Drivers can choose between Strada (road) and Pista (track) mode. Alfa Romeo said it had the “amibitious” goal of ensuring the car was as at home on track as on the road, thus giving the driver a more comfortable ride in road mode with slower throttle response, softer suspension and – on the V6 car – exhaust valves that don’t open until 5000rpm. Track mode, meanwhile, sharpens the throttle response, stiffens its front and rear double-wishbone suspension and keeps the exhaust valve open constantly.
Manoeuvrability on road and track is helped by a four-wheel steering system that has been developed in-house by Alfa Romeo and is described as “semi-virtual”. The firm claims this aids precision and can filter out rough road surfaces to make the driver feel more comfortable.
Stopping power comes from carbon-ceramic ventilated Brembos, with six-piston calipers at the front and four-pots at the rear.
To help keep weight down, the 33 Stradale’s monocoque chassis is made out of carbonfibre and its body frame from aluminium. The window frames are also carbonfibre and lightweight door hinges are fitted for the Stradale’s striking butterfly doors.
Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato said: “With the new 33 Stradale, we wanted to create something that lived up to our past, to serve the brand and make the Alfisti fandom proud.
“Such a result could only have been achieved thanks to the expertise, hard work and passion of our team. This is the brand’s first’fuoriserie’ car since 1969, and I promise it won’t be the last.”
In the design of the 33 Stradale, Alfa Romeo has tried to match the proportions of the original car as closely as possible. From the front, it uses the familiar ‘V’ shaped grille, called the Scudetto Shield, with an overall profile optimised for aerodynamics and “necessary beauty”, the brand claims.
The emphasis on aerodynamics includes the use of an air intake integrated into the headlights and a rear spoiler directing air into the side intakes to make the car as slippery as possible.