5 minBusiness
Alfa Romeo's Cuorerosso Concept Won't Become a Sedan, CEO Says
Alfa Romeo's Cuorerosso concept at the 2026 Paris Motor Show is a design statement, not a Giulia successor. CEO Santo Ficili says its styling will influence a new C-SUV arriving in early 2028, followed by a Giulietta successor and a new exotic model.
Alfa Romeo's striking Cuorerosso concept, unveiled at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, is not a preview of a next-generation Giulia sedan, according to CEO Santo Ficili. Instead, the low-slung show car serves as a design statement whose styling language will shape a series of upcoming production models, beginning with a new C-SUV scheduled to debut in early 2028.
The Cuorerosso had fueled speculation that Alfa Romeo was preparing a replacement for the Giulia, which has been on the market largely unchanged for over a decade. Its exotic proportions and a hybrid V6 powertrain concept seemed to point toward a rear-wheel-drive sports sedan. But Ficili, speaking to Italian media outlet Quattroruote, clarified that the concept was never intended for production. «The Cuorerosso is the fruit of the work of a team of people passionate about the brand, bringing together engineering, product development, and design,» he said. «We sat down to reconnect with Alfa Romeo's extraordinary history and imagined the future through a feasible vehicle, characterized by advanced styling cues that hark back to our past.»
That future begins with the yet-unnamed C-SUV, which will be positioned at the top of the compact SUV segment while also targeting the entry-level D-SUV segment. It will replace the Tonale, which is expected to end production by the end of 2027. Judging from the CEO's comments, the new model may grow in size, moving closer to the current Stelvio. Stellantis has confirmed the SUV will use the STLA Medium architecture rather than the more advanced STLA One platform. Under the hood, it will offer «multi-energy» powertrains, a hint at both hybrid and fully electric options.
Following the C-SUV, Alfa Romeo plans to introduce a new compact model that Ficili refers to internally as the Giulietta. The name is an «internal name» chosen to pinpoint the model's market positioning, and it will succeed the compact hatchback that went out of production in 2020 after a decade on sale. The new Giulietta will inherit styling cues from the Cuorerosso concept and, according to Ficili, will not be an SUV or a traditional hatchback. «The future Giulietta will not be an SUV, but it will meet modern customer needs,» he explained. «The placement of the batteries in the floor results in a slightly higher ground clearance, ensuring greater headroom and habitability without necessarily becoming a crossover.» Its launch timing will be evaluated later, after the C-SUV arrives in 2028.
Meanwhile, the Junior will remain Alfa Romeo's entry-level model. Ficili expressed satisfaction with its sales performance and said the brand plans to keep it fresh with special editions and model-year updates.
Beyond mainstream offerings, Alfa Romeo is working on a new model from its «BottegaFuoriserie» program, a follow-up to the 33 Stradale supercar. Recent reports suggest it will be inspired by a classic Alfa Romeo and might feature a manual gearbox. This exotic model will be joined by a «completely new project for Maserati,» reaffirming the close connection between the two Italian brands for limited-production specials.
As for the aging Giulia and Stelvio, Ficili confirmed that Alfa Romeo has abandoned its previous plan for a dedicated 100% electric architecture. «We made a clear choice in abandoning the previous project, which was focused exclusively on a 100% electric architecture,» he said. «We have therefore decided to continue with the current Giulia and Stelvio until the end of 2027. We will then evaluate the evolution of these specific segments before defining future steps.»
The Giorgio platform underpinning those models «already has a secure future and is highly appreciated by customers on the Maserati Grecale,» Ficili added, noting its Giorgio Sport evolution used on the GranTurismo and GranCabrio. «We will continue to monitor the market to assess whether and how to develop future D-segment models on this basis.»
That comment, combined with the Cuorerosso's Paris appearance, suggests Alfa Romeo could use an evolved version of the Giorgio architecture for future midsize offerings, though such models are not expected soon. The Quadrifoglio-branded concept pairs the rear-wheel-drive platform with a hybrid derivative of the twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6, promising high performance and driving engagement.
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