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Alfa Romeo considering Ferrari-developed engines for new product lineup

A report in Bloomberg adds more details to the plans for Alfa Romeo's fourth turnaround plan in Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne's tenure, and this time Ferrari is apparently going to be part of the show. In December Automotive News Europe reported that a new Maserati-derived rear-drive architecture would be the centerpiece at Alfa Romeo, as well as coming Chrysler and Dodge products. At the time, ANE said the platform would support a new midsize sedan and wagon perhaps to be called Giulia, a fullsize sedan and a midsize crossover, with retail appearance of the product initiative commencing perhaps as soon as next year. It would be part of Fiat's $12.3-billion spend on new models and European recovery.
The Bloomberg report says that particulars haven't been finalized, but the plan is to have six new Alfas appear over the next five years, two of which would be SUVs. The futures of the Mito and Giulietta, two of the three cars Alfa currently sells and 99 percent of sales last year, aren't assured, meaning that the lineup in six years could be seven cars (including the 4C), six of which we haven't any definitive clue of yet. The top-tier versions of those cars, according to the report - perhaps the Quadrifoglio Verde - "will be equipped with motors developed by Ferrari."
Marchionne wants to get sales up to 300,000 units per year when the lineup is complete, pairing Alfa sales with Jeep's global dealer network to open up the retail channel. That kind of volume would get Fiat's Italian plants back in business properly, even though Marchionne's stance on Italy-only Alfa production would mean the end of the anticipated roadster that was to be twinned with the coming Mazda MX-5 Miata. Alfa's direction will be laid out in Detroit in May as part of the overall strategy presentation for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV.

Ferrari worth over $11 billion, says Marchionne ahead of IPO

We all know that cars from Ferrari sell for hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars. But how much is Ferrari worth as a company? At least ten billion, according to its chairman. Speaking at the launch of the revised Fiat 500 in Turin on Friday, Fiat Chrysler CEO and Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne said he expected the vaunted Maranello-based supercar manufacturer and racing team to be valued at over 10 billion euros, or about $11 billion at current exchange rates. As Bloomberg points out, that would make Ferrari alone account for some 60 percent of the value of its parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which is currently valued at over 16 billion euros. That may seem like an aggressive estimate, but we won't have to take Marchionne at his word for long. After having floated an Initial Public Offering on the New York Stock Exchange last year, Fiat Chrysler is preparing to do the same with its Ferrari unit as soon as October. FCA will not, of course, be selling off all of its shares. The projected scheme would have ten percent (worth about one billion by Marchionne's estimates) of Ferrari's shares floated on the NYSE. Another 10 percent is expected to remain in the hands of founder Enzo's son (and company vice chairman) Piero Ferrari's hands. The remaining 80 percent is slated to be distributed among Fiat Chrysler's existing stakeholders.

2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale

I wasted my last hour with the 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale pacing the polished concrete floor of Home Depot. My quest was to find an industrial-strength adhesive that would permanently bond me to the bright-red Italian's carbon-fiber racing seat. At that moment, I was determined to spend the rest of my life with this Ferrari - glued behind its F1-inspired steering wheel - selfishly dismissing trivial matters like eating, bathing and all future interaction with my wife and kids.
After reviewing literally hundreds of exceptional vehicles, many considered the finest enthusiast offerings each automaker has to offer, I had finally found my mechanical soulmate - the limited-production 458 Speciale. I somehow became convinced that cementing myself within its spartan cabin would ensure that our love affair would never end. My plan was ingenious, assuming the hardware store still had a large bottle of Gorilla Glue on the shelf.
Simply put, there is no better way to start a weekend than with a gassed-up Rosso Corsa Ferrari 458 Speciale parked in your driveway and instructions to "Enjoy!"