Purpose

I will try my best to provide detailed info on various cars and what is like to live with them, I have already produced a few for Jaguar-car-forums, I will do my best to be unbiased, but it will be hard for some cars. I will re-produce press releases and copy from other motoring news.

Sunday, 15 November 2015

USA - Honda launches teh All-New Tenth Generation Civic, moving the benchmark for quality, space and tech.

The all-new tenth generation Civic launches with benchmark-setting levels of performance, fuel efficiency, interior space and premium quality
The 2016 Civic Sedan, a completely new-from-the-ground-up redesign of America's most popular compact car1, launches Nov. 12 at Honda dealerships nationwide with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)2 starting at $18,640 – an increase of just $150 from the outgoing model. 

The 2016 Civic Sedan benefits from the most extensive and ambitious redesign in the 43-year history of Civic, a global development effort led for the first time by Honda's U.S. R&D team, which set their sights on creating the world's best compact-class car with benchmark-setting levels of quality, fuel efficiency, interior spaciousness and fun-to-drive performance.
"The new Honda Civic offers incredible value and a fun-to-drive spirit that will take a lot of customers by surprise," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division. "This tenth generation Civic exemplifies the incredible engineering strength of Honda and our capacity to deliver something altogether new, unexpected and thrilling for our customers."
The 2016 Civic Sedan offers buyers more choices than ever before with two all-new powertrains and an expanded range of features and trims. Civic LX and EX trims feature a new 158-horsepower, 2.0-liter i-VTEC™ engine—the most powerful base engine ever offered on Civic, while Civic EX-T, EX-L and new line-topping Touring models are powered by a 174-horspower, 1.5-liter DOHC TURBO engine with unprecedented levels of power, refinement and class-leading fuel economy ratings.
EPA fuel economy ratings for the 2016 Civic Sedan are 31/41/35 mpg3 (city/highway/combined) for 2.0-liter models with continuously variable transmission (CVT) and 31/42/35 mpg3 for 1.5-liter TURBO models with CVT. 
Additional design and engineering highlights of the all-new 2016 Civic Sedan include:
  • Dynamic new styling – with a bolder, more aggressive face; sharp and sophisticated body lines; a sporty fastback profile and premium features, including the expanded use of LED exterior lighting
  • All-new Civic platform architecture – with a 1.2-inch-longer wheelbase, a nearly 2-inch wider body and wider track that gives Civic a more athletic and aggressive stance while contributing to its more refined ride quality and larger cabin, including 1.2 inches of added rear-seat legroom
  • A more rigid, lightweight and tightly sealed body – featuring a new Advanced Compatibility Engineering(ACE) body structure, supporting Civic's fun-to-drive performance, class-leading cabin quietness and targeted top-class crash safety ratings: NCAP 5-star Overall Vehicle Score and IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+
  • A more spacious and premium-quality cabin – with premium, soft-touch surfaces and refined detailing that exceeds the mainstream compact-car class, along with an expanded list of standard and available features, including heated front and rear seats, automatic climate control, remote engine start and eight-way power driver's seat
  • Honda Sensing – available suite includes Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Keeping Assist and Road Departure Warning, and adds, for the first time, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, setting a new bar for advanced safety and driver-assistive technology in the mainstream compact class
  • Advanced connected-car capabilities – enabled by a new and more intuitive 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen interface with Android operating system, also featuring Apple CarPlay® and Android Autocompatibility for seamless integration of smartphone features and functions      
The 2016 Civic Sedan is the first in a series of new 10th-generation Civic variants that will include a sedan, coupe, sports-minded Si models, a five-door hatchback and the first-ever Civic Type-R model for the U.S. market, comprising the most diverse and innovative lineup in Civic's 43-year history. This 10th-generation Civic was benchmarked against the world's best C-segment vehicles, including luxury-class cars, as engineers sought to deliver a truly world-beating compact-class car – the most refined, sporty and sophisticated Civic platform ever made.





