Godfrey DiGiorgi wrote:
For higher end cars and SUVs, a V8 engine is a big plus in US auto
marketing. It has little to do with actual performance needs (although
for some vehicles, added torque and smoothness of a larger displacement
V8 helps) but the US auto market has a long history of favoring the V8
engine configuration.
I would love to see Alfa Romeo return to this market and be successful.
I'd hate to see them return and become a niche market flop due to the
same lack of understanding of the US that caused them to pull out in
the first place.
You got that one wrong, Godfrey.
It was the U.S. Government that sank Alfa in this country.
You know, the obeisance to Federal Auto Pollution Standards.
Hang-on, add-on compliance crap that crippled an engine and a car's
performance.
At that time, Alfa didn't like their sporting image destroyed, so they
said the heck with it.
In addition to which, adhering to US Gov't regulations was not only
quite costly, but it made their otherwise world class flexible and
nimble cars run like crap, so that was it...
keith
The trick is to do it while retaining why the Alfa
enthusiasts want to buy an Alfa Romeo in the first place.
Godfrey
On Aug 29, 2005, at 6:16 AM, Dario Bonazza wrote:
Alfa general manager said that many Americans want a V8 engine, hence
they must offer it if they want to get good success on the US market.
However, native Alfa engines will be offered as well.
