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Alfa Romeo

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Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A.
Company typeSubsidiary(S.p.A.)
IndustryAutomotive
Founded24 June 1910;114 years ago(1910-06-24)(as A.L.F.A.)
Milan,Lombardy,Italy
Founders
Headquarters
Turin,Piedmont
,
Italy[1]
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Jean-Philippe Imparato (CEO)
ProductsLuxury cars[2]
Production output
44,115 units (2021)
BrandsQuadrifoglio
OwnerStellantis
ParentStellantis Europe
Websitealfaromeo

Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A.(Italian:[ˈalfaroˈmɛːo]) is an Italianluxurycarmakerknown for itssports-orientedvehicles, strongauto racingheritage, and iconic design.[3]Headquartered inTurin, Italy,it is asubsidiaryofStellantis Europeand one of 14 brands ofmultinationalautomotive companyStellantis.

Founded on 24 June 1910 inMilan,Italy asA.L.F.A.—an acronym forAnonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili[a]—the company was established by Cavaliere Ugo Stella to acquire the assets of the ailing Italian subsidiary of French carmakerDarracq,of which he had been an investor and manager.[4]Its first car was the24 HP,designed byGiuseppe Merosi,which became commercially successful and participated in the 1911Targa Florioendurance race. In August 1915, ALFA was acquired byNeapolitanentrepreneur and engineerNicola Romeo,who vastly expanded the company's portfolio to include heavy machinery and aircraft engines. In 1920, the company's name was changed toAlfa Romeo,with theTorpedo 20–30 HPbeing the first vehicle to bear the new brand.

Through the 1920s, Alfa Romeo produced several successful road and race cars, and was well represented in prominent European motorsport events, notably winning the inauguralGrand Prixin 1925. Nevertheless, the company soon faced financial troubles, leading to Romeo's contentious departure in 1928 and Italian government ownership in 1933. Under the control of the industrial organizationInstitute per la Ricostruzione Industriale(IRI), Alfa Romeo initially continued making its signature custom luxury vehicles, but following the financial hardship of World War II, shifted to mass-producing small vehicles. In 1954, it launched theGiuliettaseries offamily carsand developed theAlfa Romeo Twin Cam engine,which would remain in production until 1994.

Alfa Romeo became known for producing mass-market vehicles that nonetheless blended the aesthetics and performance of sport and luxury marques. Despite its strong brand image and relatively sizeable share of the high-performance auto market in Europe, by the 1970s, the company was operating at a loss, prompting IRI to sell it toFiat Groupin 1986.[5]Alfa Romeo has since maintained its distinct identity and brand through several ownership changes, including Fiat's merger with the AmericanChrysler Groupin 2014, formingFiat Chrysler Automobiles(FCA), and FCA's subsequent merger in 2021 with the FrenchPSA Groupto form Stellantis.

Alfa Romeo is heavilyinvolved in various motorsports—includingGrand Prix motor racing,Formula One,sportscar racing,touring car racing,andrallies—with achievements giving a sporty image to the marque.Enzo Ferrarifounded theScuderia Ferrariracing team in 1929 as an Alfa Romeo racing team, before forming hisnamesake luxury sports car makerin 1939. Ferrari has had the most wins of any marque in the world.[6]

History

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Main article:History of Alfa Romeo

Name

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The company's name is a combination of the original name, "A.L.F.A." ( "Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili" - “Anonymous Lombardy Automobile Factory” ), and the last name of entrepreneur Nicola Romeo, who took control of the company in 1915.

Foundation and early years

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A 1908 Darracq 8/10 HP assembled by Alfa Romeo's predecessor, Darracq Italiana
TheA.L.F.A. 24 hp(this is withCastagnatorpedobody) was the first car made by Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili (A.L.F.A.) in 1910.

The first factory building of A.L.F.A. was in the first-place property ofSocietà Anonima Italiana Darracq(SAID), founded in 1906 by the French automobile firm ofAlexandre Darracq,with some Italian investors. One of them, Cavaliere Ugo Stella, an aristocrat fromMilan,became chairman of the SAID in 1909.[7]The firm's initial location was inNaples,but even before the construction of the planned factory had started, Darracq decided late in 1906 that Milan would be more suitable and accordingly a tract of land was acquired in the Milan suburb ofPortello,where a new factory of 6,700 square metres (8,000 sq yd) was constructed. In late 1909, the Italian Darracq cars were selling slowly and the company was wound up.[8]Ugo Stella, with the other Italian co-investors, founded a new company namedA.L.F.A.(Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili), buying the assets of Italian Darracq that was up to dissolution.[8]The first car produced by the company was the 191024 HP,designed byGiuseppe Merosi,hired in 1909 for designing new cars more suited to the Italian market. Merosi would go on to design a series of new A.L.F.A. cars, with more powerful engines such as the40–60 HP.A.L.F.A. ventured intomotor racing,with drivers Franchini and Ronzoni competing in the 1911Targa Floriowith two 24-hp models. In 1914, an advanced Grand Prix car was designed and built, theGP1914,with a four-cylinder engine, double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, and twin ignition.[9]However, the onset of theFirst World Warhalted automobile production at A.L.F.A. for three years.

In August 1915, the company came under the direction of Neapolitan entrepreneurNicola Romeo,who converted the factory to produce military hardware for the Italian and Allied war efforts. Munitions, aircraft engines and other components, compressors, and generators based on the company's existing car engines were produced in a vastly enlarged factory during the war. After the war, Romeo invested his war profits in acquiring locomotive and railway carriage plants in Saronno (Costruzioni Meccaniche di Saronno), Rome (Officine Meccaniche di Roma), and Naples (Officine Ferroviarie Meridionali), which were added to his A.L.F.A. ownership.

Alfa Romeo production between 1934 and 1939[10]
Year Cars Industrial
vehicles
1934 699 0
1935 91 211
1936 20 671
1937 270 851
1938 542 729
1939 372 562

Car production had not been considered at first, but resumed in 1919 since parts for the completion of 105 cars had remained at the A.L.F.A. factory since 1915.[7]In 1920, the name of the company was changed to Alfa Romeo with theTorpedo 20–30 HPthe first car to be so badged.[11]Their first success came in 1920 whenGiuseppe Campariwon atMugelloand continued with second place in theTarga Floriodriven byEnzo Ferrari.Giuseppe Merosi continued as head designer, and the company continued to produce solid road cars as well as successful race cars (including the 40–60 HP and theRL Targa Florio).

In 1923,Vittorio Janowas lured fromFiat,partly due to the persuasion of a young Alfa racing driver named Enzo Ferrari, to replace Merosi as chief designer at Alfa Romeo. The first Alfa Romeo under Jano was theP2 Grand Prix car,which won Alfa Romeo the inaugural world championship for Grand Prix cars in 1925. For road cars, Jano developed a series of small-to-medium-displacement 4-, 6-, and 8-cylinder inline engines based on the P2 unit that established the architecture of the company's engines, with light alloy construction,hemisphericalcombustion chambers, centrally located plugs, two rows of overhead valves per cylinder bank and dual overhead cams. Jano's designs proved both reliable and powerful.

Enzo Ferrari proved a better team manager than a driver, and when the factory team was privatised, it becameScuderia Ferrari.When Ferrari left Alfa Romeo, he went on to build his own cars.Tazio Nuvolarioften drove for Alfa, winning many races before theSecond World War.

Alfa Romeo 8C2900 Scuderia Ferrari

In 1928, Nicola Romeo left, and in 1933 Alfa Romeo was rescued by the government, which then had effective control. Alfa Romeo became an instrument of Mussolini's Italy, a national emblem. During this period, it built bespoke vehicles for the wealthy, with bodies normally byCarrozzeria TouringorPininfarina.This era peaked with theAlfa Romeo 2900B Type 35racers.

The Alfa factory (converted during wartime to the production ofMacchi C.202 Folgoreengines: the Daimler-Benz 600 series built under license) was bombed during the Second World War and struggled to return to profitability after the war. The luxury vehicles were out. Smaller, mass-produced vehicles began to be produced beginning with the 1954 model year, with the introduction of theGiuliettaseries ofberline(saloons/sedans), coupes and open two-seaters. All three varieties shared what would become theAlfa Romeo overhead Twin Camfour-cylinder engine, initially displacing 1300 cc. This engine would eventually be enlarged to 2000 cc and would remain in production until 1995.

When I see an Alfa Romeo go by, I tip my hat.

— Henry Fordtalking withUgo Gobbatoin 1939[12]

Post war

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8C 2900B Touring Spider (1937)

Once motorsports resumed after the Second World War, Alfa Romeo proved to be the car to beat in Grand Prix events. The introduction of the new formula (Formula One) for single seat racing cars provided an ideal setting for Alfa Romeo's Tipo158 Alfetta,adapted from a pre-war voiturette, andGiuseppe Farinawon the first Formula One World Championship in 1950 in the 158.Juan Manuel Fangiosecured Alfa's second consecutive championship in 1951.

In 1952, Alfa Romeo experimented with its first front-wheel-drive compact car, "Project 13–61".[13]It had the same transverse-mounted, forward-motor layout as the modern front-wheel-drive automobile. Alfa Romeo made a second attempt in the late 1950s based on Project 13–61. It was to be called Tipo 103 and resembled the smaller version of its popular Alfa Romeo Giulia. However, due to the financial difficulties in post-war Italy, the Tipo 103 never saw production. Had Alfa Romeo produced it, it would have preceded the Mini as the first "modern" front-wheel-drive compact car. In the mid-1950s, Alfa Romeo entered into an agreement withBrazil's Matarazzo Group to create a company called Fabral (Fábrica Brasileira de Automóveis Alfa,"the Brazilian Alfa automobile factory" ) to build theAlfa Romeo 2000there. After having received government approval, Matarazzo pulled out under pressure from Brazil's PresidentJuscelino Kubitschekwith the state-ownedFNMcompany instead commenced building the car as the "FNM 2000" there in 1960.[14]

Alfa Romeo Tipo 33TT12

During the 1960s, Alfa Romeo concentrated on motorsports using production-based cars, including theGTA(standing for Gran Turismo Allegerita), an aluminium-bodied version of theBertone-designed coupe with a powerful twin-plug engine. Among other victories, the GTA won the inauguralSports Car Club of America'sTrans-Amchampionship in 1966. In the 1970s, Alfa Romeo concentrated on prototype sports car racing with theTipo 33,with early victories in 1971. Eventually the Tipo 33TT12 gained theWorld Championship for Makesfor Alfa Romeo in 1975 and the Tipo 33SC12 won theWorld Championship for Sports Carsin 1977.[15][16]

As Alfa Romeo was a state-controlled company, they were often subject to political pressure. To help industrialize Italy's underdeveloped south, Alfa Romeo's new compact car was to be built at a new factory atPomigliano d'ArcoinCampania.Even the car's name,Alfa Sud(Alfa South), reflected where it was built. 18 January 1968, saw a new company named "Industria Napoletana Costruzioni Autoveicoli Alfa Romeo-Alfasud S.p.A." being formed, 90% of which belonged to Alfa Romeo and 10% to Government controlled holding companyFinmeccanica.[17]This plant was built in the wake of France's1968 protestsand Italy'sHot Autumnand was never "properly started."[18]The employees had mainly construction backgrounds and were not trained for factory work, while industrial relations were troublesome throughout. Absenteeism rates in the Pomigliano factory ran at 16.5 percent through the 1970s,[19]reaching as high as 28 percent.[20]

By the 1970s, Alfa Romeo was again in financial trouble, with the company running at about sixty percent of capacity in 1980.[18]Since Alfa Romeo was controlled by the Italian government owned Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale (IRI), a deal was made where about a quarter of worker's salaries were paid through state unemployment agencies to allow Alfa's plants to idle for two weeks every two months. An aging product lineup and very low productivity combined with near-permanent industrial unrest and Italy's high inflation rates kept Alfa Romeo firmly in the red.[18][21][20]Other creative measures were attempted to shore up Alfa, including an ultimately unsuccessfuljoint venture with Nissanendorsed by Alfa's then-president, Ettore Massacesi, and Prime MinisterFrancesco Cossiga.By 1986, IRI was suffering heavy losses—with Alfa Romeo having not been profitable for the last 13 years[22]—and IRI presidentRomano Prodiput Alfa Romeo up for sale. Finmeccanica, the mechanical holdings arm of IRI and its predecessors owned Alfa Romeo since 1932. Prodi first approached fellow Italian manufacturer Fiat, which offered to start a joint venture with Alfa.