Interior2016 Civic Sedan – Major New Features
FEATURESLXEXEX-TEX-LTouring
Powertrain
2.0-liter, 16-valve, DOHC, port-injected i-VTEC inline four-cylinder engine
Six-speed manual transmission
Continuously variable transmission (CVT) for 2.0-liter engine
Avail.
1.5-liter, 16-valve, DOHC, direct-injected and turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine
Continuously variable transmission (CVT) for 1.5-liter TURBO
Exterior
Honda LED (inline-style) headlights
Auto on/off headlights
LED daytime running lights
LED rear taillights
Triple-sealed doors
Flush-mounted, acoustic glass windshield
Full underbody covers
Smart Entry
Chassis
Fully independent front Macpherson strut-type suspension with hydraulic compliance bushing
Multi-link rear suspension with rigid rear subframe
Rear hydraulic compliance bushing
Push-button start
Automatic climate control
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Heated driver and passenger side mirrors
Remote engine start
7-inch full-color touchscreen Display Audio with Android operating system
Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility
Heated front seats including heated seat backs
HD Radio®
8-way-power driver's seat
Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob (in addition to leather seating surfaces)
Honda satellite-linked navigation system by Garmin
Avail.
Rain-sensing windshield wipers
4-way-power front passenger seat
Heated rear outboard seats
Safety and Driver-Assistive Technology
New Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure
Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
w/ optional Honda Sensing™
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow
2016 Civic Sedan – Pricing and EPA Fuel Economy Ratings
Trim
Engine
Transmission
MSRP
EPA Ratings
(city/hwy/comb)
LX2.0L DOHC
i-VTEC
4-cylinder
6MT$18,64027/40/31
CVT$19,44031/41/35
LX w/ Honda Sensing™CVT$20,44031/41/35
EXCVT$21,04031/41/35
EX w/ Honda Sensing™CVT$22,04031/41/35
EX-T1.5L DOHC
Direct Injected TURBO
CVT$22,20031/42/35
EX-T w/ Honda Sensing™CVT$23,20031/42/35
EX-LCVT$23,70031/42/35
EX-L w/ Honda Sensing™CVT$24,70031/42/35
EX-L NaviCVT$24,70031/42/35
TouringCVT$26,50031/42/35



Sporty Civic Design
The dramatic and sporty new Civic design is grounded in its more athletic stance and low and wide proportions. Compared to the current model, the 2016 Civic Sedan is nearly 2 inches wider and 1 inch lower with a 1.2-inch longer wheelbase, featuring a more compact and sporty front overhang; a longer, more aggressively sculpted hood and fastback-style tail.

The taut and tidy proportions of the new Civic Sedan are complemented and accentuated by refined design details, including sleek and swept-back bodylines, a sharp and aggressive face and bulging wheel arches. The new Civic's more premium character is also highlighted by its available LED exterior lighting, including standard LED running lights, distinctive C-shaped LED taillights and featuring LED headlights on the Touring trim.
Two All-New Powertrains
The 2016 Civic Sedan features two all-new, more powerful and fuel-efficient engines: Civic Sedan LX and EX trims are powered by a 2.0-liter, port-injected DOHC   i-VTEC inline four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 138 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,200 rpm4(+15 HP and +9 lb.-ft. vs. 2015 Civic 1.8L) and mated to either a six-speed manual (LX trim only) or continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Civic Sedan EX-T, EX-L and Touring trims are powered by a 1.5-liter, direct-injected DOHC TURBO inline 4-cylinder engine producing 174 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 162 lb.-ft. of torque from 1,800 to 5,500 rpm5(+31 HP and +33 lb.-ft. vs. 2015 Civic 1.8L) and mated to an all-new CVT with torque converter designed specifically to complement the turbocharged engine.

Both engines feature a wide array of friction-reducing design and engineering features that support both high performance and high fuel efficiency. These two ultra-efficient engines, married to the 2016 Civic Sedan's highly aerodynamic body, help to garner class-leading EPA fuel-economy ratings of 31/41/35 mpg (city/highway/combined) for models equipped with the 2.0-liter engine and CVT, 27/40/31 mpg for the 2.0L with manual transmission and 31/42/35 mpg for models equipped with the 1.5-liter TURBO.
Advanced and Sporty New Body and Chassis
The 2016 Civic sets a new standard for dynamic handling, steering, ride quality and cabin quietness in the compact class, courtesy of its all-new platform, featuring the most rigid and tightly sealed body and the most sophisticated chassis in Civic history.

