Alfa Romeo Launching A New Car Every Year Before It Goes Electric

Oct. 07, 2021 5:47 AM ET by Jay Traugott Industry News / 4 Comments

The fun starts next year.

The great American comeback of Alfa Romeo remains underway. The legendary Italian marque was re-launched in the US back in 2013 when the Alfa Romeo 4C debuted, followed by the Giulia sedan and Stelvio crossover. Since then, the brand has struggled to catch on. The vehicles are incredible, but the brand remained overshadowed by German rivals such as BMW and Mercedes. Parent company Stellantis, however, has no intention of giving up on Alfa. The fight has only just begun.

Speaking earlier this week at an Italian dealer's event, Reuters reports Alfa Romeo boss Jean-Philippe Imparato said something we've been waiting to hear. "Alfa Romeo will launch a new model every year until 2026." A company spokesperson confirmed this as well. However, beginning in 2027, every new Alfa model introduced will be electrified.

2019-2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Front Angle View

But before that, the Alfa Romeo Tonale compact crossover is set to begin production by the end of this year. An official reveal is said to happen in March, though it won't be at Geneva as Stellantis won't be attending that event. The Tonale's debut was delayed a few months ago not long after Imparato took the helm. He decided more work was necessary, specifically the plug-in hybrid variant. The executive demanded several performance improvements, specifically the all-electric driving range.

We know the Tonale shares a platform with the Jeep Compass and the PHEV variant will come powered by a 1.3-liter turbocharged engine and a 60-hp electric motor at the rear axle.

2015-2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Front View

2015-2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Front View Driving

2015-2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Rear View Driving

An 11.4-kWh battery provides its power. The Tonale's exterior styling is expected to be relatively similar to that of the concept shown at Geneva over two years ago. As to what the additional new models will be is still unknown but we can make a few educated guesses.

The current rear-wheel-drive Giorgio platform used for the Giulia and Stelvio will be retired. Its replacement is called Large, a brand new flexible architecture that can accommodate electrification. A Stelvio successor is guaranteed but we're not confident about a new sedan given the segment's overall declining popularity. A new sports car, possibly all-electric, shouldn't be ruled out. There's also the potential for a new Alfa model to share a platform with the forthcoming, electric, Lancia Delta, which will be revived in 2026.