Fiat takeover

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Fiat withdrew its plan for a joint venture with Alfa Romeo whenFordput in an offer to acquire part of Alfa Romeo and restructure the company, while increasing its stake over time. However, Fiat chose to put in a bid to acquire the entirety of Alfa Romeo and offer job guarantees to Italian workers, an offer that Ford was unwilling to match. It also did not hurt any of the parties involved that an acquisition by Fiat would keep Alfa Romeo in Italian hands. In 1986, the deal was concluded with Alfa Romeo merged with traditional rivalLanciainto Fiat's Alfa Lancia Industriale S.p.A.[22][21]Already in 1981, Alfa Romeo's then-President Ettore Massacesi had stated that Alfa would never use Fiat engines—the engines being, to a large extent, Alfa Romeo's identity—but would be happy to cooperate fully with everything else.[23]

Alfa Romeo 156 GTA

Models produced from the 1990 onwards combined Alfa's traditional virtues of avant-garde styling and sporting panache with the economic benefits of product rationalisation, and include a "GTA" version of the147hatchback, theGiugiaro-designedBrera,and a high-performance exotic called the8C Competizione(named after one of Alfa's most successful prewar sports and racing cars, the8Cof the 1930s).

In 2005,Maseratiwas bought back fromFerrariand was now under Fiat's full control. The Fiat Group then created a sports and luxury division from Maserati and Alfa Romeo.[24]There is a planned strategic relationship between these two; engines, platforms and possibly dealers are shared.[25]

In the beginning of 2007, Fiat Auto S.p.A. was reorganized and four new automobile companies were created; Fiat Automobiles S.p.A., Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A., Lancia Automobiles S.p.A. and Fiat Light Commercial Vehicles S.p.A. These companies were fully owned by Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A. (from 2007 FCA Italy S.p.A.).[26]

Sculpture commemorating 100 years of Alfa Romeo

On 24 June 2010, Alfa Romeo celebrated 100 years from its foundation.[27]

Alfa Romeo production between 1998 and 2020[28]
Year Cars
1998 197,680
1999 208,336
2000 206,836
2001 213,638
2002 187,437
2003 182,469
2004 162,179
2005 130,815
2006 157,794
2007 151,898
2008 103,097
2009 103,687
2010 119,451
2011 130,535
2012 101,000[29]
2013 74,000
2014 59,067
2015 57,351
2016 93,117[30]
2017 150,722[30]
2018 107,238
2019 72,657
2020 54,304
2021 44,115

Recent developments

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Alfa Romeo has been suffering from falling sales. In 2010, it sold a total of about 112,000 units, which was significantly lower than Fiat CEO Marchionne's global sales target of 300,000. The company set about to achieve a sales target of 170,000 units in 2011, including 100,000Giuliettaand 60,000MiTomodels, but it actually sold 130,000 units that year.[31]Its medium-term target was 500,000 units by 2014 including 85,000 from the North American market.[32]In 2017 Alfa Romeo increased production by 62 percent, building a total of 150,722 vehicles at the company's three factories.[33]

On January 16, 2021, the operations ofFiat Chrysler AutomobilesandGroupe PSAwere merged to formStellantisand the company was renamed Stellantis Italy.[34]

In spite of falling sales, Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato announced in 2021 that a new model would be launched every year between 2022 and 2026, starting with the much-delayedTonale,with full electrification of new models from 2027.[35]

Return to North America

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Giulietta Spider

Alfa Romeo was imported to the United States byMax Hoffmanfrom the mid-1950s.[36]The Giulietta Spider was developed on the request of Max Hoffman, who proposed an open top version of the Giulietta.[37]In 1961 Alfa Romeo started exporting cars to the United States through its own dealer network.[38]

In 1995, Alfa Romeo ceased exporting cars to the United States,[39]the last model sold in that market being the 164 sedan.

On 5 May 2006, Alfa Romeo made its return to the US Market as announced by Fiat CEOSergio Marchionneafter a series of rumours. North American sales resumed in October 2008, with the launch of the limited production 8C Competizione coupe with Alfa Romeo models being imported by Fiat's US subsidiary Chrysler.[40]Also in 2008, Alfa Romeo and Chrysler were reported to be in discussions over the possibility of producing Alfa Romeo cars in some Chrysler manufacturing plants that had shut down due to the company group's restructure and cost cutting. Instead, as reported byThe Wall Street Journalin November 2009, Chrysler discontinued several Dodge and Jeep models while phasing in Alfa Romeo ones and the new Fiat 500.[41]

The next significant milestones in Alfa Romeo's North American return occurred in 2014, with the launch of the more affordable two-seater4C coupe.That year, Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A. confirmed that its original agreement with Mazda Motor Corporation, for the speculated manufacturing of a new Alfa Romeo Spider based on theMazda MX-5had been terminated mutually in December 2014. The proposed model for this joint venture became theFiat 124 Spiderconvertible launched in 2015. In 2015, Alfa Romeo's return to this market was further bolstered by the automaker's display of the newGiuliaat the Los Angeles Auto Show. In February 2017, Chrysler featured its Alfa Romeo brand exclusively in three ads duringSuper Bowl LI.[42]

Alfa Romeo's US importer,FCA US LLC,imports the 4C, Giulia and Stelvio.