Advancing the sporty character of this all-new Civic is its more sporty driving position, with a lower hip point compared to the outgoing model. The Civic's all-new platform design and lower floor and engine enable the lower hip point. The new Civic chassis features a redesigned strut front suspension and a new multi-link rear suspension mounted to an ultra-rigid rear subframe.
Torsional rigidity of the new body is improved by 25 percent aided in part by more intensive use of ultra-high-strength steel. Fifty-nine percent of the unit body is composed of high-strength steel, including 14 percent hot-stamp steel. Aerodynamic efficiency is improved by 12 percent to class-leading levels through detailed CFD modeling, wind tunnel testing and tuning, and from the use full underbody covers (a Civic first).
Despite its larger size, the new Civic unit body is 68 pounds lighter than before, while new body-sealing techniques result in a 58 percent reduction in cabin air leaks. Class-leading cabin quietness is further improved by the use of premium noise-reducing features, including a flush-mounted acoustic glass windshield, a more tightly sealed engine compartment and triple-sealed doors.
To achieve the Civic development team's high targets for dynamic performance and refined ride quality, the new Civic Sedan utilizes hydraulic compliance bushings; a technology typically reserved for more expensive vehicles, aiding the isolation of road vibration. Additional new chassis technologies include variable gear-ratio steering, beefier front and rear stabilizer bars and standard four-wheel disc brakes, along with the application of new Agile Handling Assist brake-torque vectoring technology for more precise and agile cornering.
Spacious, Sophisticated and Advanced Cabin
The new Civic interior is designed to offer the most comfortable, sophisticated and premium-feeling cabin in the compact class. An additional 3.2 cubic feet of interior space translates into the largest cabin in the compact segment with 1.2 inches of added rear-seat legroom versus the outgoing model. In front, new ultra-thin front roof pillars enable class-leading forward visibility. At the rear, trunk space has been increased by 2.6 cubic feet a configuration with a lower lift-over height, larger opening and wider and taller cargo area. Civic Sedan EX and higher trims will feature a 60/40 split and folding rear seat. All Civic Sedan models also feature a larger, reconfigurable new center console with up to 7.2 liters of secure storage space; approaching SUV levels of console utility.

The new Civic interior strikes a more premium tone with high-quality materials and high-contrast finishes. These include a new one-piece, soft-touch instrumental panel with molded stitching; more premium seat fabrics; a new full-color TFT center meter (EX and above trims); a center console with piano black finish and high-contrast silver bezel; door inserts with real stitching; an LED shift indicator and LED overhead lighting; and for EX and higher trims, a leather shift boot.
The 2016 Civic Sedan offers customers more premium features than ever before. New standard equipment includes automatic climate control, auto-up/down front-power windows, an electronic parking brake with Brake Hold and Walk-Away auto door locks.  Additional available premium features, depending upon trim, include heated side mirrors (EX and above), remote engine start rain-sensing wipers (Touring), heated front seats (EXT and above) and heated outboard rear seats (Touring), an eight-way power driver's seat (EX-L and Touring), a four-way power front passenger's seat (Touring) and an adjustable driver's seat thigh support with 14 degrees of tilt.
Civic Audio and Connectivity
Civic EX and higher trims come equipped with a new 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen with a higher resolution Android-based operating system. The Civic joins the 2016 Accord as two of the first high-volume models in the industry to incorporate both the Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto platforms, providing seamless integration of smartphone features and functions. Smartphone connectivity for the Civic Sedan is now accomplished using a single USB cable connection.

