New Alfa Romeo Sedan Leads Revival That Risks Falling Short

Alfa Romeo fans awaiting a long-promised revival can take solace in the unveiling of the Giulia sedan, even though the effort is probably too little, too late for the sporty Italian brand to achieve its growth targets.

For more than a decade, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne has been vowing to restore Alfa Romeo as a premier auto brand. The mid-sized sedan, which was unveiled Wednesday near Milan and will take on models like BMW’s 3-Series at some point next year, is the first serious effort to win more customers. Even so, uncertainty about follow-up vehicles and a thin presence outside of Europe means those ambitions are likely to go unfulfilled by 2018.