I know, it’s the never ending story. When is Alfa coming back?

According to the latest from my club, the Alfa Romeo Owner’s Club, and Alfa’s site, along with other groups and publication, it seems 2009 is the date. Remember it was supposed to be this year?

This LeftLaneNews covers the story pretty well. They are coming back 2009 with three models, all based on the successful 159. They will be back to mark their 100th Anniversary.

Now I don’t know about you but the 159 SportWagon is so much sleeker than Audi’s stout Teutonic lines. That is the one of the main thing I love about Italian designs, they know how to stick to what works. It’s easy to recognize an Alfa, it’s wedgy and the highlights and rear one are easily recognizable. How about the Spider? 3.2 V6 260HP fun rev happy engine? Sounds good to me.

The coup de grace for any Alfa enthusiast will be the Alfa Romeo 8c. What you have here is the best Alfa has to offer. A car that shares much with Maserati.

I feel Alfa has finally learned from its mistakes. They rescinded from GM. However, GM forced Alfa to use their V6. Alfa countered and finally only accepted the block, not the head or internals. Fine. Alfa has waited until they had a car the U.S. market would like, big enough, powerful, safe and reliable. They also studied the market well, to the point BMW high officers jumped board and are working with the Italian company.

On the sports side, Alfa has been winning a lot of races since the beginning of this century on European tracks, for years creaming BMW in the DTM races.

They are poised for a come back with all the right elements.

However, Alfa Romeo has always been a symbol of fine engineering, great engines, fantastic handling, brilliant designs. In the 50′s, it continued the tradition but smaller engines and making them affordable, thus becoming the affordable performance car for enthusiasts. I am wondering if coming back the the market with $55,000 cars, just shy of BMW’s over stretched market is the wisest thing to do. How many aficionados like me will dish out $55,000 even for the manufacturer I love? I bet not too many.

Don’t get me wrong, four wheel drive, the legendary engine and handling is well worth it but when you can get a Subaru for less, it’s going to be a tough call betting on the mystique alone.

We’ll see and I am happy to see them back.