Alfa Romeo's much-anticipated supercar makes its debut. Based on the Maserati MC20, only 33 will be made at an anticipated cost above £1 million - and they're all sold.
At 16.20 GMT on the 30/8/23, Alfa Romeo revealed their hotly anticipated flagship supercar to the world, the 33 Stradale. The new car channels the spirit of the iconic and beautiful Tipo 33 racer of the '60s, and Alfa Romeo's CEO, Jean-Philippe Imparato, confidently strode on stage and announced the Stradale would be at the forefront of a new division of ultra-exclusive, ‘Fuoriserie’ cars.
Translating as custom-built, the Fuoriserie cars will mine the company's rich heritage in a modern fashion. Just 33 Stradale's will be built, with each one costing well in excess of a million pounds. Some estimates place the price at over three million euros. Despite the high price, all 33 cars have been accounted for, with a private list of preferred buyers invited to a secret preview at the Monza F1 race in 2022.
Although Alfa Romeo doesn't admit it, it's clear to see the car is based on the Maserati MC20's carbon fibre and aluminium chassis architecture, which represents a healthy profit margin. In line with Alfa's policy to switch to an all-electric line-up by 2025, the 33 Stradale will act as the bridging car between two eras, offering those invited to buy a car a choice between a 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo engine with 641 bhp mated to an eight-speed DCT gearbox, rear-wheel drive with an electronic limited-slip differential - just like the Maserati - or an EV configuration with over 750 bhp, with a claimed range of 450 km / 250 miles (WLTP).
No further details of the EV powertrain have been confirmed, although it would be safe to assume the Maserati Granturismo Folgore will donate its four-wheel drive, tri-motor hardware.
Both powertrains are said to be capable of propelling the 1,500 kg car to a top speed of 333 km/h (207 mph) and from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under three seconds. Reining in such performance will be huge six-piston carbon ceramic Brembo brakes, matched by four-piston rears. Matching the recurring theme of the press pack, braking from 100 km/h to 0 occurs in 'under 33 m'.
The ride/handling balance has been set up at the Balocco test track with input from F1 driver Valtteri Bottas, however the language of the press release suggests a chassis balance that favours street/everyday use over an all-out track bias, which is no bad thing. There will be the usual suit of adaptable driving modes, primarily 'Strada' and 'Pista'. The driver can change the suspension settings in both drive modes, switching from soft to medium when in Strada mode, or from rigid to medium if the Pista function is activated. other active features on the car include the brake-by-wire and throttle sensitivity, the traction control and the postion of the exhaust valves when fitted with the V6 engine. The EV powertain is anticipated to come equipped with a sound symposer.
Refreshingly, the interior is timelessly elegant and luxurious, with Alfa going to great lengths to ensure all digital elements are hidden/retractable. The steering wheel is completely free of buttons, with an aircraft-like panel of switches above the driver's head. The only blight on the copybook seems to be the girth of the A-pillars that might obscure the view of the road ahead. The interior will be available in two trim levels: “Tributo” - a hommage to classic style - and “Alfa Corse" - utilising more sports orientated fabrics. Both will feature the wraparound, deeply dished seats as a deliberate nod to the Tipo 33.
Each car will be fully customisable through Alfa Romeo's "Bottega" coachworks program, even down to styling flourishes such as the front Alfa Scudetto shield, air intakes, alloy wheels and rear light cluster. Such is the customisation programme, Alfa Romeo claims no two 33 Stradales will be alike. All Stradale's will be hand finished by Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera coachbuilders - a firm that includes the Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta, Aston Martin DB5, and Maserati 3500 GT amonst it's back catelogue.
Jean-Philippe Imparato expanded on the motivation behind the project, “With the new 33 Stradale, we wanted to create something that lived up to our past, to serve the brand and to make the Alfisti fandom proud. Such a result could only have been achieved thanks to the expertise, hard work and passion of our team, with the support of management who have the clear ambition to contribute to writing chapters in the brand's future, in full respect of its unique history. This is the brand's first custom-built car since 1969, and I promise it won't be the last.”
Given the MC20 also comes in a Spyder format, we wouldn't rule out a 33 Stradale Spyder of some sort, even the car's birdcage doors might have to be sacrificed in order to make it work. If we were one of the lucky few who had the ear of Jean-Philippe, we'd be requesting a shortened Giulia Quadrifoglio GTA with a carbon fibre body evoking the SZ.
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