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Italie

Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo was born in Milan, Italy, on June 24, 1910, under the name A.L.F.A. (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili). The company was formed by a group of Lombard industrialists led by Ugo Stella, who took over the Milan facilities of the Franco-British manufacturer Darracq in the Portello district. Engineer Giuseppe Merosi designed the first models there, the 24 HP and 12 HP. In 1915, Neapolitan entrepreneur Nicola Romeo took control of the company; in 1918, it officially adopted the name Alfa Romeo. As early as the 1920s and 1930s, the brand built its reputation in motorsport and produced sought-after sedans and sports cars, laying the foundations of its sporting image. After the postwar period, Alfa Romeo broadened its appeal with higher-volume models such as the Giulietta and the Giulia. The brand came under the wing of the public group IRI, then was sold to Fiat in 1986, joining the major Italian automotive group. With the creation of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in 2014, then the merger with the PSA Group that gave rise to Stellantis in 2021, Alfa Romeo became one of the brands of this multinational conglomerate, while retaining its Italian identity and keeping its design and engineering centered in Italy. In North America, Alfa Romeo went through several phases of presence. Long imported for its roadsters, the brand had withdrawn from the U.S. market before gradually returning, notably with the 4C, then with the Giulia sedan and the Stelvio SUV starting in the mid-2010s, distributed in the United States and Canada through the Stellantis network. The compact Tonale SUV more recently rounded out the North American lineup. The brand maintains niche distribution in North America, positioned as a sporty alternative to the German premium brands.

ActiveLuxePerformanceÉlectrique / hybrideEuropéennes
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Country of origin Italie
Year founded 1910
Owner group Stellantis
Main region Europe
Current status Active
Listed models 8

History

History of Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo was born in Milan, Italy, on June 24, 1910, under the name A.L.F.A. (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili). The company was formed by a group of Lombard industrialists led by Ugo Stella, who took over the Milan facilities of the Franco-British manufacturer Darracq in the Portello district. Engineer Giuseppe Merosi designed the first models there, the 24 HP and 12 HP. In 1915, Neapolitan entrepreneur Nicola Romeo took control of the company; in 1918, it officially adopted the name Alfa Romeo. As early as the 1920s and 1930s, the brand built its reputation in motorsport and produced sought-after sedans and sports cars, laying the foundations of its sporting image. After the postwar period, Alfa Romeo broadened its appeal with higher-volume models such as the Giulietta and the Giulia. The brand came under the wing of the public group IRI, then was sold to Fiat in 1986, joining the major Italian automotive group. With the creation of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in 2014, then the merger with the PSA Group that gave rise to Stellantis in 2021, Alfa Romeo became one of the brands of this multinational conglomerate, while retaining its Italian identity and keeping its design and engineering centered in Italy. In North America, Alfa Romeo went through several phases of presence. Long imported for its roadsters, the brand had withdrawn from the U.S. market before gradually returning, notably with the 4C, then with the Giulia sedan and the Stelvio SUV starting in the mid-2010s, distributed in the United States and Canada through the Stellantis network. The compact Tonale SUV more recently rounded out the North American lineup. The brand maintains niche distribution in North America, positioned as a sporty alternative to the German premium brands.

1910

Public founding or origin of Alfa Romeo.

1962/2015

Giulia: launch or first listed period.

1966

Spider: launch or first listed period.

2016

Stelvio: launch or first listed period.

2022

Tonale: launch or first listed period.

1910

24 HP: launch or first listed period.

1910

12 HP: launch or first listed period.

1911

15 HP: launch or first listed period.

1913

40-60 HP: launch or first listed period.

Technologies

Technologies, innovations and platforms

Alfa Romeo places the emphasis on driving dynamics. The Giulia and Stelvio are built on the rear-wheel-drive Giorgio platform (or Q4 all-wheel drive), with an architecture that prioritizes mass balance and weight distribution. The engine range includes turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline units and, at the top of the range, the 2.9 L twin-turbo V6 of the Quadrifoglio version, developed with know-how drawn from motorsport. The compact Tonale SUV introduces electrification: a Q4 plug-in hybrid variant pairs a 1.3 L turbocharged four-cylinder with an electric motor on the rear axle, providing all-wheel drive and an electric range of roughly 60 km (WLTP). The Tonale shares a platform derived from the group's SCCS architecture. On the safety and driver-assistance front, the models offer the systems expected in the premium segment (emergency braking, lane keeping, adaptive cruise control).

