Currently reading: Alfa Romeo to offer 'minimal electronic interference'
Italian manufacturer confirms it won't be using advanced safety tech such as emergency braking on its cars, saying customers want a more 'mechanical' experience

Alfa Romeo doesn't intend to fit much net-generation advanced safety equipment, such as adaptive cruise control and emergency braking, to its cars.

Alberto Cavaggioni, Alfa's marketing boss, said, "We can look at our cars from an emotional point of view or from a technical point of view. We give the Alfisti all that's needed [in electronic aids], but not more. At Alfa we give the maximum fun to drivers.

“We don't put safety into the discussion, apart from our NCAP scores."

Maurizio Consalvo, the manufacturer's head of product planning, said, "Customers want a mechanical car with minimal electrical interference."

The decision is in stark contrast to those taken by marques such as Volvo, Mercedes and Volkswagen, which are pushing ahead with advanced safety technology, including autonomous driving systems, and neither have any of those brands suggested that the next generation of technology and driving enjoyment need be mutually exclusive.

Alfa's Fiat Group parent is already using much of the new technology, too. Fiat offers City Brake Control on its Fiat Panda and Fiat 500 models, and Chrysler has blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors and technology to detect oncoming vehicles when reversing.

Join the debate

Comments
7
Add a comment…
Norma Smellons 25 October 2013

The real reason is that

FIAT can't afford to develop these systems any longer.

They can't even afford proper headlights for the 4C.

Meanwhile, work on the new Punto ceased some time ago.

Calling a lack of tech "more involvement for the driver" is a con.

xxxx 25 October 2013

Not according to ....

Maurizio Consalvo, the manufacturer's head of product planning, said, "Customers want a mechanical car with minimal electrical interference."

Also, they make the point it won't have emegency braking, well low and behold this is straight from the brochure: "the Giulietta also introduces Pre-Fill - a new function that uses the VDC system to provide the driver with the quickest braking response possible.
When the control unit detects a hazardous situation requiring rapid braking, the braking system is pressurised a few moments before the driver actually hits the brake pedal "

How does it do the above without electrics??

Turismo 25 October 2013

The Alfa discussion was about

The Alfa discussion was about electrical safety aids, not electrical ease of use or economy . So electric steering stays as it;s not safety related.