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Mazda to build the new Alfa Romeo
As the Alfa Romeo owners Fiat, look to cut costs following a detrimental year of sales, Fiat have today announced that Mazda will be building the new rear drive roadster for Alfa Romeo.
The plan will see the new Alfa Romeo built in a Mazda factory in Japan starting from 2015 and will be subsequently based on the Mazda MX-5. This agreement has followed the announcement of a cooperation programme signed by the two in 2012.
Peugeot and Citroen had a similar agreement when they produced the C1 and 107 models which resulted in the two manufactures combining into a joint venture. This could be the future for Mazda and Alfa, if the new Alfa and Mazda MX-5 dominate the rear drive roadster market.
Mazda have confirmed that although both models will be two seater sports cars, they will be designed differently and will remain loyal to previous brand design features. Mazda state that the two new models wont go too far from previous MX-5 paths in the way of simplicity and elegance of the drive.
Alfa Romeo have built a brand based on the ever famous Spider model that was heavily featured in the film The Graduate and the development of a new model may recapture the spirit and drive of the Spider model. Alfa have the access to a newly developed 1.75 litre turbo motor which may be of interest to Mazda, in terms of the development of the MX-5 and of course the Alfa roadster model.
The naming structure and range position is yet to be released by Alfa and Mazda and it is difficult to say when the situation will change. The Alfa Romeo range is currently fairly slim in what they offer and owners Fiat are looking at various ways to change the current situation they find themselves in