We Can Only Dream….
Fiat and Chrysler are in talks about possibly forging a strategic alliance. Part of that plan could bring certain Italian beautifies our way including the pictured Alfa Romeo Spider. Let's hope so!
Admittedly, I’m not much of a fan of Fiat cars for the simple reason that not a single model of theirs is marketed here in the United States.
Sure, its Ferrari entity still sells cars stateside, but we’re talking about a line of supercars, finely crafted Italian masterpieces which fast car fans love and admire.
Beyond Ferrari, the Fiat Group sells cars under the Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia brands. The Fiat brand is its mass produced car line, featuring a number of compact cars including the 2008 European Car of the Year, the Fiat 500.
While Lancia could certainly find its place stateside, the good money is on Alfa Romeo securing its own future in the American automotive marketplace, a line of sexy roadsters and rally cars that could find their way into garages across our fruited plains.
Now, word is out that Fiat may gain a foothold in the United States by forging a partnership with Chrysler LLC, possibly selling a number of its own vehicles through Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler dealerships while also allowing Chrysler to gain Fiat technology in a bid to build smaller cars.
The thought that the Alfa Romeo Spider or even the Brera or the 8C Competizione might find their way across the Atlantic is probably meeting with glad enthusiasm from diehard Italian car fans everywhere. Say what you will about Fiat, it is Alfa Romeo which has strong appeal for people looking for Italian design and craftmanship without the Ferrari price tag.
We don’t know if or when a Chrysler-Fiat partnership will be forged, but the idea is intriguing. One way or another, getting the Spider and other Alfa Romeo models stateside is a must, a dream come true for diehard Alfa fans.
Exaggerator, we know that the Fiat 500 will be sold here as a boutique car. As for all of the other models, none will be sold as Fiats. Instead, their platforms and many of their components will drive Chrysler designed cars.
More than likely, I would be guessing that the likely Fiat models to have sale in the United States would be the likes of the 500, Qubia, Panda, Punto, Idea and Palio Weekend.