Fiat, Alpha Romeo And Mazda Team Up For Roadster Project

Mazda and Ford worked together in the automotive market for a long time before that partnership fell apart. Must is now set for another partnership with other automakers including Fiat and alpha Romeo to build a small roadster based on the Mazda Miata MX-5 platform. The car be constructed at Mazda's Japanese plant and production for Alpha Romeo will begin in 2015.

The automakers signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding today. The deal will help Fiat improve its presence in the Asian market and add a new model to the lineup of Alpha Romeo sports cars, which are planned for re-launch in the US next year. The vehicle will be a two-seat, reward drive car and the automakers will change the body design and engine for their versions of the car.

Mazda and Fiat will also be looking to cooperate in Europe were Mazda has a very small presence with less than 2% market share. Fiat hasn't offered any official comments and the final agreement is expected to be signed in the second half of 2012.

[via WSJ]