Alfa Romeo Taking Aim At BMW 5 Series

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia (Credit: Alfa Romeo)

Nobody can say that Alfa Romeo isn’t ambitious. According to a report from Auto Express, the Italians are preparing a sedan that would take on the BMW 5 Series.

Before you think this is a joke, remember that the new Giulia is a direct competitor to the 3 Series. It’s actually smart to aim at these kinds of benchmark vehicles, because people love them, but they might not be able to afford a Bimmer. The problem is everyone else is taking aim at these same models, so Alfa Romeo has a lot of competition.

Just like the Giulia, this future sedan should come with a range of engines, plus rear- and all-wheel drive. A high-performance version of the car is in the works as well. There’s a strong possibility that it will use the same twin-turbo 2.6-liter V-6 as the Quadrifoglio, only tuned for more power.

With Volvo and Jaguar both upping their game lately, and getting tons of praise for it, Alfa Romeo is facing an uphill battle. The future 5 Series fighter will be based on the Giorgio platform, just like the Giulia.

The plan is for Alfa Romeo to churn out 8 new vehicles by 2020. That sounds crazy, and it probably is. Next up is a compact SUV called the Stelvio. Models like that are hot right now, so it could help give the brand some foothold in the American market and some cash to keep things going.