This year Alfa Romeo turns one hundred years old. This is a big milestone for anyone, but especially for a manufacturer that hasn't turned a profit since... since well... has it ever turned a profit at all?

Alfa Romeo has had many obscure periods in its long and illustrious history, and at one point it was even owned by the Italian government. The cars were often fast and flashy, but also sometimes not as reliable as they could be. And let's be brutally honest no one wants a car that can only be had in lovely rust-brown and has more lights on the dashobard that a full-on christmas tree.

But in the end there was always a group of lunatics that raved about the singing powerful engines, the magnificent handling, that beatiful bodies or maybe a combination of the three. Even if since the 90's the cars haven't been particularly fast or un-wrong wheel driven, or plainly rebadged Fiats in some cases.

But apparently there's light at the end of tunnel. Or is it? Since the turn of the century the cars have gotten better and better. Up to the point, that now they rarely break down, or do silly noises when going over bumps, and they even got all sorts of clever new technology that have made them more efficient and greener. Simply, they've improved the quality dramatically.

The first product of the new Alfa was the 159 family, introduced in 2005. Fast forward five years, and the results is an excellent flop. The 159 did exactly what shouldn't be done, particularly by a brand like Alfa Romeo. It upset the loyalists and it didn't bring anyone from the german panzer wagen camp. The loyalists didn't like it because they were used to screwing back door mirrors as long as their car was characterful, but this was the other way round, and the men in need of compensation didn't like it, because well... it was an Alfa.

Since then we've gotten two more new cars and things don't seem to be improving for the lunatics. Even if the cars are better than ever. Here's a review for the new Giulietta.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 TB 170 HP full road test car review - BBC Top Gear - BBC Top Gear

So, who wants an Alfa Romeo these days? No one apparently. It takes a special person to buy a special car, but what if the car isn't all that special anymore?