother, as well as the Brera sports coupe, one of the most inspired new designs to come about in years, a version of which is now headed for production. The Visconti concept packs the know-how of Alfas mechanical expertise together with the sensual styling that has made ItalDesign one of the worlds top design houses. At
The Visconti is a great mix of Alfa mechanical know-how and ItalDesigns sensual styling. (Photo: Fiat Auto) nearly sixteen and a half feet long and over 6 feet wide, the Visconti is too big to be a direct replacement of the 156. Rather, the large platform looks to part of the brands future. The Visconti has been created to target a larger, more luxurious segment of the market. Giugiaro was very clear that his Visconti concept car was the first hint at the development of Alfa Romeo and Fiats new "premium" platform. What were seeing here is the makings of the next generation of large Italian sedans which could also include Lancia under the Fiat group umbrella. With the success of the 156 as a midsize sedan that can truly tackle the corners (as demonstrated with normal and the GTA variant) it is critical that Alfa Romeo getThe Visconti has been created to target a larger, more luxurious segment of the market. (Photo: Fiat Auto) the large car right. I have no doubts that theyll manage to find the perfect blend between performance and luxury. From a styling standpoint its basic configuration shows yet another approach on the coupe-sedan take. In the same way that Benz created a sleeker, lower three-box design with the CLS or Bugatti with its EB116 concept, the Visconti uses the same line of approach in combination with an elongated rear glass panel to achieve the sportier look. Up front is the Alfa family face with the added grace courtesy of Giugiaros personal pen. While the angled headlamps, triangular crest grille and offset "whiskers" are present, the manner in which theyve been arranged is thoroughly unique. Other details such as the chrome line that trails the length of the hood hints at the brands elegant past, contrasted by the large glass panoramicThe Alfa concept packs two surprises which could possibly end up in other models, all-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. (Photo: Fiat Auto) roof that points to the future. The Visconti concept is different than most Alfas in the fact that it is all-wheel driven. This leaves me wondering whether the upcoming 157 and 167 will be front-wheel, rear-wheel or all-wheel driven, opening doors to dozens of different variants. The concept car also packs the added surprise of four-wheel steering, an unusual but beneficial feature. Whether or not 4WS will be used in production is unclear.
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