A Future SUV in North America's Sights?
Alfa has never produced a sport utility vehicle before. What's pushing them to make one? Right now, it's either peer pressure from rival
 |
| In order to keep up with the competition, and enhance their bottom line, Alfa Romeo debuted a new SUV concept, the Kamal, at the 2003 Geneva auto show. (Photo: Fiat) |
Although the 2003 Geneva show is now well behind us, Alfa's contribution to the SUV game is well worth a look, especially since the legendary brand should be the first of the Fiat flock to make its way to this side of the pond. Alfa's very Italian twist on the sport utility genre is dubbed the Kamal, and if produced could be a serious player in the ever popular category.
 |
| The small sized SUV would probably go head to head with the likes of the Land Rover Freelander and BMW's upcoming X3. (Photo: Fiat) |
Though it looks as if poised to make life difficult for the ML and X5, not to mention a dozen or so additional luxury SUVs, the concept seen on the Geneva display stand is smaller, a show car based off of the recently introduced 147. With compact size to its advantage, the Kamal would probably come out against Land Rover's Freelander and BMW's upcoming X3 if produced.
Alfa Romeo, lauded for its superb engines since time immemorial, cram the popular 3.2 liter V6 from the 147 GTA and 156 GTA into the Kamal, resulting in 250 horsepower - plenty enough to shoot the diminutive SUV forward faster than its current rivals.