Design and technology

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Badge onAlfa Romeo 4C

Technological development

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Alfa Romeo has introduced many technological innovations over the years, and the company has often been among the first users of new technologies. Its trademarkdouble overhead camengine was used for the first time in the 1914Grand Prixcar,[43]the first road car with such an engine, the6C 1500 Sport,appeared in 1928.

Alfa Romeo tested one of the first electronic fuel injection systems (Caproni-Fuscaldo) in theAlfa Romeo 6C2500 with "Ala spessa" body in 1940Mille Miglia.The engine had six electrically operated injectors, fed by a semi-high pressure circulating fuel pump system.[44]

1969 models for theNorth Americanmarket hadSPICA(Società Pompe Iniezione Cassani & Affini, a subsidiary of Alfa Romeo)mechanical fuel injection.According to Alfa Romeo, the engine's power output and performance were unchanged from the carburetted version. The SPICA system continued until the 1982 model year with the introduction of 2.0 literBoschelectronic fuel injection.Many examples of SPICA powered Alfa's are found still running,

Mechanicalvariable valve timingwas introduced in theAlfa Romeo Spider,sold in the U.S. in 1980.[45]All Alfa Romeo Spider models from 1983 onward used electronic VVT.[46]

The 105 seriesGiuliawas quite an advanced car, using technologies such as all-wheeldisc brakes,[47]and a plastic radiator header tank.[citation needed]It had also the lowestdrag coefficient(Cd) in its class[48]The same trend continued with the Alfetta 2000 and GTV, which had quirks such as 50:50weight distribution,[49][50]standard fitalloy wheels[citation needed]andtransaxle.[51]

Newer innovations include completeCADdesign process used in designing theAlfa Romeo 164[52]and anautomated/paddle-shift transmissioncalledSelespeedused in the156;[53]the 156 was also the world's first passenger car to useCommon raildiesel engine.[54]TheMultiair-an electro-hydraulic variable valve actuation technology used inMiTowas introduced in 2009.[55]In 2016, the Alfa Romeo Giulia came with electrical brakes.[56]

Body design

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Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS (1939, serial number 913.008) by Technical museum of Vadim Zadorozhny

Many famous automotive design houses in Italy have accepted commissions to produce concepts and production vehicle shapes for Alfa Romeo. These include:

Construction techniques used by Alfa Romeo has been imitated by other carmakers, and in this way, the Alfa Romeo body designs have often been very influential. The following is a list of innovations, and where appropriate, examples of imitation by other car manufacturers:

Alfa 6C 2500 S
  • 1960s: Aerodynamics: The 116-series Giulia had a very low Cd. Toyota, in particular, sought to produce a similarly shaped series of vehicles at this time.
  • 1970s: Fairing of bumpers: In order to meet American crash standards, Alfa Romeo formulated a design technique to incorporate bumpers into the overall bodywork design of vehicles so as to not ruin their design lines. The culmination of this design technique was the 1980sAlfa Romeo 75.The process was widely copied, particularly in Germany and Japan.
  • 1980s: The Alfa Romeo 164: The design process and influence of this car is almost completely out of all proportion to previous Alfa Romeos. The 164 introduced complete CAD/CAM in the manufacturing cycle, with very little directly made by hand. In addition, the 164's styling influence continues into the present-day line of modern Alfa Romeos. Most manufacturers incorporated design ideas first expressed in the 164 into their own designs, including greater reliance on on-board computers.[citation needed]
  • 1990s: The pseudo-coupé: The Alfa Romeo 156 and 147, while four-door vehicles, represented themselves as two-doors with prominent front door handles, and less visible rear door-handle flaps. Honda has used this design style in the latest Civic hatchback, and a somewhat similar idea is also seen in theMazda RX-8four-seat coupé andRenault Clio V.
  • 2000s: The Brera and 159: These vehicles' design, by Giorgetto Giugiaro, have proven influential in sedan and coupé styling, demonstrating that concept vehicles are often immediately translatable into road car form, providing that initial design takes place using CAD systems.

Concept cars

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Main article:Alfa Romeo concept cars

Several concept cars have been made by Alfa Romeo:

1950s – The B.A.T. cars

TheBerlina Aerodinamica Tecnicaprototype cars were designed by Bertone as an exercise in determining whether streamlining and wind-tunnel driven designs would result in high performance on a standard chassis and whether the resulting vehicles would be palatable to the public. Alfa 1900 Sprint were the basis of the B.A.T. 5, 7 and 9.[57]The later B.A.T. 11 was based on the 8C Competizione.

1960s and 1970s – Descendants of the Tipo 33

The Tipo 33 racing car, with its high-revving 2000 cc V8 engine became the basis for a number of different concept cars during the 1960s and 1970s, two of which ultimately resulted in production vehicles. Most made their appearances at the Auto Salon Genève. Here is a brief list:

  • Gandini/Bertone Carabo (1968) – Marcello Gandini expressed ideas that would come to fruition in the Lamborghini Countach.
  • Tipo 33.2 (1969) – Designed by Pininfarina using a design already known from a Ferrari concept car.
  • Gandini/Bertone Montreal Concept (1967) – making its appearance at the 1967 Montreal Expo, this Giulia-based concept resulted in the productionAlfa Romeo Montrealroad car with a variant of the Tipo 33's V8 engine.
  • Bertone/Giugiaro Navajo (1976) – A fully fibreglassed vehicle, and in some ways the epitome of Giugiaro's 'Origami' style of flat planes.
1980s-today – Modern ideas

In general, concept cars for Alfa Romeo have generally become production vehicles, after some modification to make them suitable for manufacture, and to provide driver and passenger safety. The Zagato SZ, GTV, and Spider, Brera, and 159 are all good examples of Alfa Romeo's stylistic commitment in this direction.

Logos

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[edit]
Laurel-wreathed 1925–1945 badges on a 1925Alfa Romeo RLSS

Alfa Romeo's logo incorporates twoheraldic devicestraditionally associated with its birthplace, the city ofMilan:A red cross, from theemblem of Milan,and thebiscione,a biggrass snakeand a child emerging from its mouth—emblem of theHouse of Visconti,rulers of the city in the 14th century.[58][59][60]

The logo was originally designed in 1910 by a young Italiandraughtsmanfrom the A.L.F.A. technical office, Romano Cattaneo.[61]

Origin

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In June 1910, the Società Anonima Darracq became Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili, and was readying its first model, the24 HP.The board asked chief engineerGiuseppe Merosito devise a badge for the radiator shell of the new car; Merosi turned to his collaborators.[61]One of them, Cattaneo, was inspired by thecoat of armshe had seen on the gates ofCastello Sforzescoto include thebiscionein the logo.[61]Merosi liked the idea, and together with Cattaneo came up with a sketch, then approved by managing director Ugo Stella; Cattaneo was entrusted with doing the final design.[61]

The original badge was round, of enamelledbrass,measuring 65 mm (2.6 in) in diameter, and carried already all the present day accoutrements: the red cross on a white field of Milan on the left, a greenbiscioneon a light blue field on the right, all surrounded by a blue ring inscribed with the words "ALFA" at the top and "MILANO" at the bottom.[62]In honour of theKing of Italy,the two words were separated by twofigure-eight knots—named Savoy knots in Italian, and symbols of the then-reigningHouse of Savoy.Originally solid brass, the lettering was changed to white enamel in 1913.[63]In 1918, after the company had been bought byNicola Romeo,the wording "ALFA" was replaced with "ALFA-ROMEO".

In 1925, to commemorate the victory of theAlfa Romeo P2in the inauguralWorld Manufacturers' Championshipof1925,a silver metallaurel wreathwas added around the badge, used (in varying form) until 1982.[59][64]The addition of the wreath had enlarged the badge to 75 mm (3.0 in) diameter; in 1930 it was reduced back to 60 mm (2.4 in).[62]

Post-war evolution

[edit]

In 1946, after theabolition of the monarchyand proclamation of theItalian Republic,the figure-eight knots of the Savoy were replaced with two curvy lines.[65]Concurrently the badge was completely redesigned, and further reduced in size to 54 mm (2.1 in), a diameter unchanged ever since.[62]Made of stamped steel, the new badge bore the traditional elements—the scripts, the cross, a newly stylizedbiscioneand a thin laurel wreath—em Boss ed in antique silver, over a uniformAlfa Redbackground, which had replaced the blue, white and light blue fields. This red-and-metal badge was used until 1950, when the company switched back to a traditionally enamelled and coloured one; in 1960 the badge was changed from brass to plastic, without substantial differences in design.[65]

At the beginning of the 1970s the all-newAlfa Romeo Pomigliano d'Arco plant(nearNaples) was completed. When in 1972 theAlfasudproduced there became the first Alfa Romeo passenger car manufactured outside Milan, the word "Milano", the curved lines and the hyphen between "Alfa" and "Romeo" were eliminated from the badge on all Alfa Romeos.[65]At the same time it was redesigned, most notably acquiring a modernisedbiscioneandtype face.

After a mild restyling in 1982, which deleted the wreath and changed lettering and all chrome details to gold, this iteration of the badge remained in use until 2015.[66]

2015 redesign

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On 24 June 2015, 105th anniversary of the company, a new logo was unveiled at a press event at theAlfa Romeo Museum;together with theAlfa Romeo Giuliaas part of the brand's relaunch plan.[67]The redesign was carried out by Robilant Associati, who had previously reworked several otherFiat Grouplogos—includingFiat Automobiles' andLancia's.[68]

Alfa Romeo 2015 logo

The logo colors have been reduced from four to three: the green of thebiscione,the red of the cross, and the dark blue of the surrounding ring. Other changes are a new serif type face, and the absence of the split white and light blue fields, replaced by a single silver textured background.

[edit]
Main article:Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio

Since 1923, thequadrifogliologo (also called the 'cloverleaf') has been the symbol of Alfa Romeo racing cars and since WWII, it has also been used to designate the higher trim models of the range. Thequadrifogliois usually placed on the side panels of the car, above or behind the front wheels—on thefront wingsin the case of modern vehicles. The logo consists of a greencloverleafwith four leaves, contained with a white triangle. There is "two Quadrifolio" - Quadrifolio Verde - Quadrifolio Oro

History of the emblem

[edit]
Ugo Sivocciat the wheel of 1923Alfa Romeo P1

Thequadrifogliohas been used on Alfa Romeo cars since the death ofUgo Sivocciin 1923. As a friend ofEnzo Ferrari,Sivocci was hired by Alfa Romeo in 1920 to drive in the four-man works team—Alfa Corse—withAntonio Ascari,Giuseppe Campari, and Enzo Ferrari. Sivocci was thought to have enormous experience, but often hampered by bad luck and considered the eternal second-placer. To banish his bad luck, when theTarga Floriocame around, the driver painted a white square with a green four-leaf clover (thequadrifoglio) in the centre of the grille of his car. Sivocci had immediate success, crossing the finish line first. Thequadrifogliosubsequently became the symbol of the racing Alfa Romeos with the victory at the Targa Florio. Almost as if to prove the magic effects of this symbol, Sivocci was killed while testingMerosi's newP1atMonza,a few months after winning the Targa Florio. TheSalernodriver's P1, which went off the track on a bend, did not have thequadrifoglio.Since this period in 1923, the bodies of Alfa Romeo racing cars have been adorned with thequadrifoglioas a lucky charm. The white square was replaced with a triangle in memory of Ugo Sivocci.[69]

Quadrifogliobadge on theAlfetta 159

Modern usage

[edit]

The first road car to bear thequadrifogliowas the 1963Alfa Romeo GiuliaTI Super, a variant of the Giulia saloon car devised for competition but put regularly on sale; it had green four-leaf clovers on its front wings, without the triangle. In the 1970s "Quadrifoglio Verde" or "Green Cloverleaf" became the trim level for each model's sportiest variant, equipped with the most powerful engine. TheAlfasud,Sprint,33,75,164and145all had Quadrifoglio Verde versions. Also in the 1970s and through the 1980s golden four-leaf clover badges were used to denote the most luxurious and well-equipped variants of Alfa Romeo cars, named "Quadrifoglio Oro" or "Gold Cloverleaf". TheAlfasud,Alfetta,Alfa 6,90and33had Quadrifoglio Oro versions. In recent times thequadrifogliowas revived on the 2007Alfa Romeo 8C Competizioneand Spider sports cars. With theAlfa Romeo MiToandGiulietta,the Quadrifoglio Verde was reinstated as the sportiest trim level in the range, and green four-leaf clovers on the front wings are once again the hallmark of high-performance Alfa Romeos. Alfa Romeo's 2016 sport sedan, the all-newGiulia,was launched first in Quadrifoglio trim before the release of the base models. Starting with the high-end model wearing that historic signature emblem.

