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New Alfa Romeo boss Luca de Meo has been given 1000 days to turn around the company’s fortunes before reaches its centenary in June 2010 and is relaunched in the US after a gap of 15 years.
De Meo’s first move will be to re-open the 159/Brera manufacturing plant, which closed before Christmas for a £70m refurbishment aimed at improving quality, streamlining the build process, improving the cars and removing weight from their structures.
The 2008-spec 159 and Brera models will be around 50kg lighter than their predecessors, mainly because computer redesign has shown that key body and chassis panels can use considerably lighter gauge steel without harming strength or durability.
De Meo, who will unveil the Punto-based entry-level Alfa ‘Junior’ at the Geneva motor show in March, and a replacement for the 147 (called 149) next year, reckons it’s “pretty clear” how to restore Alfa’s fortunes. “You have to rebuild all the old Alfa values of spirit, agility and responsiveness into today’s cars,” he told Autocar. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s not rocket science”.
Steve Cropley
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