My letter to Autoweek about the Brera

[avi4now]

Here's a letter I just sent to AutoWeek, on reading today that Alfa Romeo has decided not to build the Brera. I am not a Alfa enthusaist exactly, I'm a general car and sports car enthusaist. But the Brera is just so perfect I had to say something. What do you all think?

An open letter to Alfa Romeo, Fiat Auto, and Bob Lutz:

Do not let the Alfa Romeo Brera die! The Brera is everything I have ever wanted in a car: lightweight, essentially mid-engined, balanced, high-tech but classic, with utterly perfect, beautiful, cutting edge design. I can honestly say that I would put off buying my house for a chance to own a Brera. Every single photograph I have seen quickens my pulse and leaves me yearning for a set of keys. The engineering design - the weight, the drivetrain layout, the amazing Cd, I could go on and on and on - and I have, my wife has had it up to here - but I digress.

This should be the car that brings Alfa back to the U.S.! Here's a recipe for success: keep the basic chassis and the body - including the glass, the doors, all details such as badging and the grille, even the license plate opening - EXACTLY the same. Don't change these at all. Ship 15,000 LS1 or Northstar V8s to Italy every year, with a conventional Tremec or Getrag 6-speed manual, still mounted in the rear. Keep it RWD for cost, weight, simplicity, and handling. Replace the expensive, impractical 20" magnesium rims with 18" forged alloys, and the high-tech cutting edge audio system - well, that can stay, if it's not too heavy or expensive. The interior is perfect, just offer it in different colors for those who can't stomach brown.

You might worry that the car would be too close to the Corvette. If so, there are two opposite solutions, either of which would work well. You could save millions by building the Brera on the Corvette's platform, just like the XLR - essentially making it the Italian-bodied Corvette. Conversely, you could build the Brera as a lighter, upscale sport-compact car, with the sublime 200hp 2 liter engine from my Acura RSX Type-S. The very idea gives me the shivers - and it's already emissions-certified. However, I don't think this would be a real problem, and these solutions would detract from the original. I offer them only as if-you-must alternatives.

Finally, à la the Mini/BMW success story, sell Alfa Romeo exlusively through the top Cadillac dealerships. It would be the perfect partnership: Alfa will attract the young, affluent youth market (which I believe is the holy grail market segment for most automakers) to Cadillac showrooms - and their upcoming XLR - and Alfa gets a local, friendly sales force experienced with the luxury segment, and reputable service departments. If you must, you could even offer a 5-speed automatic tranny.

I don't care what kind of business arrangements you all would need in order to make this happen, as long as the Brera remains an Alfa, built in Italy, with minimal changes to the design or concept. Build it well and keep the spirit - and have it oversteer just slightly, if possible. Keep the price below $50K. If you do this, you will have buyers lining up to purchase the car. If you want proof, just accept pre-orders on the Alfa Website as Nissan has with the 350Z. They will pour in.

Mr. Lutz, you've shown that you have guts and verve by bringing the Holden Monaro to the states as the Pontiac GTO. If you're proud of that accomplishment, then I hope you see that the triumphant resurrection of Alfa Romeo in the USA as a design and sports car leader, would be absolutely the next step, the right thing, a crowning achievment.

Thank you,
Avi Flax

[superfausto]

right on, Avi!

real passion & some great thoughts.

F.Y.I. the Brera by Giugaro has Maserati/Ferrari running-gear (V8) and I think this would be the way to go.

Lastest news are that AF is to part from Fiat's bosom & snuggle up with Maser&Ferrari. At least that's what Ferrari's great MD Luca di Montezemolo suggested.

IMO GMs influence should be kept at minimum (maybe some platform sharing for the smaller cars) since there is enough expertise form the cavallino rampante and trident respectively.
Safe for the Caddie-AF joint dealership-idea you brought up. Smart stuff.

Furthermore poor old Bob Lutz has enough patients lying jacked-up in various hospitals already.

Let's hope they bring the Brera fwd & toghether with this have a successful re-entry into the US market.

Cheers,
superfauto

[avi4now]

Originally posted by superfausto
right on, Avi!

real passion & some great thoughts.

