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Giulietta is an important name in the Alfa Romeo lexicon. The first one (1954-1963) brought Alfa Romeo into a price range accessible to ordinary mortals, but the car had idiosyncrasies such as twin camshafts that kept it above the then norm. It also had a well-located live rear axle and was a delight to drive, whether as a four-door sedan, a tidy wagon, or any of the dozens of coachbuilt sport models. The Giulietta Sprint coupe (examined in this column in January 2008) put Carrozzeria Bertone into the big time, and Pinin Farina's Giulietta Spider showed the world that a small sports car could do without clumsy side curtains and a leaky top and still be "pure."

Giulietta is an important name in the Alfa Romeo lexicon. The first one (1954-1963) brought Alfa Romeo into a price range accessible to ordinary mortals, but the car had idiosyncrasies such as twin camshafts that kept it above the then norm. It also had a well-located live rear axle and was a delight to drive, whether as a four-door sedan, a tidy wagon, or any of the dozens of coachbuilt sport models. The Giulietta Sprint coupe (examined in this column in January 2008) put Carrozzeria Bertone into the big time, and Pinin Farina's Giulietta Spider showed the world that a small sports car could do without clumsy side curtains and a leaky top and still be "pure."inline_mediumwraptextright0028860985/features/by_design/1006_alfa_romeo_giulietta_design_analysis1006_01+alfa_romeo_giulietta+front_three_quarter_view.jpgtrue

Sergio Marchionne, the omnipotent chief of the Fiat Auto and Chrysler groups, will soon announce the detailed long-term product strategy for all seven brands now under his aegis. While Alfa Romeo is expected to be subject to several cutbacks, Lancia will be twinned with Chrysler in an effort to revive the ailing up-market Italian nameplate and Marchionne's product-starved American flagship.inline_mediumwraptextright27231509/features/news/1003_chrysler_and_lancia_how_it_will_work1003_01_z+chrysler_lancia_delta+front_three_quarter.jpgTrue

This August, Alfa Romeo will celebrate its centennial at Pebble Beach, where it is a featured marque at the Concours d'Elegance. Rumor has it that the Italians will cap off the festivities by unveiling the 4C, a compact, lightweight sports car concept. Says one insider from parent company Fiat's headquarters: "The 8C has been a very successful halo car. What we need next is a more affordable follow-up model that spreads the message over a wider customer base."inline_mediumwraptextright28091446/features/news/1004_alfa_romeos_centennial_anniversary1004_02_z+alfa_romeo_4c+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue