When Alfa Romeo left the U.S. in 1995 they did so with the promise to return as soon as possible.  The first date tossed around was 2003, then 2004 which quickly became 2006.  Years passed and there were still no new Alfas in the U.S., with the exception of the hundred or so 8Cs sold via Maserati dealers.  The latest date announced was 2012 and that seemed pretty plausible.  After all, Fiat made a successful return to the U.S., it would seem logical that Alfa follows suit promptly.

Unfortunately Alfa has once again pushed back their entry into the U.S. market to 2013, a full decade later than they initially announced.  No reason was given for the delay, though we suspect it can be blamed at least partly on the development of the upcoming Giulia.

Alfa has been promising a 2012 return since 2010 and in an effort to keep their word a minuscule number of 4Cs might be delivered towards the end of 2012.  A Jeep-based SUV is scheduled to arrive in the summer of 2013 and the Giulia should finally make its appearance towards the end of 2013.

One car that Alfisti were particularly looking forward to seeing in the U.S. was the popular Giulietta.  Spy shots of it meandering around the U.S. with manufacturer plates gave Alfa fans false hope: the hatch will indeed cross the Atlantic but in the process it will swap identities and become a Dodge, making it unlikely that an Alfa-badged Giulietta will show up and cannibalize the Dodge version.

Source: www.europeancarnews.com

Tags: 2013, alfa, alfa romeo, return, U.S., U.S. return