US roads open to more Italian models with Chrysler launch

NEW YORK // There may be more Italian cars on American roads, if ambitious launches by the Chrysler group are successful. Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne announced a return of Fiat and Alfa Romeos to Chrysler's US showrooms after an absence of almost 20 years. It has already been announced that the super-compact Fiat 500 will go on sale in the US later this year, including a hard top, a convertible, a plug-in electric and a high-performance 500 Abarth. Alfa Romeo will return to the US in 2012 with the MiTo small car followed by the compact Giulietta in 2014. Two of Fiat's other brands, Ferrari and Maserati, are already sold in the US. Maserati models are poised to become more affortable with the introduction of a car costing about $75,000(Dh275,000). One Fiat brand that is not coming to the US is Lancia. Instead, Chrysler Group and Fiat will merge the Chrysler and Lancia brands.