How Alfa Romeo Shaped the Automotive Industry
The history of Alfa Romeo in the automotive industry is rich with innovation and evolution. From its first model to modern-day achievements, the automaker has always been at the forefront of the car-making world. This innovation has provided the groundwork for modern features, technology, and design aesthetics. Alfa Romeo has pushed the envelope, forcing the competition to follow suit, and as a result, has left a mark on the automotive world.
By identifying needs and predicting trends, Alfa Romeo has always stayed ahead, inviting other manufacturers to try and keep up. The result: a company built on hunting down success and invention. This automaker has never just made cars that are more advanced, it's also built machines that are crafted around the driving experience. With its fair share of roots in the automotive industry, Alfa Romeo understands what it takes to make a vehicle perform well, under any conditions.
Every Great Super Hero Has an Origin Story
Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili (A.L.F.A) released its first iconic automobile in 1910, a 24-horsepower car with a 4.1-liter engine and a top speed of 62 mph. Merosi, the creator of this car, then designed more powerful models, and the company’s first Grand Prix car—the GP1914. Nicola Romeo took over in 1915 and the name officially changed to Alfa Romeo in 1918. During World War I, vehicle production came to an abrupt halt, and resumed with the first car under the Alfa Romeo name, the Torpedo 20-30 HP.
Between World War I and World War II, Alfa Romeo focused less on production cars and more on racing and commercial vehicles. In 1954, Alfa Romeo released one of its most popular passenger vehicles, the Giulietta. The car came in three models: sedan, coupe, and spider. The Giulia was first introduced in 1962, and over a million of these beautiful cars were sold in the first 14 years of production. Alfa Romeo was acquired by FIAT® in 1986, and finally returned the United States in 2014 with the launch of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider.
From the Track to the Street
The Quadrifoglio brand has been around nearly as long as Alfa Romeo itself, as the brand has always been dedicated to motorsports. Even the first A.L.F.A car was entered in the 1911 Targa Florio, which is now largely regarded as the oldest sports car racing event in the world. Renowned racing driver Enzo Ferrari drove a Torpedo 20-30 HP. When production resumed following World War II, the Alfa 158, a single-seat race car was created. Alongside the 159, these racecars achieved great things for the brand, solidifying the company’s place in motorsports.
Today, the clover badge is no stranger to the race track. In fact, the Alfa Romeo Giulia holds the title of the world's fastest mass-production 5-seat car, thanks to its impressive Nurburgring time. In 2017 The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio shattered the record at the same race track for fastest lap time by an SUV.
Committed to Evolution
This automaker hasn't just been mindlessly chasing the fastest lap times, though. Alfa Romeo has been outfitting their vehicles with some of the most impressive performance technology and injecting a sense of Italian style into every curve. Alfa Romeo is still committed to changing the automotive industry, and it remains a leader in efficiency, performance, and luxury. Visit Client at 505 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC 27516 or contact our sales staff online today and let us show you how the rich history of Alfa Romeo has helped this brand generate some of the best vehicles on the market today.
Image Credit: Alfa Romeo