The new Civic Sedan also delivers on the audio front with more powerful systems and expanded listening options, including SiriusXM® Radio, Pandora® compatibility and HD Radio. Civic LX trims feature a 160-watt, four-speaker sound system and 5-inch LCD screen for control of audio functions, while EX and EX-L trims feature a 180-watt system, eight-speaker system and utilize the new 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen as the nerve center for audio and climate control. The new-line-topping Touring trim features a 450-watt, 10-speaker audio system—the most powerful in its competitive set—integrated with Display Audio.
Finally, while all Civic models with Display Audio provide for smartphone-powered GPS navigation via the Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto platforms (with compatible smartphone and customer data plan), for customers who want an embedded navigation capability, the Civic EX-L Navi and Touring trims are equipped with an all-new Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System developed in cooperation with the experts at Garmin – offering more intuitive operation, improved graphics and enhanced mapping capabilities.
Civic Safety Performance
The 2016 Civic utilizes an advanced body structure – including a next generation Advanced Compatibility Body Structure (ACE), a high-strength steel floor and tailor-tempered, ultra-high-strength B-pillars and rear frame rails – to provide a high degree of occupant protection while minimizing weight and aiding fuel efficiency. The new body structure works in concert with advanced front-side and side curtain airbag technology, including SmartVent® technology for the driver and front passenger side airbags.

Utilizing these systems in conjunction with the new Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies, the 2016 Civic Sedan targets the highest available U.S. safety ratings – an NCAP 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Civic Manufacturing
The 2016 Civic Sedan marks the first time Honda's North American manufacturing operations have served as the global lead plant for a model like Civic, sold worldwide. Further, all 2016 Civic Sedans for the North American market are manufactured at the company's Alliston, Ontario, and Greensburg, Indiana, auto plants6. The two new engines for the 2016 Civics are manufactured at Honda engine plants in Anna, Ohio, and Alliston, Ontario, with the new turbo engine produced exclusively at the Anna Engine Plant. The two continuously variable automatic transmissions are being produced by Honda plants in Russells Point, Ohio, and Celaya, Mexico.

USA - Subaru of Indiana Automotive will receive 3-row in 2018 as its fourth model.

Subaru of Indiana Automotive will receive 3-row in 2018 as its fourth model
Subaru has confirmed that a new 3-row crossover model, effectively replacing the retired Tribeca, will be produced at its SIA plant in Lafayette, Indiana.


The all-new crossover is expected to be built beginning in 2018 and will be a larger vehicle than the Tribeca, with full third-row capability. The new vehicle has not yet been named, but will likely carry a name synonymous with outdoor adventure, consistent with the company’s other successful crossovers; Outback, Forester and Crosstrek.




When production of the new model begins, Subaru will have four models produced in the U.S.: Legacy, Outback, a new Impreza compact sedan and 5-door model beginning production in late 2016, and this new crossover. Subaru production in Indiana is projected to be approximately 228,000 units in 2015, and annual capacity is scheduled to grow to 394,000 with the introduction of the Impreza model.



Subaru is currently enjoying its seventh consecutive year of sales records and expects to close 2015 with over 550,000 sales, with sales tripling since 2007.



Tom Easterday executive vice president, secretary, and chief legal officer of Subaru of Indiana Automotive said: “We are delighted to be bringing even more Subaru manufacturing to the U.S. The new model will also result in increased investment at SIA and at several of our suppliers across the country.”



Thomas J. Doll, President and COO of Subaru of America said “We have enjoyed record sales for seven consecutive years and the introduction of an all-new, American-made Impreza followed by an all-new larger 3-row crossover will help keep our sales momentum strong.”

Despite the massive cost savings at Volkswagen Group, the next Bugatti is definitely coming soon.

Volkswagen Group's Bugatti will survive for at least one more supercar generation in the wake of the emissions scandal.
Bugatti said it will introduce a new supercar soon. Interest in the successor of the sold-out Veyron is "phenomenal" among North American customers, sales chief Stefan Brungs said after opening revamped showrooms in Manhattan and Miami. More outlets will follow in Munich, Monaco and Tokyo.

