Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale: 5 Things You Have To Know

The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale has just been revealed as a limited-production supercar offering two powertrain options and, most importantly, utterly gorgeous styling. The modern creation pays homage to its inspirational forebear in a contemporary way without diluting the shapes and proportions that made the original one of the most beautiful automobiles ever made, and its sources of motivation are similarly a blend of the old and the new.

The 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 (based on a 15-year-old design, so not the Nettuno engine from Maserati) offers up to 612 horsepower, while the electric powertrain produces as much as 740. Those are the headline figures, so with a rough understanding of what the special edition entails, let's take a look at the finer details.

Alfa Romeo has been hinting at a new supercar for over a year, but it was only in February of this year that we learned how popular the car already was, with the brand's CEO, Jean-Philippe Imparato, revealing that it was almost sold out before it was approved.

At the launch of the 33 Stradale, he announced that potential buyers were already approached at the 2022 Monza Formula 1 Grand Prix. Immediately, overwhelming support was received, and it was only a few weeks before the entire 33-unit production run had been spoken for. Keep an eye out for more to do with the car at this weekend's Monza GP. While we're on the subject, that's not the only link to the world of F1...

Alfa Romeo will tap the vast experience of Finnish Formula 1 veteran Valtteri Bottas to ensure that the 33 Stradale is as wonderful to drive as it is to look at. This will take place at the Balocco Proving Ground, owned by parent company Stellantis. As cool as this is, we doubt that Bottas will be as involved as Michael Schumacher was with the development of the Ferrari Enzo, and we suspect that he won't be able to make as many changes as Ayrton Senna did to the original Honda NSX.

But Bottas shouldn't have too many complaints, as the 33 Stradale has suspension adapted from the Giulia GTA, and the basic chassis architecture is loosely related to that of the Maserati MC20. Alfa confirmed to CarBuzz that the engine is not the Nettuno V6 from the MC20 despite its similar configuration, but rather an evolution of a Ferrari design first introduced a decade and a half ago.

The 612-hp combustion-powered 33 Stradale, despite a 128-hp deficit, matches the all-electric variant from 0-62 mph, recording a time of under three seconds. But when it comes to top speed, the heavier EV stops accelerating at 192 mph, while the gas car keeps going until it hits 207 mph.

On the plus side, those who opt for the electric model will have the rarest form of the 33 Stradale. Although an exact split would not be divulged, it was made very clear that EVs are in the distinct minority. We're not surprised; we'd also jump at the opportunity to own one of the last-ever Alfa V6s.

Pricing for the 33 Stradale has not been revealed, and Alfa tells us the reason for this is that the breadth of scope for personalization is so wide that it would be unfair to apply one blanket price to all cars. Each unique option will have a unique cost.

Customers will be able to customize the air intakes, the wheels, and even the front shield to their taste. When they're done, they will be invited to personally sign the chassis number, and the VIN includes eight digits chosen by the individual customer. To ensure that the utmost standards in quality are upheld, the construction of each car will be undertaken by the expert coachbuilders at Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, who have a long history of producing beautiful Italian machines.

But this won't be the last highly complex customer creation.

Alfa Romeo developed the new 33 Stradale with the help of the newly-formed Bottega, a team of designers, engineers, and historians. This team will continue to exist in the future and will doubtless be responsible for several more wonderful creations as the brand reinvigorates its image.

Expect to see more low-volume cars from this department, but probably also more special editions based on existing cars, adding custom materials, finishes, and components to more common Alfa products. Alfa Romeo needs to find ways to prove that it is still worthy of a place among Europe's elite automakers, and offering bespoke services is a good place to start. We can't wait to see what's next; it could be very special indeed.