Motorsport

[edit]
Main article:Alfa Romeo in motorsport
Brian Redmandriving anAlfa Romeo 33 TT 12

Alfa Romeo has been involved with motor racing since 1911, when it entered two24 HPmodels in Targa Florio competition. Alfa Romeo won the firstWorld Manufacturers' Championshipin 1925 and the firstAIACR European Championshipin 1931 and it scored wins at many races and motoring events such asTarga Florio,Mille MigliaandLe Mans.Great success continued withFormula One,when Alfa Romeo won the first WorldFormula OneChampionship in 1950 and won the secondFormula OneChampionship in 1951. The company also won international championships inPrototypes,Touring and Fast Touring categories in the 1960s and 1970s. Private drivers also entered somerallycompetitions, with good results. Alfa Romeo has competed both as a constructor and an engine supplier, via works entriesAlfa Corse,Autodeltaand private entries. Alfa Romeo's factory racing team was outsourced to Enzo Ferrari'sScuderia Ferraribetween 1933 and 1938. Drivers included Tazio Nuvolari, who won the 1935German Grand Prixat the Nürburgring.

Alfa Romeo have been in a technical partnership with theSauber F1 Teamsince 2018.[70]In February 2019, Sauber announced that it would compete asAlfa Romeo Racingalthough the ownership, racing licence and management structure would remain unchanged.[71]Alfa Romeo will end their partnership with Sauber and exit Formula One after the 2023 season.[72]

Alfa Romeo has won fiveFIA European Formula 3 Championshipsand fiveFIA European Formula 3 Cupswith the support from the Alfa Romeo stable Euroracing, who created the motor for the Formula 3 championship and with the support of Italian motor company Novamotor which work in the Formula 3 competition.

Production

[edit]
Alfa Romeo's plant in Arese

In the 1960s, the main Alfa Romeo factory was moved from inside Milan to a very large and nearby area extending over the municipalities ofArese,LainateandGarbagnate Milanese.However, since then the factory was moved to Arese, as the offices and the main entrance of the area were located there.

In the late 1960s, a number of European automobile manufacturers established facilities in South Africa to assemble right hand drive vehicles.Fiatand other Italian manufacturers established factories along with these other manufacturers, Alfa-Romeos were assembled inBrits,outsidePretoriain theTransvaal Provinceof South Africa. With the imposition of sanctions by Western powers in the 1970s and 1980s, South Africa became self-sufficient, and in car production came to rely more and more on the products from local factories. This led to a set of circumstances where between 1972 and 1989, South Africa had the greatest number of Alfa Romeos on the road outside of Italy. The Alfa Romeos Brits plant was used from March 1983[73]until late 1985 to buildDaihatsu Charadesfor local consumption, but also for export to Italy in order to skirt Italian limits on Japanese imports.[74]For the last year the company was operating, the Daihatsu represented close to half of Alfa Romeo S.A. Ltd.'s total production.[75]

In late 1985, with the impending Fiat takeover and aninternational boycottof the South AfricanApartheidgovernment, Alfa Romeo withdrew from the market and closed the plant.

During the 1990s, Alfa Romeo moved car production to other districts in Italy. ThePomigliano d’Arco plantproduced the 155, followed by the 145 and the 146, while theArese plantmanufactured the SZ and RZ sports cars, the 164, the new Spider and the GTV. The 156 was launched in 1997 and in 1998 was voted "Car of the Year". The same year a new flagship, the 166 (assembled in Rivalta, near Turin) was launched. At the beginning of the third millennium, the 147 was released, which won the title of "Car of the Year 2001". In 2003 the Arese factory was closed while only having some offices and theAlfa Romeo Historical Museum.

Assembly plants by model[76]
Plant Owner Location Model(s)
Cassino Stellantis Piedimonte San Germano Giulia,Stelvio
Pomigliano Stellantis Pomigliano d'Arco Tonale
Tychy Stellantis Tychy Junior

Automobiles

[edit]

Alfa Romeos

Current models

[edit]
Giulia Stelvio Tonale 33 Stradale Junior
Alfa Romeo Giulia

The newGiuliawas unveiled to the press at the Museo Storico Alfa Romeo in Arese, on 24 June 2015. This coincided with the company's 105th anniversary and saw the introduction of a revised logo. Sales were about 34,000 examples per year (2018), then fell to 20,000 per year (2019).

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

TheStelviowas unveiled at the 2016Los Angeles Auto Show.The Stelvio is Alfa Romeo's first production SUV that competes in the same category as thePorsche Macan,Jaguar F-Pace,Audi Q5,Mercedes-Benz GLCandBMW X3.It is current top Alfa sales with less than 40,000 examples per year (2019).

Alfa Romeo Tonale

TheTonaleis a compact crossover SUV (C-segment) introduced in March 2022 and the first new model introduced by the brand in six years and the first model introduced under the brand of Stellantis.

Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale

TheAlfa Romeo 33 Stradalewas unveiled on August 30, 2023, and is planned to be released in June of 2024, with a limited production of 33 units. The car pays tribute to theAlfa Romeo 33 Stradaleof 1967.

Alfa Romeo Junior

TheJunior(previously Milano) is a subcompact crossover SUV (B-segment) introduced in April 2024. It is the brand's first B-segment SUV, and its first battery electric car.

