[C.Q4]

Alfa Romeo has just released the Giulia Speciale in Canada. Only 15 cars will be made, all in Verde Montreal, which was normally QV only.

Giulia Veloce Q4 + Verde Montreal + Yellow Brembos + Active Suspension + Staggered Dark 5-Holes + Carbon bits + Black leather w/ Red stitching

71,999 CAD

Stellantis: Alfa Romeo Introduces New Limited-edition 2022 Giulia Speciale | Stellantis Blog

Per our boy Ron:

 

[wingler]

Alfa Romeo has just released the Giulia Speciale in Canada. Only 15 cars will be made, all in Verde Montreal, which was normally QV only.

Giulia Veloce Q4 + Verde Montreal + Yellow Brembos + Active Suspension + Staggered Dark 5-Holes + Carbon bits + Black leather w/ Red stitching

71,999 CAD

Stellantis: Alfa Romeo Introduces New Limited-edition 2022 Giulia Speciale | Stellantis Blog

Per our boy Ron:

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15? Cleaning out the parts bins?

 

[Engi_Nerd]

Bummer, was hoping for wide availability of Montreal on veloce given it being available on Tonale. This is essentially the vehicle combo I was interested in (minus red stitching which will look like ass with green exterior). I'm sure the limited availability will see dealers charge absurd markups.

 

[C.Q4]

15? Cleaning out the parts bins?

I mean, would they really sell many more? Lol.

I think it just does its job of getting people to talk during news coverage of the Canadian GP and then maybe buy a normal Giulia.

 

[Superlight]

15? Cleaning out the parts bins?

I can't understand why Alfa doesn't allow ordering cars to customer specs using all the parts already tooled up for these vehicles. If they can't devote resources to updating ICE cars, why not let buyers choose from all the existing parts?

 

[Chipshot]

I can't understand why Alfa doesn't allow ordering cars to customer specs using all the parts already tooled up for these vehicles. If they can't devote resources to updating ICE cars, why not let buyers choose from all the existing parts?

Meeting corporate complexity reduction metrics.

 

[Superlight]

Meeting corporate complexity reduction metrics.

Yeah, that's the company line, but as one who worked for an OEM and responsible for a similar program in the '90s I can tell you a lot of it is just "gut feel", that the cost savings can't be quantified. In any event, additional vehicle sales as a result of giving customers what they want quickly exceed any cost savings from cancelled options.

 

[Chipshot]

Meeting corporate complexity reduction metrics.

Yeah, that's the company line, but as one who worked for an OEM and responsible for a similar program in the '90s I can tell you a lot of it is just "gut feel", that the cost savings can't be quantified. In any event, additional vehicle sales as a result of giving customers what they want quickly exceed any cost savings from cancelled options.

I am also familiar with the subject based on experience. Savings, if any, would come from reduced supplier prices, lower logistics costs, or decreased assembly plant labor. My "gut feel" is that only the middle item is likely. Let's see whether Stellantis cites complexity optimization (or some such) for cutting costs in its next financial statements and how significant those savings are.

 

[Superlight]

I am also familiar with the subject based on experience. Savings, if any, would come from reduced supplier prices, lower logistics costs, or decreased assembly plant labor. My "gut feel" is that only the middle item is likely. Let's see whether Stellantis cites complexity optimization (or some such) for cutting costs in its next financial statements and how significant those savings are.

My guess is that Alfa has such small sales volume that this complexity reduction project would get lost in the clutter (not mentioned).

 

[Chipshot]

Meeting corporate complexity reduction metrics.

Yeah, that's the company line, but as one who worked for an OEM and responsible for a similar program in the '90s I can tell you a lot of it is just "gut feel", that the cost savings can't be quantified. In any event, additional vehicle sales as a result of giving customers what they want quickly exceed any cost savings from cancelled options.

