A new Alfa Romeo model every year until 2026
Freshly minted CEO of embattled Italian premium brand promises “this time for sure”Alfa Romeo will release four new models in four years, beginning with its first compact SUV, the Alfa Romeo Tonale, in 2022.
Yes, you’ve heard this many times before, but never from a freshly appointed CEO, with the full weight of the Stellantis mega-corporation behind him.
New Alfa Romeo boss Jean-Philippe Imparato told Italian dealers yesterday that “Alfa Romeo will launch a new model every year until 2026”, and his office confirmed the comments overnight.
Alfa is in a rush to fill up its showrooms for two reasons. Firstly, its dealerships are pretty barren, with just the recently updated MY21 Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV, following the axing of the Giulietta hatch and the 4C coupe.
Secondly, it needs to pump out all the combustion-powered cars it can before it switches exclusively to all-electric new models in 2027.
First previewed in concept form in 2019 and then leaked in production guise in 2020, the all-new Alfa Romeo Tonale was supposed to kick the model surge off this year.
But Imparato put it on hold until he could be happy with the refinement and performance of the hybrid versions.
Also reportedly coming from Alfa is a born-again four-door GTV, a compact entry-level SUV and hatch and, in 2023, a new Giulia sedan – all with pure-electric power.
Meanwhile, over at the emotionally charged brand Lancia, a 10-year plan has been presented to allow it to fight for its survival.
Lancia seemed like an obvious head on the chopping block when Stellantis took over the running of Fiat’s programs, because it sold just the Ypsilon small car and only in Italy.
But CEO Carlos Tavares wants to give every Stellantis brand the chance to sink or swim, so Lancia boss Luca Napolitano has announced plans to export to Germany, France and Scandinavia again.
That would create a premium group within Stellantis, made up of DS, Alfa Romeo and Lancia, and Lancia will launch three new models by 2028 to support the goals, reportedly starting with a new Ypsilon.
“Our target is to bring Lancia to those markets where electric cars are sold, as we will produce electric cars only from 2026,” Napolitano told his dealers.
“I want to be in the high end of the market, not abandoning Ypsilon, but pushing Lancia beyond it,” he said.
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