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History |
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Alfa Romeo's place in motoring history began in 1906 under the name of Societa Anonima Italiana Darracq (SAID) founded by French entrepreneur Alexandre Darracq. The cars produced were unsuited for local conditions, unreliable and underpowered. Within three years, the company was on the brink of bankruptcy and changed its name to Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili or A.L.F.A.
After the 1st world war, the future of the company seemed bleak. An industrialist and mining engineer named Nicola Romeo stepped in, bought into A.L.F.A. and took over as managing director. A.L.F.A. was then making tractors, aero-engines, railway equipment and compressors and car-making then was a distant reminder of the pre-war days.
In 1918, there was no demand for Romeo's products as the war had ended. Cars were in short supply and the car market was booming. Romeo turned to car production and managed to produce cars from 1914 parts stored during the outbreak of war. However, new designs and marketing strategies were badly needed. A new name was also needed as A.L.F.A was outdated. Romeo was linked with heavy industrial engineering with no significance to car buyers. Nicola Romeo found the perfect solution by combining the links of the past with the future as part of an engineering group well respected for its high quality and efficiency.
Thus, Alfa Romeo of Milan was born.
"ALFA: the word itself is an entire program, or rather, the clear explanation of a program. It designates the first letter of the alphabet, the symbol of a starting point, the beginning of something, a new life taking shape...” |
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1980 - 1990: |
| | | | | | | | | The eighties began with a revolution in turbo engines, and witnesses the advent of aeronautic or aeronautical technology used in car design and technology.
The Alfa 33 replaces the Alfasud in the Alfa range and on the Pomigliano production line, but retains the Alfasud's general mechanical framework. The car's style, however, is completely renewed and modern. A new expression is coined to describe it - a "split two-box" - and it takes the wedge shape already used on the Giulietta. | | | | |
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1990 - 2000: |
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1992: Alfa 155 is the first medium saloon with front-wheel drive. |
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1995: Alfa GTV is awarded the 1995 'Golden Steering Wheel'. |
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1998: Alfa 156 is voted 'Car of the Year'. It becomes the first Alfa Romeo to win this prestigious award from the international car press. |
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2000: Alfa 147 is awarded the 2000 'Golden Steering Wheel', comfortably beating the Audi A2 and Opel Corsa. Alfa also celebrates 90 years of history. |
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2000 to Present: |
| | | | | | | | | | 2001: Alfa 147 is awarded European Car of the Year 2001 |
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2002: Alfa Brera is awarded 'Best of Show' by Autoweek at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show |
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2002: Alfa Brera is awarded 'one of the most elegant cars in the world' and 'the most fascinating car' title at the Paris to Monte Carlo Super Car Rally 2002 |
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2004: Alfa GT is voted the Most Beautiful Coupe in the World |
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2006: Alfa Brera is awarded European Automotive Design Award 2006 – Designers (Europe) |
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2006: Alfa Brera is awarded Best Coupe – Croatian Car of the Year Awards 2006 |
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2006: Alfa Brera is awarded Best Design Award 2006 by Autocar Magazine (UK) |
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2006: The Alfa Brera has been awarded first prize as “European Car of the Year 2007” in Japan , for its styling, performance/cost ratio and the design of its interior. The prestigious prize was awarded by the 21 members of the jury of the JAHFA (Japan Automotive Hall of Fame), who represent the academic, industrial, cultural, political and media worlds of Japan. Founded in 2000, JAHFA is a non-profit organisation that encourages and supports the development of the automotive industry in Japan. |
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2006: Alfa Spider is awarded the Cabrio of the Year 2006 at the Geneva International Motor Show. The Alfa Spider or convertible, which has just made its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show, has already picked up an important award. The Cabriolet Committee (a jury of 23 specialist journalists from 12 countries) has chosen the new Alfa Romeo as ‘Cabrio of the Year 2006'. |
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2006: Alfa 159 awarded the highest 5 Star Euro NCAP Rating. The Alfa 159 has been awarded the prestigious five-star rating from Euro NCAP, which puts it ahead of the field for its segment where safety is concerned. It is an important achievement, which underlines yet again the great attention that Fiat Auto pays to all aspects of the protection of its drivers and passengers. The Alfa Romeo 159 was designed and built to embody uncompromising quality, a concept that guided the entire process of the car's development, starting with the endless tests that the model was subjected to, right down to the manufacturing process. For the Alfa 159, quality also means class-beating dynamism, obtained by careful calibration of the sophisticated suspension and the outstanding torsional rigidity of the bodyshell. |
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2006: Alfa 159 accorded the Design Award by Fleet World Honors. |
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2006: Alfa 8C Competizione is awarded the BMW Group Design Award. |
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2006: Alfa 8C Competizione is awarded the Villa d'Este Design Award by Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance. |
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2006: Alfa 8C Competizione is awarded the Best Production Car by Car Design. |
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History 1980 - Present
