With the previous generation Alfa Romeo Spider now firmly in the ground, Alfa is looking to the next generation, and reports indicate that it will be a substantial break from the last car (pictured above), based on the stunning but portly Brera sports coupe.

Alfa is eager to fast track the Spider in time for Alfa’s 2013 launch in North America. Brand recognition for Alfa Romeo remains high in the United States, thanks in part to Dustin Hoffman’s iconic Spider in the 1960′s classic film The Graduate. Power should come from a 1.7L turbocharged 4-cylinder making roughly 150 horsepower and weigh an amazing 2200 lbs.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is making Alfa Romeo’s U.S. re-launch a top priority, calling it “the most difficult thing I have to do”. Alfa Romeo last sold cars in the U.S. in 1995, but the brand still has a strong image in the U.S., spurring Marchionne to focus efforts on North America.

Alfa Romeo’s image has taken a beating in Europe over its legendary quality issues, and this factor provided further impetus for Fiat to focus their efforts in the U.S., where Alfa’s are viewed with nostalgic fondness. Marchionne hopes that Alfa will sell 80,000 cars in the U.S.  in 2014, with 400,000 units sold globally – up from 150,000 currently.

Alfa will offer the 4C sports car and a compact SUV will be offered initially with the Giulia sedan and wagon, the Mito hatchback, a new Spider and a Chrysler 300C-derived 6C sedan coming as well. The 4C is said to be a key halo designed to capitalize on memories of Dustin Hoffman’s Alfa Spider in the iconic film The Graduate.

[Source: AutoCar]

Discuss this story at 4CForums.com

Earlier today Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne outlined his company’s 5-year plan, even going to far as to discuss what products each brand in the Fiat family will deliver in the future. But Marchionne didn’t give all the details, leaving many to speculate and fill in the blanks.

One such speculation comes from MotorTrend, which claims that a proposed Alfa Romeo Spider will be based on the current Chrysler rear-drive large car platform – which currently underlies models like the 300C and Dodge Charger. MT says that the 200-C Concept shows this rear-drive platform can be downsized for use in a small sports car – which sounds like a stretch to us. We’d say its equally plausible that the next Maserati Quattroporte platfrom could underpin future Alfas.

In more concrete news, Marchionne has explicitly said that Alfa’s return to the U.S. will include six models in total, including the Spider, MiTo hatchback, Guiletta hatchback (replacing the current 147) and the new mid-size Guilia (replacing the current 159), plus two new SUVs.

[Source: MotorTrend]