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And even though the platform is old, it can still be modified to make it better?
De FIAT/Abarth 500 use the same platvorm.
The next generation Panda could get a more square design leaning back to the 169 and 141A
The upcoming Panda will be: Multi-Perpose, smart and cheap.
And mid-engined, apparently.
If they hadn't given up on the TwinAir, they could have one-upped the Twingo by shoving it under the rear seats, making it rear wheel drive, actually having a frunk (front trunk) and actually improved on their fun city car reputation but alas. With Marchionne gone and the big SUVs being the only products in the FCA consistently bringing in profit, I have a feeling it'll take another oil crisis before they get serious about small cars again.
Apparently Marchionne had big plans, but most plans got cancelled.
"The models provided by Marchionne, but then deleted or postponed".
I modelli previsti da Marchionne ma poi cancellati.
Piani Industriali dal 2009 al 2018
2009 - 2010
Alfa Romeo 169
Alfa Romeo Crossover (arriva con il piano 2018 - 2022)
Fiat Crossover medio
Fiat Bravo SW
Lancia Coupè Cabriolet
2012 - 2014
Alfa Romeo Mito 5p
Alfa Romeo Giulia rinviata nel 2016
Alfa Romeo Giulia SW
Alfa Romeo SUV medio (Selvio nel 2017)
Alfa Romeo SUV grande (arriva con il piano 2018 - 2022)
Alfa Romeo Spider
Fiat Topolino
Fiat Nuova Punto
Lancia media due volumi, tre volumi e SW
Lancia medio-grande tre volumi
Lancia SUV grande
2016 - 2018
Alfa Romeo 169
Alfa Romeo Nuova Giulietta
Alfa Romeo Giulia Gran Coupè (arriva con il piano 2018 - 2022)
Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifoglio
Alfa Romeo E-SUV (arriva con il piano 2018 - 2022)
Alfa Romeo Spider
Fiat 500 5porte (potrebbe essere una versione della nuova 3 porte. Arriva la Giardiniera nel 2020)
Fiat crossover compatto
Fiat Nuova Panda (arriva con il piano 2018 - 2022)
Della gestione passata si è parlato tanto, ma se fossero arrivati questi modelli, oltre a delle gamme interessanti, magari Lancia avrebbe avuto un destino diverso.
Alcuni modelli sono stati rinviati, altri cancellati.
"Past management has talked so much, but what if they got these models as well as interesting ranges – maybe Launches would have had a different destiny.
Some models were postponed, some cancelled".
Source: Passione Auto Italiane
TL;DR: Alfa spent too much money on a sedan for a shrinking market and an SUV that doesn't appeal to posh SUV buyers with money to blow on an options list. A whole brand with only two models does not a model range make.
Unfortunately I think the survival of the Alfa revival was heavily dependent on sales of vehicles based on their new front-engine rear wheel drive platform, but the Giulia and Stelvio are having a hard time meeting their sales targets due to them being priced equally with their German rivals, lacking enough petrol engine options to be competitive in diesel punishing markets (especially markets that tax based on displacement) and electronic niggles tanking their reliability ratings. They can't cut prices because the research and development costs from the platform need to start being recouped before they can introduce new models based on the platform, and don't want to detract from the new Alfa image, but the Giulia simply doesn't tick enough of the right boxes for fleet and executive sedan buyers other than 'looks good' to justify it over ze Germans. Sure everyone wants an SUV nowadays, but the market being saturated with other premium options from all manufacturers means the Stelvio also needs to stand out more than just 'looks good', because as far as buyers for posh SUVs are concerned (namely, image conscious city dwellers with no regard for the things Alfa wants to really cash in on such as sporty driving or Italian flair at the cost of practicality), a giant (and more importantly working) infotainment screen paired with a Jaguar or Land Rover badge (or, again, ze Germans) carries greater cachet than 'looks good' or 'drives good'. I hate to say it, but unless they can diversify this new platform into either bigger (mass sales, smaller vehicles) markets or more profitable (high-end luxury where metallic paint has a 3k pound profit margin) vehicles, they might be going the way of Lancia.