2022 will be the year when Alfa Romeo is going to introduce its very first electrified model, the Tonale compact crossover with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. For something even more eco-friendly, you’ll have to patiently wait until 2024 when the first production EV is scheduled to hit the market. The important disclosure was made this week by none other than the company’s CEO.
In an interview with Autocar, Jean-Philippe Imparato mentioned the purely electric vehicle coming in three years’ time will be offered in just one trim level with two powertrain options. The executive hinted the mysterious EV could be offered in a performance-oriented derivative as that’s the plan for all future models.
“I will launch in 2024 the full BEV version of the first Alfa Romeo to be fully electrified. I will have one trim, with two engines: one side will be 100% electrified, but it will be on top of that my first full BEV.”
Such a hot version would carry the Quadrifoglio badge as seen in modern Alfa Romeo models on the Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV, both offered with Ferrari-derived V6 twin-turbocharged gasoline engines. That being said, Imparato specified the car in question would have to earn the four-leaf clover symbol by offering a certain level of performance to make it worthy of the iconic logo.
Part of Stellantis, the world’s fourth-larger automaker, Alfa Romeo has already announced plans to launch only electric vehicles from 2027. Before that happens, a smaller crossover reportedly called Brennero is supposedly coming out in 2024 with an EV setup, so this might very well be the model Imparato is referring to.
The bigger Alfa Romeo models on the agenda without a combustion engine will ride on the new STLA Large platform, which is being developed with the direct involvement of engineers from the Italian brand. Speaking of the firm’s bold EV ambitions, the top brass admitted he’d like to see a return of the Spider Duetto. Not only that, it has already entered the design phase and sketches have been shown to dealers already, but won’t happen anytime soon as Alfa needs to focus first on boosting sales in volume markets.
The head honcho also expressed his desire to bring back the GTV as an electric car. However, that one too ranks lower on the list of priorities since there’s more money to be made in other segments, such as crossovers and SUVs.
Source: Autocar
