Alfa Romeo set for a return to the US

The first model expected to hit US shores in 2012 is the Giulia, which will replace the 159. Available in sedan and estate forms, the American version is expected to have a 2.4-litre MultiAir four-cylinder engine that produces 190bhp, as well as a Pentastar unit with at least 290bhp.Front-wheel-drive is standard, with four-wheel-drive available as an option.

Other models expected to be included in Alfa Romeo's American range include a small compact crossover jointly developed with Chrysler, a five-door version of the MiTo compact hatchback by 2013, a possible two-seater convertible, the Giulietta hatchback in 2014, and an SUV based on the next generation Jeep Liberty.

Alfa Romeo expects sales to reach around 85,000 units per year in the US once its full range is made available by 2014. The Italian carmaker was last in the American market in 1995, with the exception of the 8C Competizione supercar, which was sold in limited numbers in the US in 2008.