Bugatti's new showroom concept is a "fundamental investment in the future of the brand," Brungs said in a statement on Friday.
VW's widening scandal over rigged diesel engines and understated carbon dioxide emissions has drawn scrutiny over whether the company will stick to extravagant operations such as Bugatti as the parent company plans wide-ranging spending cuts to become leaner and more efficient.
Cleanup will cost at least 8.7 billion euros ($9.3 billion), Volkswagen has said. CEO Matthias Mueller said last week the group will scrutinize its vast lineup of more than 300 vehicles and weed out the least profitable.
Gold Veyron
Profitability was never the opulent, highly-engineered Veyron’s strong suit. Though the two-seat sports car sold for an average of 2.3 million euros, the cost of developing and building it -- in everything from gold and titanium to porcelain -- meant Volkswagen may have lost about 4.6 million euros on each Veyron it sold, according to estimates from analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein.
A spokeswoman for Bugatti declined to comment on speculation over the company’s prospects, saying that like all brands in the group, it needs to watch its costs. Bugatti has already started showing the Veyron successor to selected customers and will unveil it to everyone else in the near future, she said.
VW bought the rights to the brand founded by designer Ettore Bugatti in 1998, aiming to make a car powerful enough to drive faster than 400 kilometers (250 miles) per hour and civilized enough for a trip to the opera. In February it sold the 450th and final Veyron, an open-top Grand Sport Vitesse variant with 1,200 horsepower.
VW has hinted since then that a successor is coming -- the next iteration will be even faster, brand chief Wolfgang Duerheimer said at the Frankfurt auto show in September.
The Friday announcement is the first confirmation that Bugatti will survive the cuts.

WORLDWIDE SALES OCTOBER - INFINITI - Can the brand go to 15 record breaking months in November, Yes it can.

  • Record-breaking streak continues to achieve 14 best individual months
  • Year-to-date sales in China exceeded full-year sales in 2014
Infiniti continued its successful sales performance with an exceptional month of October when the company sold more than 18,400 vehicles globally, an increase of more than 3,000 vehicles, or 20 percent, over October 2014. This marked the 14th consecutive month of best individual months on record.

The global sales result is supported by strong sales performances in key regions and markets. The 2015 October sales marked the best October sales record for Infiniti globally as well as an all-time record month for Canada and the best October sales in history for many regions and markets including the Americas, Mexico, Western Europe and China.
Year to date, the company sold almost 173,000 vehicles, up around 24,300 vehicles or 16 percent from the same period in 2014. The sales in mainland China and Taiwan in the first 10 months of 2015 have already exceeded the full-year sales in 2014. The Americas have reached highest January to October sales since 2005.
"Infiniti's strong sales momentum across all regions is driven by the strength of our product portfolio, our brand and our dealer network," said Roland Krueger, president of Infiniti Motor Company Limited. "With the introduction of the new Q30 Active Compact coming up shortly, we are confident that we can further expand our market presence."
In the Americas (U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Latin America), Infiniti sold more than 12,600 vehicles in October, an increase of 2,300 vehicles or 23 percent from a year ago. Year to date, Infiniti Americas sold about 118,400 vehicles, a 13 percent increase year on year.
Specifically for the U.S., Infiniti's largest single market, the brand sold more than 11,100 vehicles in the past month, making it the second best October ever in its history. From January to October, Infiniti grew 14 percent year on year and sold more than 106,700 vehicles, the best result in the U.S. for the same period since the year 2005.
In China, Infiniti continues to outperform a sluggish overall automotive market. In October, the brand sold more than 3,700 vehicles, up 29 percent from last year. In the first 10 months of the year, Infiniti recorded sales of 32,200 vehicles, an increase of 36 percent.
In EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), Infiniti sold about 1,700 vehicles in October 2015, an increase of 3 percent compared to the same period of 2014. Year to date, the sales reached around 18,200 vehicles, an increase of 1,400 vehicles or 8 percent.

McLaren has started production of the new Sports Series family of sports cars, in it's state of the art facility.

McLaren Automotive has started production of its new Sports Series family of luxury high-performance sports cars at the state-of-the-art McLaren Production Centre (MPC) in Woking, England. The first car to be launched in the Sports Series family is the 570S Coupé, and this will be followed by the 540C Coupé and another bodystyle in 2016. 
The first McLaren 570S Coupé to roll off the production line has been delivered to a retailer in the UK and, even before the first customer handover takes place, the global retailer network is holding over 1,000 orders for this superb new addition to the McLaren range.