Historic models

[edit]
6C Gran Sport (1931)
8C 2300 (1931)
2600 Touring Spider (1961)
GT Junior (1965) (with aftermarket wheels)
Montreal (1970)
GTV6 (1980)
Spider (1992)
156 (1997)
8C Competizione (2008)
Autotutto F12 ambulance
Road cars Racing cars
1910

1910–192024 HP
1910–191112 HP
1911–192015 HP
1913–192240–60 HP

191115 HP Corsa
191340–60 HP Corsa
1914Grand Prix

1920

1921–192220–30 HP
1920–1921G1
1921-1921G2
1922–1927RL
1923–1925RM
1927–19296C 1500
1929–19336C 1750

1922RL Super Sport
1923RL Targa Florio
1923P1
1924P2
19286C 1500 MMS
19296C 1750 Super Sport

1930

1931–19348C 2300
1933-19336C 1900
1934–19376C 2300
1935–19398C 2900
1939–19506C 2500

1931Tipo A
19318C 2300 Monza
1932Tipo B (P3)
1935Bimotore
19358C 35
19358C 2900A
193612C 36
193712C 37
19376C 2300B Mille Miglia
19378C 2900B Mille Miglia
1938308
1938312
1938316
1938158
19396C 2500 Super Sport Corsa

1940

19486C 2500 Competizione

1950

1950–19581900
1951–1953Matta
1954–1962Giulietta
1958–19622000
1959–1964Dauphine

1951159
19526C 3000 CM

1960

1962–19682600
1962–1976Giulia Saloon
1963–1967Giulia TZ
1963–1977Giulia Sprint
1963–1966Giulia Sprint Speciale

1965–1977GT Junior
1965–1967Gran Sport Quattroruote
1965–1971GTA
1963–1965Giulia Spider
1966–1993Spider
1967–196933 Stradale
1967–19771750/2000 Berlina

1960Giulietta SZ
1963Giulia TZ
1965GTA
1965Tipo 33
196833/2
196933/3

1970

1970–1977Montreal
1972–1983Alfasud
1972–1984Alfetta saloon
1974–1987Alfetta GT/GTV
1976–1989Alfasud Sprint
1977–1985Nuova Giulietta
1979–1986Alfa 6

197233/4
197333TT12
197633SC12
1979177
1979179

1980

1983–199433
1984–1987Arna
1984–198790
1985–199275
1987–1998164
1989–1993SZ/RZ

1982182
1983183
1984184
1985185

1990

1992–1998155
1994–2000145
1995–2000146
1993/4–2004GTV/Spider
1996–2007156
1996–2007166

1992155 GTA
1993155 V6 TI
1998156 D2
1999GTV Cup

2000

2000–2010147
2007–20098C Competizione
2008–20108C Spider
2003–2010GT
2005–2010Brera
2004–2011159
2006–2010Spider
2008–2018MiTo

2002156 GTA Super 2000
2003156 Super 2000
2003147 GTA Cup

2010

2010–2020Giulietta
2013–20194C
2015–20204C Spider

2015TCR/WTCR/BTCC Giulietta QV
2019C38

2020

2020C39
2021C41
2022C42
2023C43

Carabinieri and Italian government

[edit]

In the 1960s, Alfa Romeo became famous for its small cars and models specifically designed for theItalian policeandCarabinieri(arm of the Italian armed forces seconded only partly for civilian policing purposes); among them the "Giulia Super" and the 2600 Sprint GT. The colours of the Alfa Romeos used by the Polizia were/are green/blue with white stripes and writing, known as "Pantera" (Panther), enhancing the aggressive look of the cars (particularly the Giulia series), while the Carabinieri Alfas are dark blue with white roofs and red stripes, known as the "Gazzella" (Gazelle) denoting the speed and agility of these "Pattuglie" (patrol cars). However, the term "Pantera" became used interchangeably and the image helped create a no-nonsense, determined and respected perception by the general public of the men that drove these cars, true to their history.

Italian State PoliceFlying Squad"Panther" 1971 Alfa Giulia Super

Since then, Alfa Romeos remain the chosen mount of the Carabinieri, Polizia Autostradale (highway police),Guardia di Finanza(fiscal law enforcement) and the conventional police service (Polizia). Successively, the following Alfa Romeo cars have found favour for Italian police and government employment[77]

•Alfa Romeo AR51
•Alfa Romeo Giulia
•Alfa Romeo Alfetta
•Alfa Romeo Giulietta
•Alfa Romeo 33(Polizia di Statoonly)
•Alfa Romeo 75
•Alfa Romeo 164(official vehicles)
•Alfa Romeo 155
•Alfa Romeo 156
•Alfa Romeo 166(official vehicles)
•Alfa Romeo 159
•Alfa Romeo Giulia(Carabinieri,2 Giulia Quadrifoglio -Polizia di Stato,2 Giulia Veloce Q4[78])

Since the 1960s, the Italian Prime Minister has used Alfa Romeos (and lately the newMaserati Quattroporte) as preferred government limousines. The 164 and 166 have found particular employment in the last two decades.

Trucks and light commercial vehicles

[edit]
Romeo2 LCV

In 1930, Alfa Romeo presented a light truck in addition to heavy LCVs based onBüssingconstructions.[79]In the Second World War Alfa Romeo also built trucks for the Italian army ( "35 tons anywhere" ) and later also for the GermanWehrmacht.After the war, commercial motor vehicle production was resumed.

In co-operation withFIATandSaviemstarting from the 1960s different light truck models were developed.

The production of heavy LCVs in Italy was terminated in 1967. Heavy trucks continued to be built for a few years inBrazilby Alfa Romeo subsidiaryFábrica Nacional de Motoresunder the name FNM. The last Alfa Romeo vans were the Alfa Romeo AR6 and AR8, rebadged versions of Iveco Daily and Fiat Ducato. The company also producedtrolleybusesfor many systems in Italy, Latin America,[80]Sweden,[81]Greece,[82]Germany, Turkey and South Africa. Later, Alfa Romeo concentrated only on passenger car manufacturing.

