This disagreement over what constitutes a "true" Alfa Romeo, and how the company is risking its heritage by building and selling FWD cars and SUVs, is nothing new.
People forget that before the second World War, Alfa was a builder of large, exclusive, high-end, coach-built cars. After the devastation of the war, Alfa had only one choice to survive; to become a mass producer of cars for the general public. How the old time Alfisti must have rolled their eyes in disgust as the company rolled out thousands of small displacement 4 cylinder cars that even a civil servant could afford. They probably thought that it was the beginning of the end for Alfa Romeo.
Well, here we are, some half-a-century later, and the company has survived where other larger ones failed (e.g., American Motors, British Leyland (and almost all of their brands, etc.). During that time, Alfisti were treated to several generations of Alfas for both road and track that we now worship. Without the Giulietta Berlina, we would not have seen the TZ, GTV, Duetto or (name your favorite Alfa). For most of us, those small, high-revving Alfas are the only ones we know first-hand.
With cars like the GTA variants of the 147 and 156, and dream cars like the 6C on the horizon, today's Alfisti have nothing but to be proud of the brand, with more than a glimmer of hope that it will survive another hundred years. Compare this situation with the geriatric dogs that British Leyland kept manufacturing, at one point licensing cars from Honda, during its slow and painful spiral to oblivion.
As FIAT continues to drown in red ink, I believe the odds favor against a GM buyout (the recent agreement by the parties that FIAT defer putting its right to sell the remaining shares to GM all but assures this result). This will leave FIAT with no choice but to find another merger partner (unlikely), or to sell-off some of its valuable brands piecemeal, much like BL did when it sold Mini and Rover to BMW, and Jaguar to Ford. My guess is that Ferrari, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo will find buyers. FIAT and Lancia will go to car heaven. Let's just hope that Alfa will find a new owner who understands its spirit, and respects its heritage.
Iori