Alfa Romeo reveals 33 Stradale sports car with fully electric option

A limited-edition two-seat coupé will bridge Alfa Romeo from its internal combustion engine roots to an all-electric future.

The 33 Stradale inspired by its 1967 namesake (which means “road” in Italian) marks the Stellantis NV premium brand’s return to custom-built cars after 50 years, and it won’t be the last such offering, Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato said during a reveal from the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese, Italy. All 33 models of the vehicle already have been sold, and deliveries will begin in December 2024. They are put together by Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera Sr each as a “unique, one-off work of art,” according to a news release.

Buyers could choose a V-6 twin-turbo engine or an all-electric configuration, though most opted for the V-6, Larry Dominique, senior vice president of Alfa Romeo, told The Detroit News. A few will end up in North America.

The brand declined to disclose the price of one of the vehicles, but when asked if it was at least six digits, Dominique said, referring to the top-of-the-line trims in Alfa’s current lineup: “Six digits? I can buy a Quadrifoglio for six digits.”

The V-6 provides more than 620 horsepower, combined with an eight-speed DCT gearbox, rear-wheel drive and an electronic limited-slip differential. The electric powertrain provides more than 750 horsepower with an estimated range of about 280 miles (450 kilometers).

The supercar has a top speed of 206 miles (333 kilometers) per hour. It can speed from 0 to 62 mph (100 kilometers per hour) in less than three seconds and brake from that to standstill in under 36 yards (33 meters). It has several drive modes, including one for the racing track.

Alfa Romeo has been on a mission to reestablish itself as a premium brand. It has become profitable, sought to address quality issues that has yielded progresses in major surveys, and increased transaction prices and residual values. The 33 Stradale is a “halo” of what the brand can do, Dominique said, though it remains committed to being “approachable.”

Alfa’s first EV comes after it launched the Tonale SUV as its first plug-in hybrid last year. Every launch starting in 2025 will be fully electric with five launches already planned for the next generation.

“Certainly what this (the 33 Stradale) showcases is we’re not going to lose touch with being Alfa Romeo in an electrified world,” Dominique said. “This reveal showcases that we’re not going to lose touch with our past as we roll into the future.”

The 33 Stradale is meant to follow the styling of the historic ’67 model derived from the Tipo 33, an icon of motorsport in that era. The modern version has two trim levels: Tributo and Alfa Corse.

The sports car provides nods to the original vehicle’s shield and elliptical-base lighting. Its body projects forward, while its butterfly doors open wide. A wraparound sunroof engineered in carbon fiber and aluminum is designed to provide an aircraft cockpit-like view. Meanwhile, the interior is meant to exhibit a minimalistic design without driver distraction. One example: a steering wheel devoid of buttons.

A team of professionals that Alfa Romeo calls its “Bottega,” headquartered in the Sala del Consiglio of the Alfa Romeo Museum, worked with customers starting at the 2022 Monza Grand Prix to design the vehicles. Some are long-time Alfa fans, while others are hypercar collectors being introduced to the brand in a new way that Dominique says he hopes will boost Alfa’s consumer awareness, which sits at roughly 50% in the United States.