Perhaps it would be stretching things slightly to call Gowan Group the 'new' importer for Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Jeep in Ireland. In fact, the Group - which is also home to other Stellantis brands such as Peugeot, Citroen, Opel and DS - took over the Italian-American franchise this time last year. However, it's only really now that the new models are starting to arrive and the whole thing kicks into higher gear.
New electric Fiat 600
Gowan Group has already had some Italian success with the electric Fiat 500e. The AA Ireland award-winner has racked up 170 sales in Ireland so far this year, which is a solid performance given that it arrived too late for the early-year sales rush. Most buyers are plumping for the high-end 'La Prima' spec too, which is a turnaround for Fiat in itself.
Next up for Fiat will be a new 600 model, a larger, five-door sister car to the 500e that will arrive in late 2023, alongside a new Topolino, this being a badge-engineered Citroen Ami that takes its name from a tiny 1930s Fiat. Beyond that there will be a new, larger, Fiat 500X crossover, which will come in electric, mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid forms.
Alfa Romeo Tonale
First though, there's Alfa Romeo to deal with. Lord knows we've seen more than a few Alfa Romeo renaissances over the years. Some, such as when the 156 launched in 1997, kicked off a genuine period of success for the great Italian brand. Others, such as the launches of the 159 and the current (rather brilliant) Giulia failed to fire much enthusiasm in Irish buyers.
The purpose of the latest Alfa, the Tonale crossover, isn't so much about traditional Alfisti enthusiasm, but instead giving buyers a car they might actually want. The BMW X1 rival, says Fiat, Alfa and Jeep Ireland boss John Saunders, is generating "amazing interest." Admitting that Alfa, Fiat and Jeep have become rather neglected brands in the Irish market, Saunders says that "We've been in the Irish motor trade for 55 years, so all of that experience, all of that customer service knowledge will be brought to bear."
The Tonale arrives in Alfa's dealers in December, with first deliveries due to take place in January - supply chain delays allowing. It will come in two trims, Ti and Veloce, and will arrive initially as a 1.5-litre 160hp mild-hybrid, with a plug-in hybrid to follow. Irish prices? Still not set, but a starting price of around €45,000 is being spoken of.
That plug-in hybrid Tonale will be the start of Alfa's rapid race to become an all-electric brand. By the end of next year, we'll see the first fully-electric Alfa Romeo - a B-segment crossover, platform sharing with the Peugeot e-2008 - and by 2027, Alfa wants all its models to be entirely electric. To reach that goal, it's going to have to leverage its membership of the broader Stellantis Group, and the new STLA electric car platforms.
Jeep's new electric models
Jeep will have to do the same. The brand is a huge seller in the US, but currently has a smaller footprint in Europe, and hardly any at all in Ireland. That is likely to change starting in the summer of next year with the arrival of the new Jeep Avenger. An all-electric crossover, it too will platform-share with the Peugeot e-2008 and Opel Mokka-e, albeit with a bigger battery, a 400km range and the option of a high-performance, off-road capable four-wheel-drive version.
It'll be joined next year by a plug-in hybrid version of the large, luxurious Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is set to be the firm's Range Rover Sport rival.
Beyond that, Jeep starts to get really interesting with the rollout of that STLA electric car platform. The first Jeep model to ride on STLA - and likely the first STLA model we'll see on sale here - will be the sleek-looking Wagoneer S. Roughly the size of a Range Rover Velar, the Wagoneer S should arrive in 2024 with up to 600hp and as much as 700km range on a full charge.
It will be joined by another new, all-electric Jeep called the Rubicon. This is a more rugged model, with a removable roof, doors and windows, but which should also have that mega 700km range. Will models such as these finally allow Jeep to make it big in the SUV-hungry Irish market? They just might, and as Saunders told us: "You'll know this is a success when you start to see standalone Jeep dealerships."
Speaking of dealerships, Gowan has appointed three new dealers for its Italian-American brands, a welcome addition to a network that had shrunk pretty dramatically in recent years. The first three new dealers will be Fitzpatrick's of Kildare (which will take on Fiat, Fiat Professional vans and Jeep); Autobolands in Waterford (which will take on Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep and Alfa Romeo); and Dooley's of Carlow, which will take on Fiat, Fiat Professional and Jeep.