Alexandre
One thing leads to another for the brand Alfa Romeo ! After news of a Alfetta to be a C-segment sedanJean-Philippe Imparato, CEO of Alfa Romeo (if he still needed introducing), told Autocar journalists about the future E-SUV...with interesting information!
As a reminder, this E-SUV is the famous large SUV positioned above a Stelvio. It will arrive in 2027, by which time Alfa Romeo will have a B-SUV, a C-SUV, a D-SUV and finally an E-SUV... The 4th in the range, but apparently the one that sells the most...
This large SUV will have the task of competing with the BMW iX, the Lotus Eletre and the future electric Porsche Cayenne. However, Imparato assures us, this SUV will be lower than others in its segment to improve aerodynamic efficiency and enable more dynamic design.
By way of comparison, a BMW iX starts at €84,200, and the Lotus Eletre at €97,890. Below are the specifications of both models in their sportier versions, which could be compared to a hypothetical Quadrifoglio.
| BMW iX M60 | Lotus Eletre R | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 1.96 m x 1.69 m x 4.95 m | 2.01 m x 1.63 m x 5.1 m |
| Power | 619 hp | 905 hp |
| Couple | 1015 Nm | 985 Nm |
| Weight | 2670 kg | 2700 kg |
| 0 to 100 km/h | 3.8 sec | 2.9 sec |
| Maximum speed | 250 km/h | 265 km/h |
| Battery | 111.5 kWh | 112 kWh |
| Autonomy | 502 km | 490 km |
| Price | 143 050 € | 153 090 € |
Unsurprisingly, this E-SUV will use the STLA Large platform, with an 800V architecture, the same as for the future electric Giulia and Stelvio. This platform will offer a range of up to 800 km, and will be able to carry 3 electric motors, for power in excess of 1000 hp and a 0 to 100 km/h time of 2 seconds. On the other hand, let's hope there won't be a weight penalty in the meantime...
This large SUV will be available in Europe, but Alfa Romeo is developing this model mainly for North America and China.who are very fond of this segment.
If I stay [only] in Western Europe, I'll never build this car, because volumes are low and because I don't know how the segment will evolve.
Jean-Philippe Imparato
Note that having an E-SUV in the Alfa Romeo range is nothing new. Sergio Marchionne tested the Castello, project 964, on the Giorgio platform, cousin of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Alfa model was cancelled, but the Jeep is here, with a 380 hp, 4-cylinder 2.0L PHEV engine.
Alexandre
I cried with laughter when you put the technical data sheets of the BMW and Lotus, because considering the weight, you'll soon have to either pass the D1 license or the HGV to drive them.🤣
According to some who have driven the Jeep Cherokee, it's truly extraordinary, and it's yet another shame to have cancelled the Giuliana and Castello, which were vital for Alfa in Europe and the USA.
Just as it was vital to bring out a Lancia Thesis short version on the Ghibli and long version on the Quattroporte (it was the premium brand), as well as a Phedra on the Levante. Here, the V6 petrol/diesel versions would have made perfect sense, with the added bonus of 4WD rear-wheel drive (what happiness!) to conquer the Chinese market, which aims for comfort before sport, and would have enabled the brand to restart with a bang with the 4-cylinder underneath too (which we would have avoided for Maserati) and keep only the V8 versions for the trident 🔱.
The weight is insane... there are 1 tons of batteries?
And yes, a great regret for the big Giulia and the big SUV that were ready... they might have sold well today with a PHEV. Anyway, it's a parallel world.
Yes, as you so rightly say, that's all in the past, alas.
Soon with their electric SUV sedans ⚡️, they'll end up making the weight of a dodge RAM look like a ballerina!😂🤣
I also don't understand why Stellantis and FCA are so determined to establish Alfa in China, because they don't have the philosophy or the culture for sports cars, and even Mercedes, Audi and BMW buy the big models or extended intermediates, but with mid-range versions, question engines...?
This is precisely where Lancia could have made a big splash????
But no, they go on and on, when they could be looking at South America, India, Africa...etc. I really don't get it 🤨
Design-wise, in my opinion, it's behind the times, clinging to the so-called organic design of the '90s when it's been out of fashion for a long time. When will we see a return to slightly sculpted sides and prominent lines, but what's really annoying is the triangular grille that nobody has dared to change or at least improve....
I don't see how the lines of Maserati or Alfa are part of bio-design, and they have a timeless design, unlike the Germans, who are going out of fashion at breakneck speed and are totally prehistoric in this respect, getting uglier by the year, like Porsches, BMWs or Audis, due to a total lack of inspiration (and should let artificial intelligence design the cars for them). Honestly, even the Chinese, Japanese, Americans and British make more authentic cars, as does Alpine compared to the Germans.
The only brand that comes close to bio-design in style... is Tesla.
Worst of all are the 155 and 159, which already look dated compared to the 156 or Giulia. And it's the same for the 916 and Brera compared to the GT, which passes the years without a wrinkle.
