Alfa Romeo has made a comeback in recent years, with models like the Giulia and Stelvio spearheading that success. The two models accounted for the bulk of the brand’s sales since their introduction and yet the brand’s salvation seems to be in electrification. With that said, the Italian automaker plans to become a fully-electric company by 2027, with the first fully-electric Alfa coming out as soon as 2024. There has been a lot of chatter about what the first Alfa Romeo EV is going to be, and thanks to information by Alfa Romeo CEO, Jean Philippe Imparato, we have some clues about it.
The GTV Could Make a Comeback After All
Alfa Romeo GTV is one of the most talked about nameplates of the Italian brand, and there have been talks about its return. Imparato himself has expressed desires in the past for the GTV and Duetto’s return, and it seems that at least one of the names might return in the next few years. Initially, it was believed that Alfa Romeo’s first all-electric model will be the next-generation Giulia, which was said to be an EV sedan with a 500-mile range.
Like the majority of car companies, Alfa Romeo is shifting its focus towards crossovers and SUVs. Despite that, Imparato assures us that the brand will always have room for a sedan in its lineup. This time, however, it will not wear the Giulia name. When information about the revival of the Alfa Romeo GTV first emerged, it was said to be a two-door version of the Giulia that features a hybrid powertrain. While a coupe version is not out of the question yet, it appears the upcoming GTV is going to be an all-electric sedan.
The Fourth Incarnation of the GTV
Alfa enthusiasts would know that the GTV nameplate can trace its roots back to 1963, the same as the Giulia. The abbreviator stands for Gran Turismo Veloce and was first used on the 1965 Giulia Sprint GT Veloce, which was a sporty car based on the Alfa Romeo 105/115 Series coupe models from 1963. The GTV nameplate returned in 1976 with the Type 116 Alfetta GTV. The Type 916 GTV was the third iteration of the name, which stayed around until 2005. According to the latest information, the next-generation GTV is coming out 2024, which means that it will, likely, go on sale a year later, as a 2025 model year.
The Powertrain
While it is too early to hope for any performance figures, we know that Alfa Romeo’s first fully-electric model will be underpinned by one of the STLA platforms dedicated to BEV models. The skateboard architecture will be utilized across Stellantis’ 16-brand portfolio and will feature batteries sized 101- to 118-kWh. This will be enough for a range of 497 miles (800 km).
All-wheel-drive has become a major feature in performance vehicles since it transmits power to the ground much easier. Alfa’s first EV could share Stellantis' 800-volt, all-wheel-drive architecture with the 2024 Dodge Charger EV Muscle car. So far, the only figure on which various sources speculate is a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time of under 2.5 seconds. If this is anything to go by, the upcoming Alfa Romeo GTV will be the fastest yet, by a long shot.
Where Is the GTV Going To Be Built?
At this point in time, locations for the production of the future electric model are still being considered. According to Jean-Philippe Imparato’s words, the most probable locations for production of the new GTV are the Pomigliano and Cassino plants, near Naples. Both assembly plants have been a base for the brand for decades and have been responsible for churning out many iconic Alfa Romeo models.
The Design of the GTV
It will be some time before we see official or spy images, but it is safe to assume that the brand’s first hybrid model – the Alfa Romeo Tonale crossover – will set the tone for the brand’s future design. We have already seen interpretations of the Giulia GTAm, featuring the crossover’s new front end, and with the latest industry trends in consideration, we might see a similar design on the upcoming Alfa Romeo GTV EV.
What It Means For the Guilia
Since the Alfa Romeo Giulia received an update for 2022, we know it has a few more years as an internal combustion-powered sporty sedan. You will be glad to know that the nameplate will not die with the introduction of the brand’s first all-electric model. Thanks to crossovers and SUVs, sedans are accounting for an increasingly dwindling percentage of the market.
However, shooting brakes and station wagons may have a chance, and the next-generation Giulia may be just that. A few months ago, Alfa Romeo’s CEO mentioned, in front of AutoCar, that he has commissioned the design team to come up with something unusual for the next generation of the Giulia. Given that all of the brand’s sporty sedans from the last decades have had a station wagon version, as well as the segment’s reappearance with models like the Genesis G70 Shooting Brake, hint at what form the next-generation Giulia might take. The most important takeaway here is that there will still be a dinosaur-burning Giulia and a sporty sedan in the form of the upcoming, all-electric GTV.