The long-rumored Alfa Romeo supercar takes inspiration from the Tipo 33 of the 60s and is built on a Maserati MC20 chassis with a 607bhp binary-turbo V6 or 750bhp EV. The new Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale has made its global debut, with the long-rumored and highly anticipated road-going supercar project by the renowned Italian brand finally becoming a production reality.
However, in reality, it is not as big as the name suggests, only 33 cars will be made. All have been sold, with order books filling up in 2022 during the initial scare at that year's Formula 1 race at Monza – fully 12 months before it was announced at the Alfa Romeo gallery in Milan. Although the price has not been officially announced, and according to CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato, it will never be announced, evo sources suggest a pre-tax price of € 1.7 million. Each will be made to unique custom specifications, with three official colors on offer so customers can choose whatever color they want. The first examples will be delivered on December 17, 2024, with production ending in 2026. There will be no further Spyders or derivatives built.
The new 33 Stradale took direct inspiration from the 1967 car of the same name, a road-going evolution of the Tipo 33 endurance racing car of which 18 examples were built- although no one knows where chassis number 18 actually resided, and long- an inspiration to the car designers both inside and outside the Alfa Romeo company. The new car has been offered to customers with a powertrain option of a fully electric, battery-powered model or a version powered by an evolution of Alfa Romeo's binary-turbocharged V6 engine.
power unit
The petrol-engined option uses a 3-liter binary-turbo V6 engine, expected to produce 607bhp. Alfa Romeo has tried its best not to provide too many details regarding the engine specifications, only confirming that it is a development of the Giulia Quadrifoglio's 62.9 liter turbo-charged V engine and is positioned lengthwise in the middle of the car. The Maserati MC20's 3-liter binary-turbocharged V6 Nettuno engine was also a further development of the Alfa engine but with its own cylinder head, compression ratio, and pre-chamber ignition system.
The 33 petrol-engined Stradales will be rear-wheel drive only, with the same eight-speed double-clutch Tremec gearbox fitted to the MC20 compared to the Giulia's eight-speed ZF automatic, an e-diff will also be fitted.
The electric version will use an 800v architecture and will be equipped with a 102kWh battery (usable 90 kWh) and all-wheel drive, targeting a total power affair of 750bhp with an estimated range of 280 hp. Alfa's engineering team will decide whether to follow Maserati's MC20 Folgore with a tri-motor setup or just use one motor for each axle.
Interior
There is a choice of two trim schemes for the interior: Tributo (a nod to the original car, pictured here) and Alfa Corse (a more modern, racing-inspired look, swapping the aluminum spokes on the steering wheel for carbon fiber, for example), with materials including aluminum, leather, Alcantara and carbon fiber.
The wraparound seats take inspiration from the original 33 Stradale and are six-way electrically adjustable, and the wraparound sunroof echoes the cover glass section on the original car's doors.
Interestingly, there are no buttons on the steering wheel: controls are split between the center console and the roof, with a mix of mechanical switches and a retractable touchscreen. A further request from the client was that there be no visible screens or unnecessary technology, and this has been adhered to by Alfa. Behind the steering wheel, there is a 3D 'telescoped' instrument panel, with different views for Road or Track driving modes.
Design
The styling of the new 33 Stradale was highlighted by Alfa Romeo design chief Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, who joined the company in 2021 after previously being design boss at Seat and briefly responsible for Dacia design at Renault.Most of the bodywork is made from carbon fiber, with a structure that many people familiar with Maserati's MC20 supercar will recognize (ironically, a car that started out as a still-nascent Alfa Romeo project.). Using a carbon fiber monocoque with an aluminum subframe, the 33's roof structure is a blend of carbon and aluminum with a pair of carbon butterfly doors cut into the roof. The rear window is made from weight-saving polycarbonate.
Measuring an overall length of 4.6 cadences, the wheelbase is 2.7 cadences, with the 33 Stradale measuring 2.1 cadences wide from the rearview mirror tip to the rearview mirror tip. At 1.2 cadence, it's a squat, nimble car that adds a sleek feel to its original svelte lines. So you don't have to look, it's identical in size to the MC20 but the Alfa looks smaller and more refined.
The 33 cars will be assembled by traveling machine maker Superleggera, a historic name that markets itself in making low-volume, one-off commissions based on existing cars.
Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato has implied that a purpose-built, low-volume Alfa may be coming soon, stating 'The new 33 Stradale is the brand's first purpose-built car since 1969, and I promise it won't be the one made exclusively by the brand since 1969. last.' Although there will be no additional 33 derivatives.
There are no active aero surfaces on the car, a wish of customers who didn't want spoilers on their prized Alfa; However, Alfa Romeo claims low drag and negative lift at higher speeds – a drag coefficient of 0.375. The aerodynamic solution includes air intakes incorporated into the headlights to feed the radiator and channel airflow as well as aerodynamic wings that double as rear-view mirror supports.
The front and rear one-piece bodywork opens symmetrically in a mirror image to match the original, a deliberately theatrical touch that allows easy access to the 33's interior.
Performance and handling
Regardless of the powertrain chosen by 33 customers (when the car was announced, the split was between 70 and 80 percent choosing the V6 and the remainder choosing the EV option, although Alfa said some customers were considering changing their ICE orders from EVs to 'make a statement') claimed has a top speed of 200+mph, with the V6 reaching 207mph BEV at over 192mph, 0-62mph for both models will be under three seconds.
Alfa promises its cars will be at home on both the track and the road, with the Strada and Pista driving modes provided including a launch control function. Rounded double-wishbone suspension, active dampers (and a 50mm front axle lift for speedbumps, which can be activated below 25mph) are standard equipment. 20-inch alloy wheels are fitted at the front and rear, while the show car is equipped with Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires measuring 245/35 at the front and 305/30 at the rear.
The 33 Stradale is also equipped with a brake-by-wire system, operating Brembo-supplied carbon-ceramic brakes, with six-piston calipers at the front and four-pot units at the rear (painted in whatever color the customer desires), clamping 390mm and 360mm discs front /behind.
Development is underway at Alfa Romeo's Balocco test track, and F1 driver Valtteri Bottas is claimed to be involved in the car's development – although how fully involved remains unclear.
While Alfa engineers believe the 33 Stradale with V6 engine and DCT will weigh around 1,500 kg, 200 kg lighter than the Maserati MC20, the BEV is expected to weigh more than 2,000 kg.
Customization
Alfa Romeo assembled a 'Bottega' team of Tipo 33 designers, engineers, and historians, who spent several months working closely with the car's customers, to take their input and finalize various exterior design details and individual trim. Alfa Romeo says no two 33s are identical. For example, some cars may have 3D-designed front guards like those in concept car images, and others have a more traditional layout.
Customers meet at Bottega Headquarters in the Sala del Consiglio at the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese, where the original 33 is signed.
In addition, a 'Committee of 33' had been set up by Alfa Romeo, chaired by the heads of various departments within the company, and individual customer preferences for upholstery or body color had to be approved by the committee. Beyond special requests, such as visible carbon fiber, three body colors are planned: classic Rosso Alfa, Rosso Clearcoat, or a variation of Royal Blue.
A white/red tribute livery to Alfa's racing sports car is also an official choice. No word yet on whether Hot Pink or metallic purple is a committee-approved choice, but we won't hold our breath.
Customers also choose their own VIN for their car, which will be engraved on the central tunnel.
