Good News: Alfa Romeo's Future Will Be A Festival Of 4WD & RWD

Fiat-Chrysler has today outlined a five-year product plan covering its various brands. Much of it doesn't interest us, but there's some juicy details that stand out: the future of Alfa Romeo. The Italian carmaker is in an odd position at the moment, its range consisting of two lacklustre hatchbacks - the MiTo and the Giulietta - and a stonking mid-engined sports car - the 4C. But that won't be the case for much longer.

In a move that'll please petrolheads the world over, Alfa will focus on rear- and four-wheel drive cars. Kicking off the new Alfa range in the second half of 2015 will be a BMW 3-series-rivalling saloon called the Giulia, followed by another seven new models the following year. This will include a couple of SUVs, and possibly a hotter 4C. The Giulietta will be replaced, while the smaller MiTo will be ditched entirely.

Engines and cars will be built in Italy, and Fiat-Chrysler is particularly keen to push the Italian background of the company. This means that the previous plan of an Alfa Spider developed alongside the MX-5 is now off the table, with that joint project destined to wear a Fiat badge.

Only time will tell if these ambitious plans will work, but we're hoping they do. It'd be good to have a range of cars finally worthy of all that illustrious motoring history.