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NEWS
BMW pricing for Alfa 'Giulia'
All-new Italian 3 Series rival confirmed to debut on June 24, as Alfa admits its MX-5 clone is also delayedFiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne has confirmed Alfa Romeo's all-new mid-size rear-wheel drive sedan will make its world debut in Milan on June 24 – and that it will be priced in line with its most direct competitor, the BMW 3 Series.
The date, which marks the historic Italian brand's 105th birthday, was previously confirmed to host a major Alfa model reveal, but Marchionne has now verified it will specifically be the 'Giulia' making its debut on that day.
Asked when Alfa's first new-generation rear-drive Alfa sedan will be revealed, Marchionne told journalists today at the Detroit motor show: "In terms of the date we will see the first sedan, it's June 24, 2015.
"The reason for the date is because it's the 105th anniversary of the foundation of Alfa Romeo."
Previously dubbed the Giulia, although some reports say that name will not be used in all markets, Alfa's long-overdue and repeatedly delayed 159 replacement is based on an all-new rear/all-wheel drive platform called Giorgio.
It will reportedly underpin up to eight new models by 2018, by which time Marchionne hopes to have increased Alfa's global annual sales from just 75,000 in 2013 to 400,000, following a five million euro investment in future models.
Of that number, about 150,000 will be sold in North America, where Alfa recommenced sales in November for the first time since 1995.
The new model rollout is due to continue in 2016 with Alfa's first SUV – a mid-sizer to rival the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, a new large sedan to take on the BMW 5 Series in the same year, and another larger SUV to compete with the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE (nee M-Class) later in 2016.
Marchionne said Alfa and Jeep are the two major keys to FCA's target to sell more than five million vehicles this year.
"Jeep and Alfa are the single largest parts of the plan," he said.
As for pricing, Marchionne said the Giulia will be priced lineball with the 3 Series, which opens at around $60,000 in Australia.
"We're going to be pretty well dead on BMW... within shooting distance," he said. "I don't think there will be much of a difference."
The Giulia is not expected to go on sale in Australia until 2016, following the local release of the Fiat group's new roadster, based on the Mazda MX-5, in the first quarter of next year.
Marchionne admitted the release of the latter was delayed by between three to four months following his decision to release it as Fiat Abarth, rather than as an Alfa Romeo.
"Yes it did have an impact because we had to go back and change some parts on the Mazda vehicle," he said.
While Mazda will build the 'Abarth Spider' alongside the new MX-5 in Hiroshima, FCA is expected to release a third convertible alongside it and the new 4C Spider, in the form of a new Giorgio-based rear-drive Alfa Romeo Spider.
"It would have been unfair if we had done that (MX-5 based) car as an Alfa, given the direction [upmarket] we are taking Alfa," said Marchionne.
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Written byMarton Pettendy
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