Mid-Florida Alfa Romeo Owners Club Inc.

Make plans to join us in March as we gather at Daytona International Speedway for a Speedway Tour followed by browsing time in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. Afterwards, we will caravan to the Ormond Garage restaurant for lunch, and then drive the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail.

Event: Daytona International Speedway, Ormond Garage and Ormond Scenic Loop

Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026

Time: 9AM Meet-up

Location: Daytona International Speedway, 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114

RSVP: Barolo105@gmail.com (I will need a head count for the tour and lunch)

Our speedway tour will include a behind-the-scenes tour of Daytona International Speedway including the infield, the 31-degree high banks, pit road, and the NASCAR garages. The 1-hour tour is via open tram. Afterwards, we will explore the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. Virtually every form of motorsports is represented including cars, boats, motorcycles, and aviation. See, read and experience some famous vehicles form motor racing’s past. Cost is $25 per person if we have 15 people; or $31 per person if we have less.

The Ormond Garage is an historic building built in 1904 and was the first gasoline alley (before Indianapolis Speedway!) It was built by Henry Flagler to house the drivers and mechanics participating in the beach races and time trials in the early 1900’s. The Ormond Garage restaurant is a locally owned and operated craft brewery and eatery that honors Ormond Beach’s auto racing history. Serving uniquely crafted beer and upscale pub food.

The Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail is a 34-mile double loop of roadways traversing some of the most beautiful and diverse natural scenery remaining in all of coastal central Florida. The roadway winds through the Tomoka State Park, and the view includes vistas of rivers, creeks, marshes, dunes, and beaches.

I hope you can join us for a fun day!

Ciao!

Peter Gagne, President

Mid Florida Alfa Romeo Owners Club

Barolo105@gmail.com

Alfa Romeo Is Struggling in The US, But Thriving in Europe

Half-year results are in, and it's a mixed bag.

When Stellantis published U.S. sales results for its Alfa Romeo brand for the first half of the year, the numbers didn’t look good. Through June, the Italian marque was down 34 percent, with all three models posting double-digit declines: Giulia (-32 percent), Stelvio (-40 percent), and Tonale (-28 percent). Combined, the three models generated only 3,164 sales.

But there’s a silver lining for the fabled Italian brand, it’s actually doing great in Europe so far in 2025. Sales figures published today by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association show Alfa is significantly up. In the first six months of the year, Alfa Romeo surged by 33.3 percent in Europe, delivering 33,116 cars. ACEA reports sales for the 27 EU countries, the United Kingdom, and EFTA members (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland).

That's roughly 10 times more than in the U.S. What gives? I’m trying to wrap my head around the major discrepancy between the two regions, and there’s really one main explanation: Alfa Romeo doesn’t sell the Junior in the U.S., a smaller, cheaper alternative to the Tonale. Sure, market conditions vary, but the subcompact crossover is likely doing most of the heavy lifting in Europe.

Alfa Romeo cancels all-EV plan, continues with gasoline and hybrid power

By Dave Kunz Monday, January 5, 2026

There are a lot of options when it comes to picking out a car, and that makes it harder for carmakers to attract buyers.

Italian carmaker Alfa Romeo is taking a different approach and listening to buyers who say they don't want EVs.

To fans of Italian cars, notably of Alfa Romeo, there is a special kind of music provided by an engine, and not an electric motor.

Plans were once afoot to have the entire Alfa lineup be all-electric by 2027 or so, but changing regulations and pushback from car buyers in general put the brakes on that impending future.

"A lot of people are leaning away from the EV market. They are sticking true to their ICE [combustion] engines, so we have been listening diligently and ensuring that we are matching the needs of what our clients are requiring," said Randi Yassay, director of marketing for Alfa Romeo in North America.

The reversal started earlier in 2025. When the compact Tonale SUV was launched, it arrived only as a plug-in hybrid. But then, a purely gasoline-powered version joined in: more pure for the purists, no charging port, just a gas filler.

The current lineup at Alfa Romeo includes three models, all running on conventional power. There's technically a fourth model, but you can't buy it. The exotic 33 Stradale is a showcase of Italian passion with a seven-figure price tag -- and they're all sold out. Basically, it's an attention-getter for the brand.

So for now and the immediate future, Alfa Romeos will be powered, for the most part, as they always have been -- with gasoline. Nevertheless, the company says it has not completely put the brakes on alternative power.

"Over the next couple of years, you will see a multi-energy approach coming from Alfa Romeo. So, we're excited about that," Yassay said.

Look for new generations of vehicles like the Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV at some point. One hiccup in the strategy reversal is that planned EVs were almost surely in development, so those two mid-size models -- both around since the mid-2010s -- will have to carry on for a couple more years.

You'll see their replacements, most likely with hybrid power, added to the mix eventually. Enthusiast buyers will have to be patient for new metal in showrooms, but it's likely many are quite OK with the updated strategy.

Mid-Florida Alfa Romeo Owners Club Inc.

Click on Picture to see video of Cars and Coffee at Fields Automotive

Alfa Romeo Is Struggling in The US, But Thriving in Europe

Alfa Romeo cancels all-EV plan, continues with gasoline and hybrid power

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