The Breakdown
- After a long hiatus, Alfa Romeo is working on a new compact hatchback.
- The hatch will sit on a platform designed for ICE and EV.
- It's coming out by the end of 2030, at the latest.
When Alfa Romeo teased its product roadmap last week, it intentionally left out the best part. While the special car co-developed with Maserati will certainly be interesting, it’ll cater to one-percenters, meaning a high price and limited production in the same vein as the 33 Stradale. For the rest of us, a far more affordable model is on the way.
Aside from working on a new compact crossover to slot somewhere alongside the Junior and Tonale, Alfa Romeo is bringing back a fan favorite: the hatchback. While it doesn’t have a name yet, the company says the new compact model aims to “build on icons like the 147 and Giulietta.” The Italian automaker hasn’t made a hatchback in nearly six years, with the last Giulietta assembled toward the end of 2020.
Its spiritual successor will also compete in Europe’s crowded C-segment, meaning it’ll have to take on the mighty Volkswagen Golf. At the same time, the new Alfa hatch will face strong internal competition from the Peugeot 308 and Opel Astra. At least it won't have to worry about the Focus, since Ford killed it last year.
Addressing the elephant in the room, the aging Giulia and Stelvio will remain in production until 2027. As for replacements, details remain murky. Looking at the glass half full, there’s still hope for next-generation models, with details on “new interpretations” of the two nameplates to be revealed in the future. Like the new hatchback and crossover, the sedan and SUV duo will ride on a platform that supports both combustion engines and electric powertrains.