F.Y.I. the Brera by Giugaro has Maserati/Ferrari running-gear (V8) and I think this would be the way to go.

I totally agree! I just suggested the alternatives to help possibly make production more feasible and practical and affordable. The Maserati/Ferrari drivetrain would of course be the ideal!

Lastest news are that AF is to part from Fiat's bosom & snuggle up with Maser&Ferrari. At least that's what Ferrari's great MD Luca di Montezemolo suggested.

IMO GMs influence should be kept at minimum (maybe some platform sharing for the smaller cars) since there is enough expertise form the cavallino rampante and trident respectively.
Safe for the Caddie-AF joint dealership-idea you brought up. Smart stuff.

I agree - that's why I said the car should be kept an Alfa, built in Italy. I hate the idea of platform sharing. The Corvette platform idea was again a last-ditch alternative. However, I don't think it would be SO bad to have a Northstar or LS1 engine in the Brera. They are great engines, and the Northstar should be just about as sophisticated as the Ferrari.

Let's hope they bring the Brera fwd & together with this have a successful re-entry into the US market.

Are you saying you want the Brera to be front-wheel-drive? Why? I'd much rather it be Rear-wheel-drive.

Thanks for the discussion!
Avi

[superfausto]

avi sorry for the confusion - i meant "i hope they bring the Brera forward" i.e. launch the bloody thing.

of course in rwd (rear-wheel-drive).

btw: are you familiar with the current AF line-up (GTV, Spider, 147, 156 & 166)? What chances would this stand in the US-market in your opinion?

superfausto

[avi4now]

Whew! That's what I thought! I just bought my first Front Wheel Drive car, and although it handles great and is very nimble, I think I'll be going back to Rear Wheel Drive for my next car. I miss real race driving, and I really don't like the torque steer.

I'm sadly not very familiar with the Alfa product line, having only occasional contact with them in the British car magazines I buy infrequently. However, a quick glance at the website has piqued my interest. I really like the styling of the GTV, and the drivetrain sounds promising. I wonder how its handling compares to my Acura RSX Type-S (which I'm not sure is sold in Europe. In Japan it's the Honda Integra. It's got a 200HP 2.0 i-4 and a 6-speed.)

The GTA and 147 look good too, but the Alfa website has no details on these cars, not even dimensions and weight.

Honestly, I'm not sure that Alfa can come back to the U.S. with "regular" cars. I think they need to position themselves as a "exotic italian sports car marque." If they could bring just the Brera and the next-generation Spider and GTV, and sell them through Cadillac dealerships, or even better in Alfa Romeo mini-dealerships located in Caddy dealerships, they would have a great chance at success.

What would you consider Alfa's current BEST sports car? I'd like to read up on it.

[superfausto]

Avi,

100 % agree with what you propose as a re-entry strategy.

I consider the GTA the best sports car in the current line-up. Well, it's more a limo, but with 250 hp on tap it's defintely the quickest. 2nd would be the GTV with 3.0L/V6 engine. 3rd the 166 with 3.0L/V6.

My 156 2.0 is not very quick (155 hp) but it certainly has great chassis in just sooo pretty.

No, unfortunately we don't get the Acura/Honda RSX Type-S. I think this is one hell of a car and must be a treat to drive. I drove the predecessor of this car & was impressed. I think in comparison with the GTV it's better balanced as the GTVs V6 makes it quite nose-heavy. The engine of the GTV is a gem, though. Your 200hp thing must be quite a belter, too. Lot's of rev's required I reckon.

Congrats to a great car with man. gearbox! Makes you stand out from the crowd.

Cheers,
superfausto

[alfistagj]

AutoWeek

This week's AutoVisie the biggest Dutch car magazine had an article from it's Italian correspondent Giancarlo Perini headed
"Alfa Romeo Brera, no utopia!"

Some quotes:
- it's not "if", but "when" Alfa will take it in production
- general ok was given in 1998
- Alfa has the knowhow to make this into a real Alfa
- how good is the business-plan

At the end of the article (it included an interview with the "old" and the "young" Guigiaro as well as a testride) Giancarlo Perini concluden: "The Alfa Brera looks to be ready for production!"