- Alfa Romeo is plotting more limited-production models inspired by its past.
- Clients are involved in the process through the BottegaFuoriserie division.
- The next heritage-inspired project could offer the option of a manual gearbox.
Alfa Romeo has confirmed an upcoming compact SUV that will eventually replace the Tonale, and a mysterious concept car serving as a preview of its future styling language. However, the Italian brand is also leaning heavily into the BottegaFuoriserie division for the future, with highly personalized projects targeting collectors.
A fitting example is the one-off Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale Perla Nera, created in close collaboration with the customer. The blacked-out spec of the Italian supercar with the matte carbon fiber bodywork and the full Alcantara interior won’t be repeated, which is the goal with BottegaFuoriserie projects.
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Santo Ficili, the CEO of Alfa Romeo and Maserati, spoke to Italian media Quattroruote about future models, revealing they will continue to be inspired from the brand’s heritage: “With the 33 Stradale, we were able to take a car from the past and reproduce it in this modern key, with a sensational result. So, building on that experience, we want to continue. The Bottega Fuoriserie program is a point of contact between Alfa Romeo and Maserati. We will continue along this path for both brands, without creating overlap: they are two brands with completely different vocations and histories.”
Another Exotic With References To The Past
Specifically for Alfa Romeo, the publication suggests that a new limited production special might debut as early as in 2027. While we don’t know whether the new model will be a low-slung coupe, a sexy roadster, or something else entirely, it will certainly be inspired by a classic Alfa Romeo. Ficili added: “We have a glorious history, so imagining products like this is easy for us: just look to our past, find a car, and develop it.”
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According to earlier reports, four classics were under consideration for revival including the 1963 Giulia TZ, the 1970 Alfa Romeo Montreal, the 1960 Giulietta SZ, and the 1968 Carabo concept. Whichever they choose, production will be limited to 50 or fewer examples, with extensive personalization options for each one.
The Client Is In Charge
Alessandro Maccolini, head of exterior design at Alfa Romeo, explained the differences with earlier projects: “Compared to cars like the 8C Competizione or the 4C, we’ve made a leap: in the past, there wasn’t such a strong connection with the customer. There wasn’t the ability to obsessively configure every single detail according to their requests. With the Bottega Fuoriserie program and the 33 Stradale, the Style Center and all the departments involved had to work with a very different mentality, raising the quality standard. You really have to look at the product with different eyes. Everything has to be done according to different criteria.”
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Cristiano Fiorio, general manager of the BottegaFuoriserie division said: “In reality, we’ve started from our history. For example, the 1967 33 Stradale was born from the desire to create a road car unique in terms of performance, but also in its approach to customers, starting from a racing car. The approach, in short, was a bit like the one Fuoriserie offers today. In a certain sense, therefore, we can say that today we have completed a project begun in the past.”
Fiorio explained that the client is heavily involved in the process: “When we sit down with the client, we start from a baseline, and from there they express what they’d like to do. These are largely aesthetic choices: colors, workmanship, and so on. Others go further, and then there are two limits: technical feasibility and adherence to Alfa’s values and history.”
No Pink Alfa Romeos, But A Manual Is Coming
However, there are certain limitation based on the brand’s heritage and the available parts bin: “A pink Alfa, for example, isn’t feasible because it’s never existed. On the first point, some have asked us for a 33 Stradale with a manual transmission, which we haven’t developed for this car. Doing so would cost more than double what they paid for the car, so the request wasn’t granted. However, the first project has become a brief for us, an inspiration for the next one. In which we’ll also try to respond to certain requests we’ve received so far…”
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The last comment strongly suggests that the next BottegaFuoriserie project might have three pedals. Alfa Romeo did offer the regular Giulia and the Giulia Quadrifoglio with a six speed manual transmission in European markets, meaning that the technical base is already there.
The next milestone for Alfa Romeo is the upcoming Paris Motor Show next month, where the company will unveil a new concept car. Hopefully, this will give us more information about the upcoming limited production specials.