I am also familiar with the subject based on experience. Savings, if any, would come from reduced supplier prices, lower logistics costs, or decreased assembly plant labor. My "gut feel" is that only the middle item is likely. Let's see whether Stellantis cites complexity optimization (or some such) for cutting costs in its next financial statements and how significant those savings are.

My guess is that Alfa has such small sales volume that this complexity reduction project would get lost in the clutter (not mentioned).

I'm thinking from an overall corporate perspective rather than vehicle specific. If savings for RAM trucks aren't significant, then there is probably little to be had. Something like this could kill the "buzz models" some North American Stellantis brands bring to market with relative regularity.

 

[Superlight]

I'm thinking from an overall corporate perspective rather than vehicle specific. If savings for RAM trucks aren't significant, then there is probably little to be had. Something like this could kill the "buzz models" some North American Stellantis brands bring to market with relative regularity.

From my OEM experience (over 35 yrs) in engineering + marketing, there is much more profit to be made from adding desirable customer features that drive vehicle sales than the inverse - reducing corporate parts complexity. As I've said, I favor opening up the options on Giulia/Stelvio to encompass all the choices offered through the years, as customer orderable cars. I'd only delete those choices which few wanted historically. Even all exterior colors should be offered and done in batches; that may lengthen build dates, but it would give buyers what they want (and keep the assembly plant open and dealers happy as they move more units).

 

[stocki]

Reducing complexity might make sense if you offer 17 different cars with 3 body styles, 5 engines and 6 trim levels each.

Reducing complexity for 2 cars with 3 engines - specifically marketed towards "individualists") is peak Alfa corporate idiocy.

 

[Superlight]

Reducing complexity might make sense if you offer 17 different cars with 3 body styles, 5 engines and 6 trim levels each.

Reducing complexity for 2 cars with 3 engines - specifically marketed towards "individualists") is peak Alfa corporate idiocy.

Yes, he "gets it". If your primary focus is on the next chapter (EVs), at least give customers reasons to purchase your products in the meantime.

 

[Chipshot]

From my OEM experience (over 35 yrs) in engineering + marketing, there is much more profit to be made from adding desirable customer features that drive vehicle sales than the inverse - reducing corporate parts complexity. As I've said, I favor opening up the options on Giulia/Stelvio to encompass all the choices offered through the years, as customer orderable cars. I'd only delete those choices which few wanted historically. Even all exterior colors should be offered and done in batches; that may lengthen build dates, but it would give buyers what they want (and keep the assembly plant open and dealers happy as they move more units).

Reducing complexity might make sense if you offer 17 different cars with 3 body styles, 5 engines and 6 trim levels each.

Reducing complexity for 2 cars with 3 engines - specifically marketed towards "individualists") is peak Alfa corporate idiocy.

Yes, he "gets it". If your primary focus is on the next chapter (EVs), at least give customers reasons to purchase your products in the meantime.

Looks like we are in agreement.

Here is a rolling example of complexity: Build & Price Your New Ram Vehicle | Ram

 

[C.Q4]

From my OEM experience (over 35 yrs) in engineering + marketing, there is much more profit to be made from adding desirable customer features that drive vehicle sales than the inverse - reducing corporate parts complexity. As I've said, I favor opening up the options on Giulia/Stelvio to encompass all the choices offered through the years, as customer orderable cars. I'd only delete those choices which few wanted historically. Even all exterior colors should be offered and done in batches; that may lengthen build dates, but it would give buyers what they want (and keep the assembly plant open and dealers happy as they move more units).

The problem is the popularity of choices is based on dealer orders. Black, white, silver, black interior and lame options combinations. That will not give you the outcome you are looking for. Active Suspension disappeared due to high cost and low volume.

You can't offer an open ended options book, order those parts for inventory, and then only have a couple of orders. Offering a Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur program would be great for us, but the high costs would only hurt the bottom line of Alfa in the US. Would that double or triple US sales?

Alfa is not losing sales to BMW/Audi/MB due to a lack of colors.

