Alfa Romeo's return to the US delayed until 2013

Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is not pleased with the designs for US bound vehicles.  Marchionne is also apparently displeased with the new Chrysler designs coming out of Detroit.  It's comforting to see an automaker's CEO taking such a vested interest in the design of its vehicles, instead of settling for mediocrity.  Not only am I not a fan of Chrysler's or their designs, but to me they are dead last in both design and innovation.  It's understandable, they struggled to stay alive and needed to be rescued by Fiat, but that doesn't mean that they weren't terrible cars before the credit crisis.  Even Ford and GM were making technological and design progress after falling behind to the both the Germans and Japanese.

As far as Alfa is concerned, I am glad that they are delaying the brand's return to the US.  If they want to make a successful return, they have to make sure they mold their Italian design to US tastes.  That is not to say that they need to make all new vehicles, but rather tailor their current designs to what would attract American buyers.  The whole point of bringing Alfa's back to the US is to have attractive, unique, and stylish cars that are different from what we're used to seeing.  Take the Spider Quadrifoglio: My uncle owns one, and I've driven it several times before.  It's not the best or most reliable car, but it sure is a looker; and for springtime cruising, it was great; I would not mind a remake.

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