FCA confirms new Alfa Romeo GTV and 8C

Born-again Alfa Romeo GTV and 8C sports cars are just two of the highlights in Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ new five-year business plan presented by outgoing CEO Sergio Marchionne overnight in Italy.

Taking FCA out to 2022, the plan outlines aggressive new product and volume targets for Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Jeep and RAM – but not Chrysler, Dodge or Fiat, leaving the future of those mainstream brands unclear.

We’ll bring you more analysis of FCA’s 2018-2022 investor prospectus, which is less ambitious and specific on timing than Marchionne’s previous five-year plan in 2014, but for now here are the key product take-outs.

Alfa Romeo

FCA is targeting 400,000 annual sales for Alfa Romeo by 2022 (down from the 700,000 it forecast in 2014) thanks to the release of seven new models.

Alfa’s headline act will be the return of the GTV nameplate on an all-new mid-size coupe heavily based on the Giulia sedan, which had been expected to be called the Sprint.

FCA has confirmed the new Alfa GTV four-seat coupe will be fitted with torque vectoring Q4 all-wheel drive, 50/50 weight distribution and new e-Boost electric turbo tech that’s claimed to increase power by 25 per cent with zero lag.

That means it’s likely to pack a twin-turbo 2.9-litre V6 outputting more than 600hp (450kW) – enough to topple key rivals like the BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG C 63 coupes.

Apart from confirming all-new SUVs either side of the upcoming Stelvio – including a small SUV that could be called the Kamal and a large SUV that could be called the Castello – FCA has also promised to release a new 8C Coupe.

It says the 8C will be based around a carbon-fibre monocoque chassis with 50/50 weight distribution and powered by a mid-mounted twin-turbo engine that, combined with an electrified front axle, will produce in excess of 700hp (522kW) and 0-100km/h acceleration in less than three seconds.

The Alfa range will grow to include a hybrid and six plug-in hybrid models (the latter claimed to deliver 0-100km/h acceleration in about 4.5sec and a 50km range), meaning the full Alfa range will be electrified by 2022, but there will be no full-EV Alfas and it appears the pint-sized MiTo will be axed.

What’s coming from Alfa Romeo:
All-new GTV Coupe
All-new 8C Coupe and Cabriolet
All-new small SUV
All-new large SUV
New Giulietta hatch
Giulia and Stelvio LWB

Maserati

FCA’s plan for Maserati calls for 100,000 annual sales and an all-electrified model range including eight plug-in hybrid and four all-electric models.

The headline act will be Maserati’s first luxury PHEV coupe and cabriolet, based on the Alfieri concept and an aluminium spaceframe chassis, featuring active aero, a 300km/h top speed, 0-100km/h acceleration in about two seconds and full active torque-vectoring e-AWD.

Also confirmed is an all-new baby brother for the Maserati Levante – a medium SUV with 50/50 weight distribution, class-leading power-to-weight ratio and PHEV capability.

Redesigned Levante, Ghibli and Quattroporte models are also signed off – all with 50/50 weight distribution and the option of Q4 AWD and PHEV tech.

As part of FCA’s move away from diesel, the Alfieri, Levante and Quattroporte will also be offered with an all-electric powertrain comprising three-motor AWD and a 800V battery.

What’s coming from Maserati:
All-new mid-size SUV
All-new Alfieri coupe, cabriolet
New Ghibli, Quattroporte and Levante

RAM

The first mid-size one-tonne pick-up is central to FCA’s plan for a million annual RAM sales by 2022, when it expects to pass GM to lie second only to Ford in the global pick-up market.

Details on what will be RAM’s first direct rival for the Toyota HiLux are scarce, but dual-cab 4x4 ute could be built in Mexico and revive the Dakota name.

FCA also promised a direct rival for Ford’s F-150 Raptor in the form of the full-size RAM TRX that has already been seen in concept form and will be based on this year’s new RAM 1500, which will be offered with a hybrid drivetrain.

Redesigned heavy-duty RAM trucks will follow, along with a new RAM ProMaster City small van (likely to be twinned with a new Fiat Doblo), but the larger RAM ProMaster van (and therefore the Fiat Ducato) will continue.

What’s coming from RAM:
All-new mid-size one-tonne pick-up
New RAM 1500 TRX
New heavy-duty pick-up range
New ProMaster City small van

Jeep

The big news at Jeep is confirmation of an all-new A/B-segment SUV to sit below the Renegade, which will also be renewed by 2022, as well as the all-new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer range-toppers.

These shouldn’t be confused with China’s Cherokee-based Grand Commander, which will also be launched in other markets, where the Scrambler pick-up will join this year’s new Wrangler.

Also coming from Jeep within five years is a new Grand Cherokee -- including the first seven-seat version -- a new Cherokee medium SUV, facelifted Compass small SUV and a Deserthawk version of the Cherokee, by 2020.

In all, Jeep says it will deliver two new models a year, including 10 PHEVs (meaning all models) and four EVs (Renegade, Compass, Cherokee, Wrangler, Grand Commander, Scrambler), plus Level 3 autonomous driving tech for all models by 2021.

What’s coming from Jeep:
New Grand Cherokee
All-new Grand Cherokee seven-seat
New Cherokee
Facelifted Compass
All-new Grand Commander
All-new Wagoneer
All-new Grand Wagoneer
New Cherokee Deserthawk