Add new comment to ItalDesign Alfa Romeo Brera Concept

Alfa Romeo will show three new models at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show in March, in addition to the hotly anticipated new Giulietta, Inside Line has learned. These will be a trio of fresh takes on the next-generation replacement for the 159 sedan, sources say.

A Turin source told IL these are unrelated to the Giulietta, which is the replacement for the long-lived 147 compact and will come to the U.S. in 2011.

The all-important future replacement for the 159 is expected to adopt a classic Alfa Romeo model name, though exactly which one is not clear.

"At Geneva," the source went on, "each of the Turin design houses — Stile Bertone, Pininfarina and Italdesign Giugiaro — will create a version of the new midsize model to be shown at their respective stands." The expected breakdown will see Bertone creating the two-door coupe body, Pininfarina the convertible, and Italdesign Giugiaro the four-door sedan breadwinner.

The design renditions were reportedly commissioned to coincide with Alfa Romeo's centenary. The inaugural 24-horsepower model from A.L.F.A. (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili) rolled off the line in a 300-unit run at the Portello factory in Milan in 1910.

The 159 replacement is crucial to Alfa Romeo's success worldwide and should be followed very soon after by the also-important replacement for the full-size 169.

There's still no clarification, however, if the Chrysler or Dodge brands will be getting their own models from this new chassis.