Enthusiasts could argue that Alfa Romeo has been selling its soul to the SUV overlords since the Stelvio debuted a decade ago. The smaller Tonale and Milano crossovers also run counter to what the fabled Italian automaker traditionally stands for. A larger SUV to rival the Porsche Cayenne is expected later this decade, further aggravating diehard fans of the Torino-based company.
But the harsh reality is that these models help Alfa Romeo keep the lights on. Where would the company be today without Stellantis backing SUV production? It’s not like it was flourishing in the days of the 159 or the decades before. The brand’s marketing boss admits there isn’t enough funding to develop a new sports car. Cristiano Fiorio told Car Magazine that it’s essential for the mainstream models to generate sales before executives approve a more exciting vehicle.
“We have to start from credibility: doing one model every year, proving that we are able to execute, to make it profitable, to make numbers which are acceptable for the investment we have made. Once we have a track record on that, then we can dream.”
The statement makes it clear: Alfa Romeo has bigger fish to fry than building a niche performance car. The 8C and GTV revivals were canceled in 2019 before reaching production, and the last 4C was assembled just a year later. It appears a new performance model is off the table for now, and only likely if SUV sales perform well.
We haven’t forgotten about the Giulia, but even that sedan will be replaced with something different. Newly appointed CEO Santo Ficili confirmed that the next-generation model will abandon the traditional three-box layout for a new body style. Reports suggest it’ll be a slightly lifted five-door liftback in the vein of the Peugeot 408, edging closer to the SUV formula.
Although the 33 Stradale may seem like a contradiction to Fiorio’s comments, the supercar was essentially a side project. Fiorio explains that the stunning coupe with butterfly doors was developed after hours by a “crazy bunch of people” to avoid disrupting daily operations.
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Of course, it helped that the 33 Stradale shares a strong relationship with the Maserati MC20. It partially borrows the carbon tub and aluminum subframes at both ends. The twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 is also closely related, so Alfa Romeo didn’t exactly start from scratch. That said, considerable effort went into making the flagship feel unique, with bespoke exterior and interior designs and a multi-link suspension featuring adaptive dampers derived from the Giulia GTAm.
When the time eventually comes for a new performance model, it will be more “reachable” than the 33 Stradale, so Fiorio is implying it won’t carry a seven-figure price tag. It’s too early to say whether such a car would be an entirely in-house project or if Alfa Romeo would lean on Stellantis to adapt an existing architecture.
Developing a new car from scratch is costly, especially when it’s aimed at a niche audience. Alfa Romeo is retiring the multi-billion-euro Giorgio platform after the current Stelvio and Giulia are phased out, so a future sports car would likely ride on Stellantis bones. Realistically, the car is unlikely to come out until closer to the end of the decade or early 2030s.