Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale: modern classic with V6 or electric

Highlights

• Modern reincarnation of 33 Stradale from 1967
• Both with V6 and electric
• Technique known from Maserati

About thirteen years ago the curtain fell on the Alfa Romeo 8C and since then the Italian brand has had to do without a supercar. However, the racing blood creeps where it cannot go and so the moment has now arrived: with the Alfa Romeo 33 it is back in a particularly sporty corner of the car world. Just like with the 8C Competizione, it can be seen at a glance that Alfa Romeo goes back to the design of the 1960s. In particular on its first supercar, the 1967 33 Stradale, limited to eighteen units. The name of this new top-class Alfa is certainly not taken out of thin air, this is a modern reincarnation.

In terms of appearance, the similarities are not to be missed. It not only resembles the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale of yesteryear, but also certainly resembles the race car that preceded it, the Tipo 33 and in particular the 33/2. Especially the headlights placed somewhat lower in the nose are more reminiscent of the Tipo 33/2 than of the 33 Stradale. Also at the rear, the brand new Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is clearly a nod to both its namesake example and the Tipo 33. The black accents on the sides, just before the taillights, as well as the gull-wing doors through which you can look up, the old 33 Stradale had also.

Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale

In the interior it is also a tasteful mix between modern and classic, with the big one eye-catcher the center tunnel. You will find several large switches on it, including for choosing the driving mode (strada or pista), adjusting the suspension, but also for opening or closing the windows and doors. In the middle is a lever to choose the direction of travel and also one with which you can choose whether you shift yourself (with the flippers behind the steering wheel) or whether the car does it for you.

Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale

Known figures

This brings us straight to the technology, because what do you switch to? Well, whether you switch at all just depends on whether you have chosen the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale with combustion engine. It also comes with a fully electric powertrain. Let’s start with the petrol-powered version. It has a 3.0-liter biturbo V6 in the middle, which sends more than 620 hp to the rear wheels via an eight-speed DCT. That power is distributed over the wheels via an electronically regulated differential lock. All in all, it is enough to shoot the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale from 0 to 100 km/h in less than three seconds and it reaches a top speed of – appropriately – 333 km/h. The electric version is a lot stronger, namely ‘more than 750 hp’. Alfa Romeo is not yet releasing performance figures, although it says it expects its driving range to be around 450 km according to the WLTP cycle. Although Alfa Romeo does not say a word about Stellantis sister brand Maserati, it is almost inevitable that the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale shares technology with the Maserati GranTurismo (and possibly also the MC20). After all, the GranTurismo is available with a 620 hp 3.0 Nettuno V6 and as 761 hp electric Folgore.

Yet that does not immediately mean that Alfa Romeo just took that base and poured its own sauce on it. The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale has an aluminum and carbon fiber base and the roof is also made of those two materials. The doors are made entirely of carbon fiber. The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale has double wishbones with active shock absorbers at the front and carbon-ceramic discs from Brembo for the brakes. None other than F1 driver Valtteri Bottas has been given the task of preparing the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale as best as possible for the real thing, by participating in the set-up of the car.

Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale

Extremely limited

Now for the bad news if this makes you incredibly greedy and swimming in cash: only 33 copies of the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale will be built and they have all been sold. Since a year ago, the lucky customers have been working with a special team from Alfa Romeo to put together their car completely according to their wishes. Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera has the clean task of building the cars. It is not yet known what must be transferred for an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, but we would not be surprised if that goes towards a million euros.