Alfa Romeo delays launch (U.S)

According to reports from the U.S, Alfa Romeo’s long-awaited return to the American market has been put on hold until 2011 at the earliest.

The global economic slump is being blamed. FIAT has previously said that it will have to build Alfas in America if the brand is to be viable there, and that will require substantial initial investment. Money that, for now, FIAT bosses aren’t prepared to spend.

Parent company, FIAT had planned for Alfa Romeo to re-enter the US market in 2009. It engineered the 159, Brera and Spider to meet stringent American crash and emissions regulations.

Instead, the only current-generation Alfa to reach the States has been the 8C supercar, which has been sold in very small numbers through a handful of Maserati dealerships.