In today’s world of fuel efficiency and banking crisis we rarely come across a properly good piece of automotive news. But this is definitely one of them. Apparently, Alfa Romeo is going to kill off its hatchbacks and start working on a series of new, rear-wheel-drive sports sedans.

That means we are going to get new versions of legendary models such as the 159 and 166; only this time they will drive as good as they look. And since Alfas have finally become reliable, sort of, these are going to be the best cars in the world!

According to a report by CarMagazine, over the next two years Alfa Romeo will gradually get rid of the MiTo and the Giulietta, and replace them first with a mid-size 3-Series rival, with a larger 5-Series rival to be added around 2016. The range will be complemented with one or two SUVs later on. And of course, there is the MX-5 based sports Roadster which is due next year, and the soon to be released 4C sports car – all rear-wheel drive.

That sounds like the perfect lineup for Alfa. In recent years Alfa had been reduced to making two fairly uninteresting hatchbacks. This shift in priorities will put them back on the map.