Belcastro revealled
during the brand's press conference that Alfa Romeo
Argentina's sales had rocketed 600 percent last year
after the 'sports' brand was relaunched after being
unpicked from Fiat Argentina's operations and switched
to an independent distributor. This year, for the
year-to-date, Alfa Romeo Argentina's sales are up by 115
percent. While the brand is rebuilding from a very low
base line, sales are far ahead of the targets that were
set by the parent company in Italy.
Paleta emphasised the link between Alfa Romeo and Argentina.
"The truth is
we are a brand of passion based on the tradition of our models and our history,"
he said at the press conference, "This passion is even stronger when it comes to Alfa Romeo and Argentina.
Studying a little more, one realises how the brand has generated passion from people for
many years. Unless I am mistaken, since 1923, when the first Alfa was here."
The Giulietta has been a
genuine sales hit across Europe since it was launched
just over a year ago and Alfa Romeo Argentina hopes that
the story can be repeated in this important Latin
American market where the brand has always earned
respect as well as an enthusiastic following. The
5-door, C-segment hatchback model received its Latin
American debut in Argentina in November last year on the
occasion of the
tenth edition of Autoclásica, one of the most
important festivals dedicated to classic motorbikes and
cars in the South American region.
Three versions are
available in Argentina: the 120CV 1.4 TB, 1.4 TB fitted
with the electro-hydraulic fuel saving Multiair
technology, and the range-topping Quadrifoglio Verde
with its powerful and responsive 235 CV 1750 TBi unit,
the latter being the car displayed in the halls of the
5th Salón Internacional del Automóvil, which was
unwrapped before the Argentinean press for the first
time. The "TCT" version will arrive on this market
before the end of the year.
The real star of the
Alfa Romeo Argentina stand, and arguably of the whole
5th Salón Internacional del Automóvil was the appearance of the dramatic Alfa 8C Spider, the
single version from the 500 unit limited production run
that was destined for Argentina, making the eye catching
red Alfa Romeo Centro Stile-designed 450CV 4.7-litre V8
convertible a truly unique proposition on this market.
Finally, Alfa Romeo showed off the MiTo equipped with
the 1.4TBi engine with 155 CV in 'Distinctive' trim.
Information
& Photos by Ricardo Alejandro Carballes /
Planeta Alfa Argentina
