A new flagship sports car from the legendary Italian brand is a revival of the achingly beautiful 33 Stradale. Like its source of inspiration, sold in the late 1960s when only 18 were made, the new 33 Stradale has a mid-engine layout. The gorgeous retro body is handcrafted by the coachbuilders at Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera. This makes it the second Alfa in recent times to get a completely bespoke coachbuilt body, after last year's Giulia SWB Zagato.
The modern-day 33 Stradale is less exclusive than its ancestor, as Alfa Romeo plans to build 33 cars. Still, all were sold within weeks of the 2022 Italian Formula One Grand Prix at Monza on September 11, when prospective buyers were invited to get an early look behind closed doors. No two cars will be the same, as each will be a "unique and unrepeatable work of art" meticulously crafted by a dedicated team.
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
Personalization options are endless, including an eight-digit VIN number hand-picked by the owner and displayed on the center tunnel. Equipped with butterfly doors, the high-end Alfa has a carbon fiber monocoque combined with an aluminum H-frame and a roof made from a combination of the two materials. Even the window frames are made of carbon fiber, while the rear glass has been replaced with polycarbonate.
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
The interior is available in two themes: Tributo and Alfa Corse. While the former mimics the classic car, the latter is more sporty. The cockpit-like interior has aluminum shift paddles behind a steering wheel without any controls, since Alfa wants you to focus on driving. The cabin uses a combination of leather, carbon fiber, aluminum and Alcantara, while staying true to its 1960s predecessor.
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
At the heart of Alfa Romeo's new flagship is a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine that delivers more than 620 horsepower to the rear wheels. This engine is actually an evolution of the twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 that powers the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio models.
The petrol engine is mated to an eight-speed ZF dual-clutch automatic transmission. While torque isn't mentioned, we'll remind you that this six-cylinder engine developed by Alfa pumps out 600 Newton-meters (443 pound-feet) in the Quadrifoglio models.
Alternatively, buyers can get the reborn 33 Stradale as an all-electric supercar with more than 750 horsepower, which mirrors the output found in the GranTurismo Folgore, where the three engines deliver a combined 1350 Newton-meters (996 lb-ft). The EV variant will cover 450 kilometers (280 miles) on the WLTP cycle to match the GranTurismo Folgore. We should point out, however, that Alfa Romeo doesn't explicitly say that the 33 Stradale will use the same tri-motor setup as the equally powerful EV from Maserati.
Regardless of its power source, the 33 Stradale accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under three seconds and reaches a maximum speed of 333 km/h (207 mph). Brembo carbon-ceramic discs and a brake-by-wire system provide the braking capability, while the suspension utilizes an active double-arm configuration with dampers and a front-axle lift mechanism.
In the words of Jean-Philippe Imparato, CEO of the Alfa Romeo brand:
“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 “fuoriserie” (custom-built) car since 1969, and I promise it won't be the last.”
Source: Alfa Romeo
