Alfa Romeo is working on a new fully electric vehicle (EV) that will be larger than the Giulia and Stelvio models and will be aimed at the US market, according to the brand’s CEO, Jean-Philippe Imparato. Imparato revealed the plans on the sidelines of the launch of the Tonale compact crossover in Japan, stating that Alfa Romeo needs such a model to be successful in the US and that it will arrive around 2027. He emphasized that the brand’s US lineup currently tops out with a D-segment entry in the Giulia sedan, but in order to expand sales in North America, Alfa Romeo needs something bigger and all-electric.
Imparato did not provide any details about the upcoming EV, such as its body style, but did note that it does not need to be a crossover. He explained that the shift to EVs places a premium on aerodynamics, which is why automakers are starting to prefer sedans or more creative twists on traditional body styles. He also added that the body shape and design of the vehicle will be decided in the coming year.
Interestingly, Imparato had previously stated in April 2022 that Alfa Romeo’s next flagship would arrive by 2027 as a full-electric crossover larger than the Stelvio, and that it would be a competitor to the BMW X5. The fact that he now says the upcoming EV does not have to be a crossover seems to indicate a change of plans.
Imparato also outlined some technical specifications for the brand’s future lineup of battery-electric vehicles. He stated that Alfa Romeo will make sportiness the hallmark of its coming EVs, and that they will offer high-speed 800-volt charging, with anticipated recharging times of 18 minutes or less. Maximum power will range between 350 and 800 horsepower, except for the Quadrifoglio performance versions which will offer around 1,000 horsepower. These numbers suggest that the Quadrifoglio variant could share the performance EV platform with Dodge’s upcoming electric muscle car.
Alfa Romeo’s first battery-electric model will arrive in 2024 and will also be available as a hybrid. The brand’s first dedicated EV will follow in 2025, and by 2027, when the E-segment model is expected to debut, Alfa Romeo will only sell fully electric cars – including in the US. Imparato said the new E-segment EV will help Alfa Romeo achieve its goal of generating 40 percent of the brand’s global sales from outside Europe by 2030, compared with just 18 percent in 2021.
