Alfa Romeo could still insert a sports car or convertible into its new-model programme over the next two years, the company’s boss has suggested.
The Italian brand recently realigned its product plan, nudging back some plans from 2018 to the end of the current decade. The priorities after the new Giulia executive saloon are two SUVs - the first due to be unveiled later this year, the second in 2018 - and a replacement for the existing Giulietta. It’s expected to arrive in 2017, and to feature a rear-wheel-drive layout - achieved through the use of a shortened Giulia platform - that is unusual for a family hatchback.
However, Alfa and Maserati boss Harald Wester has revealed that there remains scope for additional models to be added in the same time frame. When asked if Alfa was considering a rear-drive GT or convertible, he said, “Just because cars aren’t on the list for the next couple of years doesn’t mean that they can’t be slipped into the schedule.”
The new Giulia’s platform and engine line-up are both said to be modular enough for much shorter vehicles - and stretchable to produce larger models. Wester suggested that the range-topping Giulia’s twin-turbocharged V6 could be boosted well beyond its current 503bhp, but for “something bigger”.
Wester also revealed that the 4C could receive upgrades - including a larger, more powerful engine. The Giulia has a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder motor within its line-up; Wester confirmed that the 200bhp will be ramped up to 280bhp for a later edition - and that it could fit into the 4C’s engine bay. “We don’t have a definite plan at the moment, but that engine would work with that car,” he said. “The 4C will be around for some time and there are lots of possibilities to develop it further.”
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