cоlombо » Вс июн 29, 2008 12:11 pm
Продолжаем. Интервью с Де Мео. Mauro Tedeschini (гл. редактор Quattroruote)
Основное - в следующие 3 года новинок будет больше чем за все 90-е годы. Альфа переберется обратно, в Милан. Нас ждет задний привод))
De Meo, why should a youngster buy a MiTo over a Mini?
Well, they're both good cars. Frankly, I've always liked the Mini.
And so?
You have to distinguish between the fashion aspect, which is the Mini's strong point, and the technological motivation, which is the MiTo's. This is a completely new car, which costs a lot less than the Mini, but offers much more interesting technical solutions.
What would they be?
the "H point", at 251, is even lower than the Mini's. the Cd of 0,29 is quite impressive, and the contra-active suspension: that was fine tuned by our engineers to render the car stable in any situation.
They say you've taken a Grande Punto and put an Alfa Romeo suit on it
I read the Blogs where they say those things too. Listen, of the Grande Punto we took the base, the first piece of essential metal. From there we started working quickly to develop differences. We would have been crazy not to start from there, we would have had costs so high that we would not be able to afford making the car in Turin.
Continue with the differences...
Well all you have to do is look at the body to understand that you can't say it's a Grande Punto. Even if you look at the details, like the rear windows, which give the car the idea of a coupe'.
You know what our problem was?
Go ahead.
Finding what we call the "Alfa point" Or that ideal power/weight ratio to transmit a unique sense driving pleasure. Just have a look through our cars from the past to understand where Alfa made the difference. Now it's our duty to go back along that road. Would you believe that my father's "Giulia" had a power to weight ratio similar to a Porsche 911?
Easier said than done. How are you going to recuperate those values?
Firstly we have to re-gain the understanding that this is a hard-core brand (Note: those are his exact words) that has nothing baroque, or artificial about it. We're talking pure technology, which goes hand in hand with the modern values of the digital era, creating a new generation of Alfisti, an adjective which I pronounce with deep respect. There aren't many marques which need to conjugate their own adjective to define their affectionate fans.
Is being nominated head of Alfa Romeo enough to be called an Alfista?
Let's just say I'm studying to be an Alfista, with much passion. I'm reading in the past, I'm looking for names which can give this bludgeoned pride a face.
Lets try to name a few.
There's many: Merosi, Satta Puglia, Luraghi, Carlo Chiti, the very De Silva, the man that penned a stunning car like the 156 and has re-invented this brand in a modern way.
You worked for Lancia, Fiat and Alfa. Try to find an adjective to describe each brand.
It isn't easy with just one adjective, but if I think Lancia I'd say...eccentric, yep, it's a bit of an eccentric brand.
And what about Fiat?
Fiat is pop, there's no doubt about that. And by that I don't mean "popular" an adjective which doesn't always have a positive image in Italy. We've worked hard on the most appealing part of our heritage, on the concept of simplicity and of cars which generally make you happy. I think the 500 project has given the brand a huge push in the right direction.
That leaves Alfa
I could say it's "Rock" quoting Celentano, but I'd rather insist on the concept that it's the hard-core brand of the Automobile industry. It's a technical brand and the new advertising will not try to surprise, but rather to inform on the validity of the product in it's substance, it's DNA.
On the subject of DNA, what is this "manettino" placed on the Mito's console?
It means Dynamic, Normal, Allweather. A bit like on the Ferrari F430, you can change the driving parameters, by regulating throttle response, steering and suspension all at once, depending on the conditions which you are facing
Are there more male or female target buyers for the Mito?
There's no doubt that Alfa Romeo is a masculine brand, but if I've learnt something in my previous experiences it's that for a car this size to be successful, it must also be accepted by a percentage of the female public.
Maybe the "manettino" will end up scaring them
Of course not, it's a compact, easy, practical car. If we'll have a 20% share of Alfiste within our buyers, it'll mean the car is liked and it'll do well.
Are you thinking of a young audience?
The heart of our buyers will be between 25 and 35 years old. We haven't included an entry-level version, the "Junior" by chance. It'll cost 15,300 to attract the younger buyers which could be scared by something as big as a 147. (note: The Junior also comes with an Alfa branded breathalizer. Good initiative)
On the subject of 147, when will it be replaced?
All I can say is that in the next 3 years we will see more new models than there have been in the last decade. It'll be a revolution. As for the 149, you know very well that in the product plans it is expected for the end of 2009.
Another Anti-German offensive?
Absolutely not. We're racing against ourselves, to find ourselves again. Look at what's been done with the 8C Competizione. Alfa hadn't made a supercar since the Montreal and what came out was such an animal of a car, it ended up being one of the most beautiful cars ever built. The world's most important collectors were fighting to have one in their garage.
But they were only a few hundred cars...
Yes, but they contain within them the essence of what the Alfas of the future will be like, even on a design level. The world is teaching us that even in the supercars there's a tendency to a return to normality. To cars with more human dimensions, but with more soul. This is the essence of Alfa.
But the Alfisti want a return to rear wheel drive
I know and we're working hard on it. And we're discovering another fundamental return from the past
You mean the return to Milano?
Yes. Our history is here and we will create a veritable "Alfa City" here. Next to the Centro Stile and the Museum, more things will be born in Arese. Even a home for the Alfisti, and I expect them all.
поэтому ща все тачки такие.. вон у корсы морда тож оч высокая 
, а в остальном мордой наружу. не нужен в таких машинах большой мотор спереди. а сзади слишком сложно ездить (клио вы6, хехе)
Хотя двигатель 3,2 поднимает заправщегов ощутимее, чем 6,2. Но не суть 
