Geneva auto show: Pininfarina avoids retro design with modern Alfa Romeo Duetto spide
02-28-10, 09:35 PM
#1
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Geneva auto show: Pininfarina avoids retro design with modern Alfa Romeo Duetto spide
http://www.autoweek.com/article/2010...NEVA/100229913
Pininfarina will unveil at the Geneva auto show a modern interpretation of the most famous car it produced for Alfa Romeo: the 1966 Duetto spider.
Actor Dustin Hoffman was driving a red Duetto spider in the famous movie, "The Graduate."
Still without an official name, the Pininfarina concept is a two-seat spider with the original Duetto layout: front longitudinal engine and rear drive.
Pininfarina currently builds the Alfa Spider, a car based on the 159 sedan layout with a transverse engine and front- or all-wheel drive.
"Our Spider concept is classic in its proportions but refrains from retro design, laying out a design language for the future," said Lowie Vermeersch, design director at Pininfarina.
The lines of the new spider are as simple as possible, with thin front and rear lamps which just compel the function they have to--illuminate--instead of being bulky elements of decoration.
"With this concept car we want to show the world Pininfarina is alive and kicking," company CEO Silvio Angori said.
Pininfarina announced in late 2008 that it would phase out contract manufacturing in order to concentrate on design and engineering services for automakers, as well as producing an electric car in a joint venture with French battery specialist Bollore.
Pininfarina currently builds the Alfa Romeo Brera coupe and Spider, and the Ford Focus CoupeCabriolet in Italy. It also has a joint venture in Sweden with Volvo to build the C70 convertible.
Even if Pininfarina has no ambitions to build the next Alfa Spider, this new concept comes at the right time.
Newly appointed Alfa Romeo CEO Harald Wester is working to prepare a new business plan to relaunch Fiat's sporty brand.
Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne will detail the future of Alfa on April 21 when he unveils the 2010-2014 business plan for the Fiat Group.
The plan is said to possibly include a new rear-drive spider for Alfa.
Fiat is looking into Chrysler's rear-drive LX platform to possibly derive a large sedan, a coupe and a spider for Alfa Romeo.
Fiat owns 20 percent of Chrysler.
Later this year Chrysler will unveil redesigned versions of the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger, which are based on a heavily reworked LX platform that includes a new rear suspension and the adoption of the company's new 280-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar engine.
If approved, the plan for Alfa calls for returning to the United States in mid 2012 with a range of models co-developed with Chrysler and possibly also built in North America.
Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/2010...#ixzz0gtsqrFt8
Pininfarina will unveil at the Geneva auto show a modern interpretation of the most famous car it produced for Alfa Romeo: the 1966 Duetto spider.
Actor Dustin Hoffman was driving a red Duetto spider in the famous movie, "The Graduate."
Still without an official name, the Pininfarina concept is a two-seat spider with the original Duetto layout: front longitudinal engine and rear drive.
Pininfarina currently builds the Alfa Spider, a car based on the 159 sedan layout with a transverse engine and front- or all-wheel drive.
"Our Spider concept is classic in its proportions but refrains from retro design, laying out a design language for the future," said Lowie Vermeersch, design director at Pininfarina.
The lines of the new spider are as simple as possible, with thin front and rear lamps which just compel the function they have to--illuminate--instead of being bulky elements of decoration.
"With this concept car we want to show the world Pininfarina is alive and kicking," company CEO Silvio Angori said.
Pininfarina announced in late 2008 that it would phase out contract manufacturing in order to concentrate on design and engineering services for automakers, as well as producing an electric car in a joint venture with French battery specialist Bollore.
Pininfarina currently builds the Alfa Romeo Brera coupe and Spider, and the Ford Focus CoupeCabriolet in Italy. It also has a joint venture in Sweden with Volvo to build the C70 convertible.
Even if Pininfarina has no ambitions to build the next Alfa Spider, this new concept comes at the right time.
Newly appointed Alfa Romeo CEO Harald Wester is working to prepare a new business plan to relaunch Fiat's sporty brand.
Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne will detail the future of Alfa on April 21 when he unveils the 2010-2014 business plan for the Fiat Group.
The plan is said to possibly include a new rear-drive spider for Alfa.
Fiat is looking into Chrysler's rear-drive LX platform to possibly derive a large sedan, a coupe and a spider for Alfa Romeo.
Fiat owns 20 percent of Chrysler.
Later this year Chrysler will unveil redesigned versions of the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger, which are based on a heavily reworked LX platform that includes a new rear suspension and the adoption of the company's new 280-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar engine.
If approved, the plan for Alfa calls for returning to the United States in mid 2012 with a range of models co-developed with Chrysler and possibly also built in North America.
Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/2010...#ixzz0gtsqrFt8
03-03-14, 09:35 AM
#2
Fiat reconsidering Mazda-based Alfa Romeo roadster?
Alfa giveth and Alfa taketh away. With apologies to Job (he has gone through a lot, after all), that's how things are looking at the Italian automaker – whether it's the promise of new products or its impending return to the North American market. But it's especially true when it comes to new roadsters.
While Alfa Romeo is expected to unveil the 4C Spider at the Geneva Motor Show this week, reports are now suggesting that its other roadster project is being called into question. That project is a joint venture between Fiat and Mazda, which was set to produce a version of its next MX-5 Miata as an Alfa Romeo, and was even changing the design to accommodate Alfa's requirements.
Now it appears, however, that the whole project in doubt. The problem seems to stem from Sergio Marchionne's pronouncements that, as long as he's in charge, there won't be an Alfa Romeo built outside of Italy.
The principal poses some problems, but also leaves some windows open. For one, it could mean that the Alfa project would be postponed until after Marchionne retires, but that's not expected to happen any time soon. For another, it could mean that the Alfa roadster would be developed by Mazda and based on its architecture, but assembled back in Italy – although the deal is said to call for Mazda to do the manufacturing. The prospect that our colleagues at at Automotive News Europe are betting on, however, is that Marchionne will switch its commitment to Mazda to another brand.
Eliminating Ferrari, Maserati and Lancia as possibilities, ANE figures the project could be transferred to either Fiat or the Abarth performance brand. Bertone's Fiat Barchetta concept looked promising in 2007, and Abarth was long rumored to get its own roadster – and both manufacture outside of Italy as it is. But for that matter, we wonder why – with Fiat and Chrysler now under the same umbrella – it couldn't be done instead as a Dodge or SRT. The Copperhead concept of 1997 and the Demon of 2008 did show some promise, after all. What do you think?
While Alfa Romeo is expected to unveil the 4C Spider at the Geneva Motor Show this week, reports are now suggesting that its other roadster project is being called into question. That project is a joint venture between Fiat and Mazda, which was set to produce a version of its next MX-5 Miata as an Alfa Romeo, and was even changing the design to accommodate Alfa's requirements.
Now it appears, however, that the whole project in doubt. The problem seems to stem from Sergio Marchionne's pronouncements that, as long as he's in charge, there won't be an Alfa Romeo built outside of Italy.
The principal poses some problems, but also leaves some windows open. For one, it could mean that the Alfa project would be postponed until after Marchionne retires, but that's not expected to happen any time soon. For another, it could mean that the Alfa roadster would be developed by Mazda and based on its architecture, but assembled back in Italy – although the deal is said to call for Mazda to do the manufacturing. The prospect that our colleagues at at Automotive News Europe are betting on, however, is that Marchionne will switch its commitment to Mazda to another brand.
Eliminating Ferrari, Maserati and Lancia as possibilities, ANE figures the project could be transferred to either Fiat or the Abarth performance brand. Bertone's Fiat Barchetta concept looked promising in 2007, and Abarth was long rumored to get its own roadster – and both manufacture outside of Italy as it is. But for that matter, we wonder why – with Fiat and Chrysler now under the same umbrella – it couldn't be done instead as a Dodge or SRT. The Copperhead concept of 1997 and the Demon of 2008 did show some promise, after all. What do you think?
03-03-14, 01:59 PM
#5
The pursuit of F
The Miata-based Alfa is not doing it for me, but neither does the Miata. In that segment, my favorite is the (probably pricier) Z4. Of course, if they make that and it costs under 40K, different story. Everything is relative to a price!
12-19-14, 08:34 AM
#6
Alfa Romeo confirms Spider won’t be based on the Mazda MX-5
Will be based on Alfa's Giorgio platform
Alfa Romeo has confirmed the rumors indicating their upcoming Spider model won't be based on the new Mazda MX-5.
It was January 2013 when Mazda and Alfa Romeo joined forces for a Mazda-produced Alfa Romeo roadster based on the all-new Mazda MX-5. However, earlier this year we heard a couple of rumors saying the Alfa Romeo model won't be based on the new Miata and now CAR managed to find out from Alfa Romeo & Maserati brand chief Harald Wester the Spider won’t be co-developed with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), adding that it will be a derivative of the Giorgio platform.
Giorgio is the name selected by Alfa Romeo for their brand new rear-wheel drive platform which will eventually underpin just about all of their models, including next year's 159 successor which some say it will be called Giulia.
Wester did specify the collaboration between the two parties will continue but with Fiat's Abarth division so chances are there's going to be a new Fiat Barchetta or the rumored standalone Abarth model based on the Mazda MX-5.
Alfa Romeo has confirmed the rumors indicating their upcoming Spider model won't be based on the new Mazda MX-5.
It was January 2013 when Mazda and Alfa Romeo joined forces for a Mazda-produced Alfa Romeo roadster based on the all-new Mazda MX-5. However, earlier this year we heard a couple of rumors saying the Alfa Romeo model won't be based on the new Miata and now CAR managed to find out from Alfa Romeo & Maserati brand chief Harald Wester the Spider won’t be co-developed with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), adding that it will be a derivative of the Giorgio platform.
Giorgio is the name selected by Alfa Romeo for their brand new rear-wheel drive platform which will eventually underpin just about all of their models, including next year's 159 successor which some say it will be called Giulia.
Wester did specify the collaboration between the two parties will continue but with Fiat's Abarth division so chances are there's going to be a new Fiat Barchetta or the rumored standalone Abarth model based on the Mazda MX-5.
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