Some recent juice on the highly awaited Alfa 149: the design is now frozen and the first prototypes are on the streets testing. It is expected to arrive in the first half of 2008. Doesn't sound like much time for testing, right? Well it seems Fiat has this software and development practice that allows for less prototype testing and more simulation. Or, if the reader is interested in buying the car, better wait for 2009 and let the first buyers participate in the process...
More info: the car has most of the underpinnings shared with the Bravo (another reason for doing less testing), except for the rear suspension that will be of multilink type. This will have effects on luggage space that will be less than the 400L found in the Bravo.
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The aircraft industry uses virtual engineering / testing all the time. It is NOT risky, it is far easier to describe mathematically all the requirements and then measure the results mathematically comparing the result to the objectives. Sounds crazy...but it works because people have been building cars for over 100 years, so the engineers have a vast bank of information and experience to call on - and all the leaders in the auto industry do this. virtual engineering
It's just that Fiat has done it more thoroughly than most. Don't forget Fiat's pioneering ventures in the past include Robogate Assembly (now the industry norm) and more recently, Common Rail multijet turbo diesel engines, also now the industry norm.
That has worked briliantly with the A380...
Seriously I think the 149 will do well and the latest offerings from Fiat, notably the GrandePunto, have been good in initial quality.
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