Plateforme Giorgio à propulsion ou intégrale Q4, quatre cylindres turbo essence et, en Quadrifoglio, V6 biturbo 2,9 L d'inspiration compétition. Boîte automatique, répartition des masses soignée, aides à la conduite premium.Roadster propulsion à moteur avant; les séries classiques 105/115 utilisaient des quatre cylindres à double arbre à cames. La série 916 ultérieure passa à une architecture à traction avant avec suspension arrière multibras.Plateforme Giorgio, transmission intégrale Q4 ou propulsion, quatre cylindres 2,0 L turbo essence et V6 biturbo 2,9 L en Quadrifoglio. Boîte automatique, dynamique de conduite orientée sport.Plateforme dérivée de l'architecture SCCS du groupe; quatre cylindres turbo essence et variante hybride rechargeable Q4 associant un 1,3 L turbo à un moteur électrique arrière, autonomie électrique d'environ 60 km (WLTP) et transmission intégrale.L'Alfa Romeo 24 HP repose sur un moteur quatre cylindres en ligne de 4084 cm³ conçu par Giuseppe Merosi, développant 42 chevaux à 2200 tr/min avec distribution à soupapes latérales et allumage par magnéto. Le châssis utilise des longerons en acier emboutis avec suspension à ressorts semi-elliptiques aux deux essieux. La transmission comprend un embrayage conique et une boîte manuelle à quatre rapports. Le système de freinage agit sur les roues arrière et sur la transmission. L'ensemble mécanique privilégie robustesse et fiabilité, caractéristiques essentielles pour les conditions routières de 1910. La lubrification du moteur est assurée par un système combiné par barbotage et sous pression.L'Alfa Romeo 12 HP est propulsée par un moteur quatre cylindres en ligne de conception moderne pour l'époque, développant environ 12 chevaux fiscaux italiens (approximativement 18-20 chevaux réels). Le bloc moteur adopte une architecture à soupapes latérales, solution technique répandue au début des années 1910. La cylindrée se situe autour de 2,4 litres, offrant un couple suffisant pour mouvoir cette berline d'environ 800 kilogrammes. La transmission se fait par une boîte manuelle à trois ou quatre rapports, avec embrayage à cônes ou disques selon les versions. Le châssis utilise une construction en échelle traditionnelle en acier, avec des suspensions à ressorts à lames à l'avant comme à l'arrière. Le freinage s'effectue uniquement sur les roues arrière, par tambours mécaniques actionnés par câbles.L'Alfa Romeo 15 HP repose sur une architecture technique typique du début du XXe siècle, avec un châssis en acier à longerons et traverses assurant rigidité et durabilité. Le moteur quatre cylindres en ligne de 2413 cm³ à soupapes latérales développe environ 22 chevaux réels et adopte un vilebrequin à trois paliers. La transmission s'effectue par embrayage conique et boîte manuelle à quatre vitesses, avec arbre de transmission vers le pont arrière rigide. Les freins agissent uniquement sur les roues arrières selon la configuration habituelle de l'époque. La suspension combine ressorts semi-elliptiques à l'avant et à l'arrière, offrant un compromis entre confort et tenue de route. L'allumage par magnéto et le carburateur à gicleur fixe reflètent les standards mécaniques de 1911.La technologie de l'Alfa Romeo 40-60 HP reposait sur un moteur quatre cylindres en ligne de 6082 cm³ à soupapes latérales, développant environ 70 chevaux réels. La distribution mono-arbre et l'allumage par magnéto assuraient fiabilité et simplicité d'entretien. Le châssis utilisait des longerons en acier emboutis, suspension à essieux rigides avec ressorts à lames semi-elliptiques à l'avant et à l'arrière. La transmission manuelle à quatre rapports transmettait la puissance aux roues arrière via un arbre de transmission central et différentiel ouvert. Le système de freinage reposait exclusivement sur des tambours mécaniques sur les roues arrière, complété par un frein de stationnement à main. Cette architecture technique privilégiait la robustesse et la facilité d'entretien caractéristiques des automobiles de luxe d'avant-guerre.

Brand image

Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses

Positioning

An Italian premium brand with a sporty character, an emotional alternative to the German luxury automakers.

Reputation

Alfa Romeo enjoys a strong image centered on driving pleasure, styling and sporty character, particularly praised on the Giulia and Stelvio by the specialized press. Historically, the brand carried a reputation for fragile reliability; recent models have improved and rank better in certain dependability surveys, even though reliability is still often cited as the relative weak point compared with German competitors, with issues mostly minor and electrical in nature. The perceived quality of the interior is sometimes judged to be lacking. In North America, the limited market leads to marked depreciation, which can benefit the used-car buyer.

Strengths

Strong personality, distinctive Italian design and driving dynamics regarded as among the best in their segment, with a credible sporting heritage. The Giulia and Stelvio offer engaging road behavior and high-performance Quadrifoglio versions. The distinctive character and relative exclusivity appeal to enthusiasts looking for an alternative to the German premium brands, with an attractive fun-to-price ratio on the used market.

Points to watch

Reliability historically perceived as inferior to premium competitors, and interior quality sometimes judged to be lacking. A more limited dealer network in North America, which can complicate servicing and parts supply. The heavy depreciation in the North American market weighs on resale value. A narrower lineup and electrification that is still recent compared with some rivals.

Models

Alfa Romeo models

Full model index

Current or active models by market

Giulia 1962/2015 - actif berline sport Stelvio 2016 - actif VUS sport Tonale 2022 - actif VUS compact

Notable past models

Spider24 HP12 HP15 HP40-60 HP

Production and compatibility

Plants, tires and wheels

Production

Alfa Romeo's production is mainly carried out in Italy. The Cassino plant, in Lazio, builds the Giulia and Stelvio on the Giorgio platform. The Pomigliano d'Arco plant near Naples (Giambattista Vico site) produces the compact Tonale SUV on a dedicated and highly automated assembly line. Alfa Romeo does not operate its own assembly plant in North America: the vehicles sold in the United States and Canada are imported from Italy. The brand nonetheless relies on Stellantis's distribution and service network in North America, and certain technical building blocks (platforms, powertrains) are shared within the group, including components linked to models produced on the continent.

Tires and wheels

Modern Alfa Romeos (Giulia, Stelvio, Tonale) generally run large-diameter alloy wheels, frequently from 17 to 20 inches depending on the trim, with low-profile tires on the sporty versions. The Quadrifoglio versions and the top-of-the-range trims fit the largest diameters. In Quebec, the use of approved winter tires (mountain-and-snowflake logo) is mandatory during the cold season and strongly recommended for these performance-oriented vehicles, which are often rear-wheel or all-wheel drive: a dedicated winter set, sometimes in a slightly smaller diameter for a better compromise, protects the wheels and road holding. Check the correct bolt pattern and center bore before any wheel purchase; stay with the manufacturer's approved dimensions.

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