avi4now
31.07.2002, 16:12
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, ā 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
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, ā 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