Italian car maker Alfa Romeo is a brand that is built on passion and emotion, and it has held petrolheads enthralled for generations. Products such as the modern 8C supercar and 4C sportscar, along with decades of heritage based on racing and Italian charm have won Alfa Romeo global iconic status, but questions about reliability, build quality and dealership service have dented the brand’s reputation. Resale values are generally poor too, which adds insult to injury.

Ask any person about Alfa Romeo andmost will smile and talk about how pretty the cars are, but when you ask about potential ownership, you’re met with a firm ‘Not for me!’ How can a brand be so desirable, yet the mention of ownership is enough to have them flee for the mountains?

Locally, the Alfa Romeo offering is limited to the compact MiTo, a stylish and very Italian alternative to the Mini, and the Giulietta – a Volkswagen Golf rival that’s oh so close to being an outstanding product. Then there’s the 4C which is a breathtakingly pretty and exclusive sportscar offering an enthralling drive, but it comes with one very high pricetag.

There is a dire need for a premium sedan from Alfa Romeo that can take on the likes of the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-class – a serious money maker that can turn the brand’s misfortunes around. Alfa Romeo did well in the early 2000s with the 156, a sedan that offered a lot, while not costing too much money. It was excellent and was awarded South African (and European) Car of the Year titles.Unfortunately the 156’ssubsequent replacement, the 159 and its Brera coupe sibling were certainly eye catching, but were not good enough to sway potential buyers from German rivals. It’s a shame, as the 1.750 TBi-powered 159 was actually quite enjoyable to drive.

Alfa Romeo 159 Successor: What We Know

As you read this right now, we’re on our way to Milan, Italy to see the new Alfa Romeo Giulia. Unlike other cars which generally get spotted on the roads as pre-production mules and teased in the run-up to the launch, Alfa Romeo has done a sterling job of keeping the 159 replacement under wraps. Here’s what we know so far:

At this stage, globally it’s being called the Giulia, but we don’t know if this is confirmed. Internally it’s called Project 952 and will be going head to head with Germany’s finest, the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4. Jaguar’s XE is expected to be benchmarked too. The Fiat Group has a lot of expertise in its arsenal and from our understanding, we’re looking at Maserati underpinnings for this important new Alfa Romeo. We’d assume this would come from the Ghibli – the brand’s compact sedan. Maserati products are all rear-wheel drive, which means we could have a real driver’s car on our hands, too.

Potential Engines

In terms of engines, the Fiat Group has some great powerplants to draw from. From the Multi Air small capacity turbocharged motors to some quality JTD diesels, there’s a lot to choose from. The 1.7-turbo used in the Giulietta QV could also make an appearance. However, with such an illustrious motorsport heritage behind its name, four-cylinder motors just aren’t going to cut it. A flagship model in the 159 replacement could even feature something as sensational as a biturbo V6 developed by Maserati/Ferrari, which would really get tongues wagging. While we don’t quite think there’s going to be a BMW M3 rival, it’d be good to see a 335i and Audi S4 competitor. We would happily love to be wrong though…

Start of an Alfa Romeo Rebirth?

This week’s reveal is not just about one car though. The 159 replacement forms part of Alfa Romeo’s plan to launch up to nine vehicles by 2020. This nine-car plan is the brainchild of Alfa Romeo boss Harald Wester who is under the cosh to deliver new products, demonstrate innovation and ultimately turn the brand’s misfortunes around. Right now, there are just two models in the Alfa Romeo lineup that target popular segments, but the reality is people are looking elsewhere. Both MiTo and Giulietta are a few years old already and the lack of new vehicles aside from halo models is painful. As far as other potential new Alfa Romeo cars go, we’re possibly looking at a larger executive vehicle to rival the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class (remember the Alfa 166?) as well as a crossover.

This is Alfa Romeo’s time to shine and time to show us what we’ve been waiting for. We, and most petrolheads out there, sincerelyhope that the 159 successor, or Giulia as it’s been unofficially named, is the product to restore Alfa Romeo to its former glory.