Alfa Romeo believes new models will boost dealer satisfaction

By contrast, Alfa Romeo, a brand aiming for premium billing, was always going to struggle to survive for long selling two hatchbacks and a Porsche Cayman-rivalling flagship coupé alone.

Following a 100% increase in the number of mainstream models it will offer in 2017, its dealer partners will be desperate for an uplift in fortunes. There is a sense that the arrival of the Giulia saloon and new Stelvio SUV may have come just in the nick of time.

Andrew Tracey, recently appointed Alfa Romeo and Jeep country manager, would argue that the brand is under “no pressure to push volume”, but a sense of growing desperation at the Italian marque’s 53 UK retail sites became evident as dealers scored it 3.4 overall (average: 5.6) in the NFDA’s Summer 2017 Dealer Attitude Survey.