Alfa Romeo to offer 'minimal electronic interference'

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 Panda and 500 models, and Chrysler has blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors and technology to detect oncoming vehicles when reversing.