After ceasing the production of 166 sedan last year, Alfa Romeo is without a flagship these days. The company is now working on the development of its successor as it grapples to decide the platform on which this range topper 169(expected to be called the ‘169′) will be based on.

The company is looking at a rear wheel drive platform for 169, as is the case with most of the flagships these days. Currently the only rear wheel drive platform Alfa has is for the 8C Competizione which was rejected by the CEO Luca Me Deo as a possible donor for the 169. The sister company, Maserati’s Quattroporte and GranTurismo platforms have also been rejected as they are ‘too costly’.  Dazed, confused, the company is now looking at other automakers for a suitable platform, chiefly Jaguar which is now owned by Tata Motors, Fiat group’s ally in the Indian market. Ratan Tata, CEO Tata Motors, also sits on the board of the Fiat group.

The upcoming 149 which will replace the 147 is based on a completely new platform of its own which contradicts with earlier reports which suggested that the five door hatch will be based on the Fiat Bravo’s platform.