Alfa Romeo GTV to be reborn as fast EV
Battery-powered four-door coupe to spearhead launch of electric SUVs, sedan, roadster and small superminiAlfa Romeo will revive its legendary GTV nameplate for a supercar-quick pure-electric four-door coupe that will become its new flagship model.
According to Autocar, the resurrection of the Alfa Romeo GTV as an EV is just one part of a plan that will see the Italian car-maker dramatically switch to embrace electrification and is one of a number of models suggested by new CEO (and ex-Peugeot boss) Jean-Philippe Imparato.
"There’s no announcement at this stage, but [in] the GTV I’m very interested," Imparato told the Brit magazine, echoing comments made to carsales last month.
Sources close to Alfa Romeo, meanwhile, suggest two proposals for the GTV are already under consideration – a retro-inspired two-door and a more contemporary four-door coupe that will rival the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.
Both versions feature an advanced pure-electric powertrain, plus an electrified combustion engine option, thought to be a plug-in hybrid.
It's believed Imparato, who publicly threw his support behind creating a production version of the e-Legend while at Peugeot, will favour a retro GTV that pays tribute to the past.
Whichever one is green-lit, insiders say that the reborn GTV's chief task will be to steal sales from the Tesla Model 3 and the BMW i4.
The GTV moniker was last used on the coupe made from 1994-2004. It was set to be reintroduced on a two-door version of the current Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan before the project was cancelled late in its development.
Imparato has been tasked by his bosses to renew the entire Alfa line-up by the middle of this decade using platforms and powertrains from the Stellantis group.
With both the middle-aged Giulia and Stelvio struggling, Imparato has declared that only a range of hybrids and EVs will reverse the decline.
Helping fast-forward its shift to electrification is all future models, the Alfa Romeo Tonale SUV aside, will use architecture developed by the PSA Group.
The Tonale, meanwhile, was too late in its development to switch from its FCA-developed Small-Wide platform but has still been delayed until 2022 to improve the performance of its plug-in hybrid powertrain.
The first new Alfa Romeo to be introduced under the Stellantis ownership will be an entry-level SUV that will replace the MiTo supermini.
Reportedly called the Brennero, the third SUV will sit on the PSA-developed CMP platform (renamed the STLA Small) that underpins the latest Citroen C4 and Peugeot 2008.
Like the small Peugeot SUV, we expect a 100kW electric motor driving the front wheels that will be powered by a 50kWh lithium-ion battery. A range of up to 310km is anticipated.
The revised EMP2 platform (now called the STLA Large) will underpin all larger Alfas and see them come with mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and potentially pure-electric powertrains from launch.
Ensuring Alfa has a dynamic edge over the rest of the group, engineers are reportedly cannibalising chassis components that include suspension and steering systems, among others, from the current Giorgio architecture.
Insiders suggest the new Giulia is set for a 2023 debut, while the Stelvio will soldier on until 2024. Sharing powertrains with the GTV, all will be offered with mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full EV, with the later offering a range up to 800km.
As part of the new product plans, a Spider could also make a comeback, plus a direct replacement of the MiTo that will be heavily based on the Brennero but offer a five-door body style and a lower price point.
The small Alfa will also spin-off a long-awaited replacement for the decade-old Lancia Ypsilon.
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