History of Alfa Romeo

The Italian company Alfa Romeo traces its history back to the distant 1906, when Alexandre Darrac, an industrialist from France, created a company in Italy, which, as he planned, would produce Darracq cars under license.

However, by 1910, cars from France did not find their buyer and the difficult economic situation of the owner forced him to close the plant in Italy.

But, after only a few months, the company was bought out by local entrepreneurs. The plant and all its production facilities were reorganized, and the new company was named ALFA. Immediately after that, the first 24 HP model was released. The new head of the company, Hugo Stella, decided to actively promote the brand in the international arena. The upgraded 24 HP took part in the car competitions held in Sicily.

After 5 years, in 1915, Nicola Romeo becomes the new owner of the brand. The professor of mathematics, who sought fame in everything he did, wished to perpetuate his name in his new project. This is how the world-famous modern name of the Alfa Romeo brand appeared.

Rome hires a young man, Enzo Ferrari, who begins to manage the company’s participation in the Grand Prix racing competition that preceded Formula 1. Ferrari, together with his wards, wins all the competitions in which he takes part, and the cost-effectiveness from advertising and solid prize money allow not only preparing racing cars, but also investing in the production of serial models. With the coming to power in Italy, Benito Mussolini, the company was nationalized, and the entire management elite was fired. A special committee was appointed by the authorities, which led the company together with the board of shareholders.

Civilian models, which were actively developed and sold not only in Italy, but also abroad, lost their paramount importance to the new project of the committee – Alfa Romeo is forced to launch the production of various military equipment from trucks to aircraft engines. In 1939, the production of cars finally stopped, and four years later, the plant was completely destroyed by the aircraft of the allied forces.

In 1947, the company gradually begins to participate in the first post-war competitions, Enzo Ferrari returns to his place. Commendatore’s wards are starting to collect victories again, and the company, which received a solid share of the prize money, is restoring the production of civilian models. Alfa Romeo hires up-and-coming aeronautical engineer Orazio Satta to create cars that combine the sporty features and practicality of a family everyday vehicle.

The Alfa Romeo racing team wins the first two F1 World Championships, but without Enzo Ferrari, who leaves for a team he created, which later became one of the largest premium manufacturers. However, successful developments and an equally successful alliance with the Pininfarina design studio made it possible to release the Ti model in 1953, which developed 253 kilometers per hour, crazy for those times, while remaining a family car.

The manufacturer produces several cars at once under the name 1900, which had several body options. However, expensive developments forced to increase the price of the cars themselves, as a result of which such models could not qualify for a wide range of buyers. The problem was solved with the release of the Giullietta in 1954.

The combination of driving and cabin comfort, a powerful engine and low cost gave the world the car that later became an example for all sports car manufacturers, and for the Alfa Romeo concern, a benchmark that plays an important role in the development of all cars.

1960 was another crisis blow to the long-suffering brand, as a result of which the company completely came under the control of the Italian government. Immediately after that, worldwide sales of Alfa Romeo cars began. Two years later, the Gulia model was released, which replaced the outdated Juliet.

By 1971, more than 15 new models had been released, and the crown of success was cooperation with the German company Porsche, designed to eliminate the poor quality of power units of its own production. A 1.2 liter petrol engine was introduced, with a capacity of 63 horsepower, and fuel consumption became the lowest in the history of the European automobile industry – 2 liters per 100 kilometers. The Alfasud model equipped with this revolutionary engine has become one of the best selling models in Europe.

However, the end of the seventies was the most critical in the history of the company, and the shareholders decided to enter into an alliance with the Japanese company Nissan. The investment of a strong ally led to the launch of the Arna in 1982, designed to bring the Italian automaker out of the crisis.

The result of these events is very well known to motorists all over the world – in 1986, Alfa Romeo is part of the auto giant Fiat, which tried to preserve the traditions of Alfa’s automotive industry, but with the use of its own technologies.

In 1987, a new model was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show, called the Alfa Romeo 164. It is worth noting that, taking into account minor upgrades, the 164 model lasted until 1998. Until it was replaced by the more advanced Alfa Romeo 166.

1991 gave the world the 155 sports sedan, and in 1997 it was replaced by the 156, which won the European Car of the Year award. In 1994, the 145 and 146 compact hatchbacks were introduced, which were a legacy of the old Alpha models that were practical and sporty cars at low prices.

In the 21st century, the Alfa Romeo 145 and 146 gave way to the 147, which became Fiat’s best-selling car in 2001, 2002 and 2004. The focus on design excellence in the 80s and 90s gradually gave way to a new concept, which consisted of the use of advanced technologies that are supplied by another division of the Fiat group – Ferrari. In 2005, two new models were introduced at once. The first of these was the Alfa Romeo 159, which is positioned as a family sedan with a touch of Alfa’s sporty character and increased interior comfort. The second is the Brera sports coupe, which was designed to compete with the expensive BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class AMG.

In 2006, Alfa Romeo took a firm place in the world market with the introduction of the 159 Sportwagon wagon and the open version of the Brera model, the Alfa Romeo Spider.

In the autumn of the same 2006, Alfa Romeo was returned to the Russian market. Moreover, an absolutely complete model range of the brand was presented, including the beauties Brera and Spider.

At the beginning of 2007, Fiat Auto S.p.A. was reorganized into 4 new automobile companies: Fiat Automobiles S.p.A., Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A., Lancia Automobiles S.p.A. and Fiat Light Commercial Vehicles S.p.A. The owner of all these companies is considered to be Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A.

Also in 2007, as things went up, the public was shown the long-awaited sports model Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. Car enthusiasts know that it was first presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2003 as a concept car.

In 2008, the production of the city car Alfa Romeo MiTo began. The baby Alfa Romeo MiTo is a three-door sports car officially presented on June 19, 2008 at the Sforza Castle in Milan. It made its international debut at the 2008 British Motor Show.

2010 was marked by the appearance of a small family five-door car Alfa Romeo Giulietta. This car was officially presented at the Geneva Motor Show. It is safe to say that this model replaced the 147th.

In 2013, the younger sister of Alfa Romeo 8C appeared – Model 4C, which has a power of 240 hp. and weighs only 895 kg. Due to its overall dimensions, low weight, motorists immediately fell in love with this two-seater sports car of the coupe class. The model was presented at the 81st Geneva Motor Show in 2011. The production of the car was launched on the European market from the start in 2013.

Models 4c and Giuletta are positioned as inexpensive compact sports cars.

2015 was a defining year; the arrival of the new Alfa Romeo Giulia was the biggest sensation of the year. Alfa Romeo has finally returned the legendary Giulia, a promising mid-range luxury car. The car was presented on June 24, 2015, on the 105th anniversary of Alfa Romeo. The car will appear on the American market in early 2016. Regarding Russia, the model has already gone on sale since autumn.

I would like to note that the Italian brand Alfa Romeo has planned to bring several more new cars to the market in the near future. We are confident that the design of the new models will also be on top, and the technical characteristics of the new cars will surprise all motorists and experts in the automotive world more than once.