The start of production of the new Sports Series heralds a new chapter in the short history of McLaren Automotive, as well as completing its three tier product strategy of Ultimate Series, Super Series and Sports Series. 
When the full Sports Series family is complete by 2018, it is forecast to more than double the annual volume of McLaren Automotive to more than 4,000 cars per year. The Sports Series is priced from £126,000 for the 540C Coupé rising to £143,250 for the 570S Coupé.
Jolyon Nash, Executive Director – Sales and Marketing at McLaren Automotive explained: 
‘The start of production of the new Sports Series cars is a pivotal moment for McLaren Automotive. In our short history, we have produced a range of supercars and hypercars targeted at a core, enthusiast buyer. Since 2011, our sales have increased year-on-year with corresponding developments in revenues and profits. 
The Sports Series is targeted towards a new buyer and opens McLaren up to the sports car market that we have not served to date. 
The buyer of a Sports Series model will still experience the benchmark performance and driver engagement delivered by every McLaren model, but will also notice the increased usability and practicality that differentiates it from our existing cars. In addition, the Sports Series will make a significant contribution to the long-term sustainability of the company.’

The Lotus Evora 400, from track to road car, the most superior Lotus ever built, lighter, leaner, quicker and better.

  • fastest and most powerful production Lotus ever
  • 42 kg lighter with 55 hp increase on previous model
  • Ergonomically and dynamically more capable than the previous Evora
The most powerful production Lotus ever – the new Lotus Evora 400 is a superior machine to the previous model in every aspect.

Over two thirds of the Lotus Evora 400 is new, including its supercharged and charge-cooled mid-mounted 3.5-litre V6 engine. Power has been increased from 345 hp (350 PS; 257.3 kW) to 400 hp (406 PS; 298.3 kW) at 7,000rpm. Torque has also been increased to 302 lbs ft (410 Nm) achieved between 3,500 to 6,500 rpm.

42 kg lighter than the previous model, with a completely new aluminium chassis and significantly revised lightweight composite body front and rear. The new Evora 400 is also ergonomically more refined, with easier cabin exit and entry, enhancing everyday usability.
Dynamically more capable lighter and faster, with revised spring and damper settings, a Limited Slip Differential (LSD) and a downforce figure of 32 kg (70 lbs) at 150 mph (242 km/h), the new Evora 400 is one of the quickest cars in class A to B and offers a more involving, sharper and more focused driving experience compared with the outgoing model.

Reports and rumours suggest that all the new Alfa models planned for the next few years are all delayed.

Alfa Romeo will delay the sales launches of two key new models, according to sources, in a further setback for the struggling Fiat Chrysler Automobiles brand.
The Giulia Quadrifoglio midsize sedan will go on sale in Europe six months later than planned in the middle of next year, two supplier sources told Automotive News Europe. Alfa’s first SUV, based on the Giulia, will not come to market before early 2017, nine months later than planned, the same sources said.

