Allfa Romeo conjures romantic images of winning races, screaming sports cars, and finely tuned sedans, but also reminds older generations of questionable quality that helped dislodge the Italian brand from the U.S. market 20 years ago. Alfa is back with a new generation of sports cars and crossovers and an ambitious plan to distinguish it from German competitors.

Founded in Milan 107 years ago, Alfa Romeo has stated it intends to sell 150,000 vehicles annually in North America by 2018. Its strategy calls for a range of sporty models, from the 4C two-seater to as many as eight crossovers and sedans, but it must refurbish its reputation.