- Alfa Romeo’s Cuorerosso concept doesn’t preview a new Giulia.
- Its styling language will influence a C-SUV set to debut in 2028.
- A Giulietta successor and a new exotic will follow further ahead.
The Alfa Romeo Cuorerosso concept is one of the highlights of the 2026 Paris Motor Show, making us dream of a next generation Giulia sedan with exotic proportions and a hybrid V6 powertrain. However, the model is not destined for production, with the Italian brand working on three entirely different offerings set to debut over the next couple of years.
With the current Giulia having been around largely unchanged for over a decade, many believed that the low-slung Cuorerosso could preview its successor. Still, Alfa Romeo has other plans for the concept.
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In an interview with Italian media Quattroruote, Alfa Romeo CEO, Santo Ficili, said: “The Cuorerosso is the fruit of the work of a team of people passionate about the brand, bringing together engineering, product development, and design. We sat down to reconnect with Alfa Romeo’s extraordinary history and imagined the future through a feasible vehicle, characterized by advanced styling cues that hark back to our past.”
While these words sound promising, Ficili clarified that the concept is less of a preview of a certain production model (did anyone say Giulia?), and more of a design statement that will influence the future lineup.
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The Alfa Romeo boss revealed that the first production model that will adopt the Cuorerosso’s styling language will arrive in early 2028. The yet-unnamed Alfa “will be positioned at the top of the C-SUV segment, also targeting the entry-level D-SUV segment”.
The new C-SUV will serve as a replacement for the Tonale, which is expected to bow out of production by the end of 2027. However, judging from the CEO’s comments it might grow in size, getting closer to the current Stelvio.
Stellantis has confirmed that the upcoming SUV will ride on the STLA Medium architecture rather than the more advanced STLA One. Under the hood, it will offer the option between “multi-energy” powertrains, hinting at hybrid and fully electric setups.
A New Giulietta
Ficili also spoke about the next compact model from the Biscione brand, referring to it as the Giulietta, although he clarified that this is an “internal name” chosen to pinpoint the market positioning of the model. Naturally, it will succeed the compact hatchback that went out of production in 2020 after a decade on sale.
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Alfa’s CEO said that the model will inherit styling cues from the Cuorerosso concept, and it seems it won’t be an SUV nor a traditional hatchback. Ficili explained: “The future Giulietta will not be an SUV, but it will meet modern customer needs. The placement of the batteries in the floor results in a slightly higher ground clearance, ensuring greater headroom and habitability without necessarily becoming a crossover.”
Ficili added that Alfa Romeo will “evaluate the best time to launch the Giulietta later”, coming after the C-SUV which is scheduled for 2028. Furthermore, the Alfa boss confirmed that the Junior will remain the entry-level model of Alfa Romeo, as the brand is satisfied with its sales performance and plans on keeping it fresh with special editions and model year updates.
Exotic Models From Alfa And Maserati
Besides the mainstream offerings, Alfa Romeo is currently working on a new model from the “BottegaFuoriserie” program, as a follow up to the 33 Stradale supercar. According to recent reports, this will also be inspired by a classic Alfa Romeo from the past, and might be fitted with a manual gearbox.
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The exotic Alfa will be joined by a “completely new project for Maserati“, reaffirming the close connection between the two Italian brands when it comes to limited-production specials.
What About The Giulia And Stelvio?
Quattroruote asked Ficili about the future of the aging Giulia and Stelvio, to which he repliced: “We made a clear choice in abandoning the previous project, which was focused exclusively on a 100% electric architecture. We have therefore decided to continue with the current Giulia and Stelvio until the end of 2027. We will then evaluate the evolution of these specific segments before defining future steps.”
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As for the Giorgio underpinnings, Ficili said that the platform “already has a secure future and is highly appreciated by customers on the Maserati Grecale, as well as its Giorgio Sport evolution used on the GranTurismo and GranCabrio,” adding: “We will continue to monitor the market to assess whether and how to develop future D-segment models on this basis.”
The last comment combined with the appearance of the Cuorerosso in Paris, makes us believe that Alfa could use an evolved version of the Giorgio architecture for its future midsize offerings, although we wouldn’t expect them to materialize soon. In the latest Quadrifoglio-branded concept, the RWD platform is combined with a hybrid derivative of the twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6, promising high levels of performance and driving engagement.
