Alfa Romeo is a brand remembered fondly in living memory, and in the case of the 8C, desired greatly in the present, in the United States. Fiat’s reputation with Americans is a different story - and that’s why CEO Sergio Marchionne is focusing his efforts on the Alfa Romeo nameplate.

So far only the Fiat 500 will be sold in the U.S. as a Fiat. Any other Euro-styled cars brought into the U.S. will wear Alfa Romeo badging, reports the Detroit Free Press. And some of those Alfas sold here could even be built here, with the potential for export to Europe as well.

One of the vehicles likely to see U.S. production includes the Alfa version of the next-gen 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, called the GTX.

The sedans and hatches will likely be brought in from outside the U.S. to do battle with the established Germans in the luxury sector, though some will also come from within. Possible entries from Alfa include the 169, which might use the Chrysler LX platform, and a Fiat C-EVO platform-based Milano. Several Chrysler vehicles will share the Fiat/Alfa running gear as well, including the 300 and Dodge Charger (169) as well as the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Caliber (Milano).

Other planned Alfa Romeo models for the U.S. include the dapper yet efficient MiTo hatchback and the 159 sedan (pictured above) or its successor.





More...