Alfa’s electric sweetheart
Within Stellantis, Alfa Romeo has by far the oldest model range after Lancia. The line-up is also quite limited: the brand has not had a car in the compact segment that is so important in Europe for years. That will change next year. In 2024 we will be introduced to perhaps the most important new Alfa in years.
Highlights
- Also as a mild hybrid
- Alfa’s first EV will have a range of 400 kilometers
- Bold looks
Since the disappearance of the Mito, Alfa Romeo has had to make do without a compact offering. This means that the brand has the dubious honor of being the only European volume brand within Stellantis that has nothing to offer the customer in the extremely important class of compact hatchbacks and crossovers. For years, Alfa Romeo has seen potential customers move to other brands. Even one class higher, it was quiet for a long time at Alfa Romeo. The Giulietta was, in a sense, followed by the Tonale, but this medium-sized SUV by European standards had the misfortune that its origins were still in the FCA era. So there is no modern platform under the Tonale and that also means that there is no fully electric version. Alfa Romeo has been watching for years as the electric ship disappears towards the horizon, but better times are coming for the brand. In 2024, Alfa Romeo will finally receive a compact crossover with proven Stellantis technology.
Important Benjamin
Within Stellantis, the range of compact crossovers with electric powertrains is now enormous. Citroën has the C3, Fiat the 600 and Opel and Peugeot have been raking in large quantities of purchase contracts for the Mokka and the 2008 for years. It will probably not surprise you that Alfa Romeo is allowed to grab for its compact newcomer from the warehouse that these brands also have access to. to have. This of course means that the carriage of Alfa’s important benjamin settles on the now widely applied (e-)CMP basis. From 2027, Alfa Romeo will only sell electric models, but that does not mean that it will no longer introduce new models with combustion engines until then. The powerful sweetheart will therefore simply be available with mild-hybrid powertrains, but in Europe most attention will undoubtedly go straight to the fully electric version.
We do not have to guess at the electrical hardware with which these variants are equipped. Just like its Stellantis brothers and sisters, the small, long-legged Alfa also has the 51 kWh battery pack and a 156 hp strong electric heart. This combination is expected to give it an electric range of more than 400 kilometers. For those who can or want to spend a little less, there will probably also be a less powerful plug-in version with 136 hp and a slightly smaller battery pack that will allow you to travel about 330 kilometers without recharging. Apart from its numerous relatives, it is certainly not groundbreaking on a technical level, but Alfa would not be Alfa if it did not distinguish itself from its peers.
Illustration: Larson
Outwardly distinctive
Alfa Romeo seems to make that distinction mainly in terms of design. After all, what other brand has a compact crossover with a large Scudetto in its range? That long-standing Alfa-characteristic triangular ‘grille’ is flanked by lighting that seems to be drawn entirely according to the Grand Manual of Auto Design 2023. Indeed: Alfa Romeo will also soon follow the path of headlights spread over two layers. With a healthy dose of imagination and historical awareness, the horizontal LED daytime running elements in the top floor are reminiscent of the headlights of the Alfa Romeo SZ of yesteryear, although Alfa Romeo certainly hopes that you think that. Viewed from the side, the small Alfa is typically a compact crossover, but one with a historically accurate rear door handle hidden in the C-pillar. It is a nod to, among others, the 156, the five-door 147 and the last Giulietta. Also striking: the car has a fairly high buttocks with an integrated rear spoiler. In any case, count on round tubes for the dashboard that house digital clocks. Did our creative crafter let his imagination run wild while drawing the little Alfa? Certainly not. This image is based on images that were leaked a few months ago.
As you have undoubtedly noticed, we never call the animal by its name. Not only are we still guessing at a model name, Alfa Romeo is doing that too. It has called on Alfisti via social media to come up with a name for the model. In any case, it will not be Brennero – as previously thought. We dare to say with certainty that ‘Arna’ will not be successful either and ‘Huigbert’ also seems to be excluded. Junior perhaps?
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl