Details of Cars

Alfa Romeo Arna (Type 920): the Alfa–Nissan hatchback of 1983–1987

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Alfa Romeo Arna hatchback at the Fratelli Cozzi museum
Alfa Romeo Arna at the Fratelli Cozzi museum. Photo by Moxmarco, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The Alfa Romeo Arna (Type 920) is a hatchback produced by Alfa Romeo Nissan Autoveicoli S.p.A. between 1983 and 1987; the name is an acronym for Alfa Romeo Nissan Autoveicoli. The company was founded on 9 October 1980 as a 50:50 joint venture between Alfa Romeo and Nissan.

Alfa Romeo Arna at a glance

Alfa Romeo Arna key facts
Production 1983–1987
Joint venture Alfa Romeo Nissan Autoveicoli S.p.A. (AR.N.A.), founded 9 October 1980, 50:50
Plant new plant at Pratola Serra, near Naples; body panels made by Nissan in Japan
Base Nissan Pulsar / Cherry (N12 series)
Alfa parts Alfasud engines, transmission, steering, front brakes and front suspension
Nissan parts independent rear suspension and rear brakes
Launch 1983 Frankfurt Motor Show
Other names sold in the UK and Spain as the Nissan Cherry Europe

This page is based on English Wikipedia only, so the figures could not be cross-checked against a second source.

History of the Alfa Romeo Arna

On 9 October 1980 Takashi Ishihara of Nissan and Alfa Romeo president Ettore Massacesi signed in Tokyo a memorandum for closer cooperation and the joint venture AR.N.A. The deal was endorsed by Italian prime minister Francesco Cossiga, who hoped to bolster the economy of southern Italy. Alfa wanted a competitor in the family hatchback segment, where the Volkswagen Golf and Lancia Delta were successful, and hoped Nissan would bring a model to market faster and more cheaply.

Nissan Cherry Europe GTI of 1985, also sold as the Alfa Romeo Arna Ti
Nissan Cherry Europe GTI (1985), also sold as the Alfa Romeo Arna Ti. Photo by Andrew Bone, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The car was launched at the 1983 Frankfurt Motor Show. It was largely based on the N12 series Nissan Pulsar but with Alfasud engines, and Alfa transmission, steering, front brakes and front suspension. It was the first alliance of its kind between a European and a Japanese automaker with joint investment in manufacturing and development. The Arna turned out to show the worst qualities of each of its parents, with rust-prone bodywork, indifferent build quality and box-like styling, and sales fell very quickly.

Design and features

  • Mechanicals: Alfasud boxer engines with Alfa gearbox, steering and front axle, and a Nissan independent rear end.
  • Plant: final assembly at Pratola Serra from Japanese-made body panels.
  • Interior: the Arna Ti (and Cherry Europe GTi) had a black and green interior.

Alfa Romeo Arna versions

  • Arna (1983–1987): the Italian-built hatchback, also Arna Ti.
  • Nissan Cherry Europe: the same car badged as a Nissan in the UK and Spain.
  • Nissan Pulsar Milano X1: a Japanese-built N12 with Alfa-style interior, never sold with Arna mechanicals.

More Alfa Romeo cars of the era are in our Alfa Romeo collection, for example the Alfasud and the Alfa Romeo 33.

Alfa Romeo Arna questions and answers

What does Arna mean?

An acronym for Alfa Romeo Nissan Autoveicoli; also an Italian female name.

What is the Arna based on?

The Nissan Pulsar (Cherry) N12, with Alfa Romeo engines.

Where was it built?

At Pratola Serra, near Naples, with body panels from Japan.

Why did it fail?

It combined rust-prone Alfa mechanicals with an ordinary Nissan body and poor build quality, and its sales fell very quickly.

Sources

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