LCVs
Alfa Romeo 430
Trucks
A 1961 Alfa Romeo 1000 (Mille)AerferFI 711.2 OCRENtrolleybuson theNaples ANM trolleybus system
A 1962Alfa Romeo Mille AFtrolleybus for CTP Napoli, with the iconic Alfa Romeo badge in the centre
Buses
Trolleybuses

Other production

[edit]
Locomotive FS E.333 built by Ing. Nicola Romeo e Co. inSaronno

Although Alfa Romeo is best known as automobile manufacturer it has also produced commercial vehicles of various size, railway locomotives,[7]tractors, buses, trams, compressors, generators, an electric cooker,[85]marine and aircraft engines.

Aircraft engines

[edit]
See also:Alfa Romeo Avio
D2aircraft engine

An Alfa engine was first used on an aircraft in 1910 on the Santoni-Franchini biplane.[86]In 1932 Alfa Romeo built its first real aircraft engine, the D2 (240 bhp), fitted toCaproni 101 D2.In the 1930s when Alfa Romeo engines were used for aircraft on a larger scale; theSavoia Marchetti SM.74,Savoia-Marchetti SM.75,Savoia-Marchetti SM.79,Savoia Marchetti SM.81andCant Z506B Aironeall used Alfa Romeo manufactured engines.[87]In 1931, a competition was arranged whereTazio Nuvolaridrove hisAlfa Romeo 8C3000 Monza against aCaproni Ca.100airplane.[88]

Alfa Romeo built various aircraft engines during theSecond World War;the best known was the RA.1000 RC 41-I Monsone, a licensed version of theDaimler-Benz DB 601.This engine made it possible to build efficient fighter aircraft like theMacchi C.202 Folgorefor the Italian army. After the Second World War Alfa Romeo produced engines for Fiat,AerferandAmbrosini.In the 1960s Alfa Romeo mainly focused upgrading and maintainingCurtiss-Wright,Pratt & Whitney,Rolls-RoyceandGeneral Electricaircraft engines.

Alfa Romeo also built Italy's firstturbine engine,installed to theBeechcraft King Air.Alfa Romeo's Avio division was sold toAeritaliain 1988,[89]from 1996 it was part of Fiat Avio.[90]Alfa Avio was also part of developing team to the new T700-T6E1 engine to theNHI NH90helicopter.[91]

Marine engines

[edit]

Alfa Romeo also produced marine engines. The first marine engine was produced in 1929. Later, for three consecutive years: 1937-1938-1939 with remarkable affirmations, Alfa Romeo demonstrated its constructive efficiency by contributing to the development of marine engines.

  • (1938) 12 cyl (4.500) 121,710 km/h

Aero-engines

[edit]

Marketing and sponsorship

[edit]
Alfa Romeo official dealers worldwide map
Alfa Romeo II on its first sail

During the years Alfa Romeo has been marketed with different slogans like: "The family car that wins races" used in the 1950s in Alfa Romeo 1900 marketing campaign, "racing since 1911" used on most 1960s Alfa advertisements.[92]In the 1970s the Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV was marketed as "if this kind of handling is good enough for our racing cars, it's good enough for you."[93]The Giulia Sprint GTA was marketed as "The car you drive to work is a champion".[94] More recent slogans used are "Mediocrity is a sin", "Driven by Passion", "Cuore Sportivo", "Beauty is not enough" and present day "Without heart we would be mere machines". Also other more recent ones are: "It's not a car, it's an Alfa Romeo.", one of them after a couple argue in Italian.

As part of its marketing policy, Alfa Romeo sponsors a number of sporting events, such as theMille Migliarally.[95]It has sponsored the SBKSuperbike World ChampionshipandDucatiCorse since 2007, and theGoodwood Festival of Speedfor many years, and was one of the featured brands in 2010 when Alfa Romeo celebrated its 100th anniversary.[96][97]TheAlfa Romeo Giuliettahas been used since Monza 2010 race as the safety car in Superbike World Championship events.[98]Alfa Romeo has been also shirt sponsor ofEintracht Frankfurtfootball club in period between 2013 and 2016.

In 2002,Alfa Romeo I,the first Alfa Romeo supermaxi yachtwas launched. It finished first in at least 74 races including the 2002Sydney—Hobart Race.[99]Alfa Romeo II,commissioned in 2005, measures 30 metres (98 ft)LOA.It set a new elapsed-time record for monohulls in the 2009 Transpac race, of 5 days, 14 hours, 36 minutes, 20 seconds.[100]It finished first in at least 140 races. In mid-2008Alfa Romeo IIIwas launched for competitive fleet racing under theIRCrule.Alfa Romeo IIImeasures 21.4 metres (70 ft) LOA and features interior design styled after theAlfa Romeo 8C Competizione.[101]

TheBBCmotoring showTop Gearrepeatedly argued the significance of owning an Alfa Romeo car as a car enthusiast, stating that "You can't be a true petrolhead if you have never owned/or wanted to own an Alfa Romeo". PresentersJeremy Clarkson,Richard HammondandJames Maycontinuously praised Alfas for their beauty and driving characteristics even though Italian cars had a long-term bad reputation for unreliability. They argued that the owner build a personal relationship with the car despite all of its mechanical faults. Both Clarkson and May have previously owned Alfas (aGTV6for Clarkson and anAlfa 164for May) and both have stated that they regretted selling their Alfas the most.

As part of its U.S. relaunch, Alfa Romeo ran threecommercialsduringSuper Bowl LI;the brand was the sole marque advertised by FCA during the game, after exclusively focusing on itsJeepbrand atSuper Bowl 50.[42][102]

In February 2013, Alfa Romeo sponsoredUniversity of St AndrewsFS fashion show[103]which saw luxury fashion designer Luke Archer and milliner George Jenkins win with their Alfa Romeo inspired garments.

Alfa Romeo announcedZhou Guanyuas China's first Formula One racing driver for the 2022 season, hailed by both the team and the sport as a historic breakthrough in a key growth market.[104]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^Anonima refers to the legal structure of the company at the time,Società anonima.

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[edit]
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Further reading

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