 

[Superlight]

The problem is the popularity of choices is based on dealer orders. Black, white, silver, black interior and lame options combinations. That will not give you the outcome you are looking for. Active Suspension disappeared due to high cost and low volume.

You can't offer an open ended options book, order those parts for inventory, and then only have a couple of orders. Offering a Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur program would be great for us, but the high costs would only hurt the bottom line of Alfa in the US. Would that double or triple US sales?

Alfa is not losing sales to BMW/Audi/MB due to a lack of colors.

I'm suggesting customer orders, not those that dealers place to build their inventories. These would come through the dealers, of course, but have a name associated with them and a deposit down on each one. I think Porsche has proved a manufacturer CAN have an almost unlimited options process, but that's not what I'm thinking. I only want those options that already exist (are tooled up) on Giulia/Stelvios to become more readily available. I don't think it would double or triple Alfa sales, but sales would improve if the word got out that you could build exactly what you want, not the paucity of choices offered today. And I never said Alfa was losing sales because of a lack of colors, although that could be the case for certain colors.

 

[sjxc1097]

imho, alfa should do opposite of normal.
if u want to be unique and noticed, have some market presense.
build and push many cars with bright colors that standout.
misono blue, trofeo white, rosso comp, rosso etna, verde montreal, orca gt, etc
stop pushing generic black/white dark colored paints.
make it scream ALFA!!!

otoh, i'm surprised speciale doesn't have any fender badging for being 2022.
it should at least have veloce if it can't have speciale.
i think this spec is better than estrema.
it's essentially estrema with cf sideskirt & yellow calipers which estrema doesn't have.
i know they are using parts bin, but one thing i'd change up is
offer alcatara seats with green/white stitching instead of red.

 

[mentalblank]

I'm suggesting customer orders, not those that dealers place to build their inventories. These would come through the dealers, of course, but have a name associated with them and a deposit down on each one. I think Porsche has proved a manufacturer CAN have an almost unlimited options process, but that's not what I'm thinking. I only want those options that already exist (are tooled up) on Giulia/Stelvios to become more readily available. I don't think it would double or triple Alfa sales, but sales would improve if the word got out that you could build exactly what you want, not the paucity of choices offered today. And I never said Alfa was losing sales because of a lack of colors, although that could be the case for certain colors.

Alfa lost a sale from me due to the limited interior colour options now available. I was fired up to buy a new Veloce but instead bought a lightly used 2020 so I could get the tan interior. Here in Australia at least our colour options are now extremely limited, which I suspect is putting some prospective customers off.

 

[Superlight]

Alfa lost a sale from me due to the limited interior colour options now available. I was fired up to buy a new Veloce but instead bought a lightly used 2020 so I could get the tan interior. Here in Australia at least our colour options are now extremely limited, which I suspect is putting some prospective customers off.

I repeat, if the company can't afford to both transition to EVs and keep their current products updated, at least permit customers to order all the past options offered on the current products.

 

[C.Q4]

I'm suggesting customer orders, not those that dealers place to build their inventories. These would come through the dealers, of course, but have a name associated with them and a deposit down on each one. I think Porsche has proved a manufacturer CAN have an almost unlimited options process, but that's not what I'm thinking. I only want those options that already exist (are tooled up) on Giulia/Stelvios to become more readily available. I don't think it would double or triple Alfa sales, but sales would improve if the word got out that you could build exactly what you want, not the paucity of choices offered today. And I never said Alfa was losing sales because of a lack of colors, although that could be the case for certain colors.

I know you want customer orders, but the options catalogue is based on what sells in volume. They can’t stock expensive parts for 3 cars a year. So, it is still heavily based on dealer orders, which are bland.

If your idea doesn’t double sales, what was the point? 18k to 36k could be worth talking about. 18k to 19k could be a waste of money.

Your argument is that sales are being lost due to a lack of options. The major option losses people cry about are colors (in/out). Again, I don’t think people are cross shopping the 3 series and buying it bc it has more color options. There’s more to fix before customizable options.