The high-performance Giulia Quadrifoglio was due to launch in Europe by the end of this year as the first model in the Giulia lineup, Alfa’s European dealers were told during the car’s presentation in June. The car's market launch is now delayed because Alfa is working to refine some safety and ride characteristics, the sources said.
Alfa Romeo declined to comment on whether the launches of the Giulia Quadrifoglio and the SUV have been delayed.
The U.S. launches for the Giulia and Giulia-based SUV are scheduled to happen about 3 to 6 months after their European sales debuts.
FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne said on Oct. 28 that the company is re-examining Alfa's global expansion because of the slowdown in the Chinese market. He reaffirmed a planned 5 billion euro investment announced in May 2014 to boost Alfa’s annual global sales to 400,000 units with eight new models but said the investment will be completed in 2019 or 2020.
Fiat Chrysler will work hard in the next 30 to 60 days to review Alfa's business plan and the new vehicles may come in a different order to satisfy consumer tastes in Europe and North America, Marchionne told analysts on a conference call on on Oct. 28 after FCA announced its third-quarter results. The revised sequence likely will be announced in January, he said.
Alfa has not announced the details of all its planned eight new models but sources say they include a replacement for the Giulietta compact, a large sedan, as well as large and compact SUVs.
Delays to the first of those models, the Giulia and Giulia-based SUV, mean that Alfa is likely to sell well below the 400,000 units outlined in its business plan in 2018.
IHS Automotive in its latest forecast predicts that Alfa will reach slightly more than 230,000 annual sales by 2018, up from 68,000 last year. Just under 50,000 of those sales will be Giulias and about 23,000 will be Giulia-based SUV, the firm forecasts.
IHS analyst Ian Fletcher said Marchionne’s latest revision of Alfa’s revival plans appears to show that he is "managing expectations" for the brand. Marchionne may postpone the launch of niche models such as the large sedan, Fletcher said. FCA is likely to bring to market sooner the type of models Alfa needs "to enable it to survive," he said, including the Giulietta replacement.
Maserati setback
Marchionne said on the Oct. 28 call that the continued weakness of imported luxury vehicles in China had forced a reassessment of FCA's strategy for Alfa, but Max Warburton, an auto analyst at Bernstein, said Maserati’s falling sales may have prompted Marchionne to re-examine his strategy for Alfa.
"It's a bit odd to start blaming China for a fundamental change in the plan for Alfa," he said. Marchionne is probably shocked by the speed of the deterioration in Maserati’s demand. "Maserati was the dry run for Alfa and it has not gone to plan," Warburton said.
Maserati has been hurt by slowing demand in the U.S. and China, its two largest markets. The brand’s global vehicle sales fell 22 percent to 6,916 in the third quarter.
Alfa Romeos are not sold in China and FCA has not set a date for the brand’s introduction in the world’s largest market. Marchionne’s revival plan for Alfa originally called for China sales to account for about 20 percent the 400,000 target. A large portion of the volume projection that had been assigned to China will have to be absorbed by other regions, including North America and Europe, Marchionne said on Oct. 28.
Giulia volume models
The Giulia was previewed in June and officially unveiled in September at the Frankfurt auto show in the guise of the 503-hp Giulia Quadrifoglio version. The Giulia’s volume models, which will be powered by a new 2.0-liter gasoline engine and a new 2.2-liter diesel, are now likely to launch in Europe late next year instead of March next year, sources said.
When finally launched, the Giulia will attack the core of the premium midsize segment dominated both in Europe and globally by the BMW 3 series, Mercedes-Benz C class and Audi A4. German rivals, however, are not worried.
  • Giulia Quadrifoglio
  • New target: mid-2016
  • Old target: late 2015
  • Giulia-based SUV
  • New target: early 2017
  • Old target: spring 2016
  • Giulia base models
  • New target: late 2016
  • Old target: March 2016
“Who is Alfa Romeo?” Audi CEO Rupert Stadler joked at the Frankfurt auto show in September. “I’m sorry, but we have to define the landscape of competition.” For Stadler, that landscape includes only Mercedes and BMW.

IHS Automotive believes Alfa will sell 22,000 Giulias in Europe during its best year, forecast to be 2018, compared with European sales of 150,000 for the Mercedes C class, a volume of 140,000 for the Audi A4 and 92,000 for the BMW 3 series in the same year.
Overly ambitious?
Even on the eve of the Giulia preview in June, analysts were sceptical about Marchionne’s ambitious plans for Alfa. Bernstein’s Warburton said in a June 18 investors note that the Giulia will eventually go on sale but “we remain unconvinced that it will be followed by a significant expansion of the model range.”
“Fiat has promised numerous re-launches for Alfa Romeo in the Marchionne era. New products and bold volume targets have come and gone,” Warburton said.
Richard Hilgert, an auto analyst at Morning star, said Marchionne’s 400,000 sales target is over-reaching. “I would be impressed if the brand sold 200,000,” he said.
Said Hilgert: “I think Marchionne set an overly-lofty target as a shock treatment to a patient in cardiac arrest. The idea being to get an immediate dramatic response, but his plan for 400,000 units in 2018 would have the patient immediately get up and run a 5-kilometer race.”
Nick Gibbs and Luca Ciferri contributed to this report.