It's true that the 2.7 tonnes of the BMW IX or the Lotus Electre R is no longer the weight of a car, but of an SUV carrying a tonne of equipment.
There may not be a ton of batteries, but over-equipping bigger and bigger cars is a recipe for nonsense.
An Alfa Romeo E-SUV is justified for the American market.
The weight-based penalty will be triggered at 1,600 kg from 2024 onwards, so with an extra 1,100 kg we'll be laughing about the bill (not yet for electric cars, but that'll come soon enough).
I fully agree with the USA 🇺🇸 but we can't force China to drive a sports car if they want to drive a Premium or Luxury liner. 🤷🏻♂️
Wanting to impose Alfa there is like the story of the sheep 🐑 that thinks it can knock down an armored door with its head... it'll wear itself out before it falls.😂
It's true that the Marchionne projects were pretty good, but things are evolving and all-electric (even if I'm not a fan) is the future.
What always surprises me is that Imparato never talks about building Alfa-only dealerships and showrooms.
Alfa customer ( my 6th, today Giulia 2.2 Q4 210 hp Estrema) it's very average when I go to a dealership ( I'm on my 3rd ) Fiat, Alfa,Jeep, Abarth, Opel, Suzuki and Kia dealership. It's average. My wife is Mini, and when I go to a dealership with her, Mini and BMW (well separated) are very classy showrooms. It's really premium.
Dan, there's no proof that electric cars are the future, otherwise manufacturers would have jumped on the bandwagon a long time ago. What's more, if you take a look at all the brands, you'll see that customers aren't keeping up.
The latest is that Audi is forced to stop producing electric vehicles and close its factories 🏭 (they're on strike precisely because of this) because nobody wants them).
Showrooms in Switzerland are starting to change, with Maserati and Alfa the only ones in them.
And then Dan, it's not up to scratch because next to Chambéry, in Chignin, the Tesla dealership burned down and they all exploded due to the fact that a model was charging inside, once again the battery 🪫 overheated and boom 💥 , wiped off the map. So my question is:
"Can you really see us riding around with time bombs 💣? I admit I don't want to end up a roasted pig 🐷.
I may be 46, but I'd like to live a few more decades 🤣
Monsieur obviously doesn't like to mix napkins and towels.
Personally, I wouldn't give a damn about buying a Bentley in a showroom where there are Dacias nearby.
Would it make me feel that my Bentley is less valuable or that I'm a discount customer? No.
It's all about the salesperson's attitude, and I assume that he or she should behave with the same respect towards ALL types of customer.
In fact, I can't count the number of jewelry stores that display luxury watches, with Casio or Seiko just one or two meters away. What's wrong with that?
Yet another heresy... sponsored by that good-for-nothing Tavares !!!!
Another Norman wardrobe, a liner, at prohibitive prices, just to fatten the shareholders a little more !!!!
Profits, profits, margins, margins, this megalomaniac boss is way off the mark.... Next, he'll be crying because Tesla and the Chinese are eating out of his hand !!!!
His short-term policy will be harmful and damaging.... but he doesn't care. Even if Stellantis sinks, he'll get off scot-free with all his golden parachutes.....
Except that Alfa needs the liner in its range to establish its position in the USA, Russia, Canada, South America, the Middle East... and so on.
And it's far more vital than small SUVs or city cars for Alfa, which generate no revenue and further destroy the brand's image by classifying it as a mere generalist.
I don't see how the lines of Maserati or Alfa are part of bio-design, and they have a timeless design, unlike the Germans, who are going out of fashion at breakneck speed and are totally prehistoric in this respect, getting uglier by the year, like Porsches, BMWs or Audis, due to a total lack of inspiration (and should let artificial intelligence design the cars for them). Honestly, even the Chinese, Japanese, Americans and British make more authentic cars, as does Alpine compared to the Germans.
The only brand that comes close to bio-design in style... is Tesla.
A quote from Colin Chapman: "Adding power makes you faster on the straights. Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere". He must be turning over in his grave with this chinoiserie bearing the Lotus logo...
You amaze me, Fredo, it's as if they've just killed him a second time.
Yes, quite right.... When you see that this pretty English brand MG is now Chinese, that Lotus is Chinese.... All that to make these chinoiseries.... Everything is going to hell in this humanity in constant perdition.... Dramatic....
Alas, this is only the beginning 😢
Meiner Meinung nach wird leider nur noch versucht Elektrofahrzeuge mit Megareichweiten zu verkaufen. Das große Gewicht macht die Fahrzeuge nicht gerade sportlicher. Es verbraucht immer zusätzliche Energie, und das permanent...
Ein normal großer Akku reicht völlig für den Alltag aus und den einen oder anderen Stop mehr bei Fahrten in den Urlaub kann man machen. Ich selber fahre den Mustang mit kleinem Akku und habe den GT Probe gefahren. Es ist kein Unterschied zu merken. Außerdem liegt die höhere Leistung nur kurz an und danach wird das Gaspedal zum Schwamm. Da kommt nichts mehr....