Along with Alfa Romeo’s promise to have at least eight separate models by 2018, comes news that they will be building two new engines at a plant in Termoli, Italy.
We did report on some insider info in December last year, but this has now been confirmed by Fiat Chrysler Automobile’s CEO Sergio Marchionne. The new engines will be produced at their plant in Termoli, Italy, and both will play significant roles in the former automotive giant’s global relaunch.
Alfisti will be most excited by the twin-turbocharged, direct-injected V6 said to be good for 358 kw. Not only will it power future GTA-badged Alfas but Ferrari may also use it for an upcoming six-cylinder sports car. It’s likely that the V6’s capacity will be smaller than 3,0 litres (likely 2,9-litres), thereby escaping the punitive engine displacement-based taxes in key markets such as China.
The other engine is described as a “high-output” 2,0-litre four-cylinder likely to feature in the long-awaited 159 replacement schedule for its unveiling in June. Both the four and six-cylinder engines will be available in petrol and diesel guises. The diesel units will likely displace 2.2 and 3.0 litres respectively.
“This high-tech project is an integral part of our bet on Alfa Romeo,” said Marchionne who has written a cheque for a tad over R6,3-billion earmarked for the development of the engines and retooling of the Termoli plant. It should churn out over 200 000 units that will meet around half of the total volumes projected in Alfa Romeo’s plan for 2018.
