Alfa Romeo has a protracted historical past of high-performance inside combustion-powered automobiles, however it’s keen to discover the world of high-performance electrical autos (EVs) if they will seize the automaker’s Italian attraction.
The model’s legacy was shaped by means of a plethora of iconic automobiles for each the street and racetrack, a practice that has continued to today with its high-performance Quadrifoglio sub-brand – all with out hybrid or electrical energy.
Regardless of that, Alfa not too long ago took a major step into the electrified world with its first-ever EV, the Junior, a light-weight SUV developed by leveraging a platform from mother or father firm Stellantis, which additionally underpins different small EVs such because the Jeep Avenger.
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We’re unlikely to see a full-fat Quadrifoglio variant of the Junior, and whereas there’s a higher-output Veloce model of the Junior EV abroad, it’s nonetheless a far cry from one thing Alfa would think about a correct efficiency automotive. Earlier stories of electrical Quadrifoglio automobiles are additionally but to come back to fruition.
When requested on the Junior’s Australian launch whether or not future efficiency Alfas could be electrical, the model’s head of product Mario Lamagna mentioned: “That is the query of the last decade”.
“We, after all, love thermal engines, and we’re concerned with a variety of V6s… we’re, for positive, wanting at all times at thermal engines, however with the longer term applied sciences, you are able to do lots of attention-grabbing stuff, additionally with electrical powertrains,” he instructed media.
“So there’s not a solution to your query that may be a truthful one.”
Solely two mannequin variants are at the moment offered beneath Alfa Romeo’s Quadrifoglio efficiency sub-brand. These are the mid-size Giulia Quadrifoglio sedan and the associated Stelvio Quadrifoglio SUV, each of that are geared up with a 2.9-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 producing 375kW of energy and 600Nm of torque – pushing the Giulia from 0-100km/h in a claimed 3.9 seconds.
For context, the most well liked EV at the moment within the Alfa catalogue is the Junior Elettrica Veloce, which presents as much as 207kW and 345Nm, and a claimed dash time of 5.9 seconds. The bigger plug-in hybrid Tonale Veloce small SUV, in the meantime, presents 208kW and might get from 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.2 seconds.
Equally, Mr Lamagna maintained it might be essential to supply sporty trip and dealing with traits in an Alfa Romeo EV, whereas additionally delivering powertrain efficiency that resonates with lovers.
“The purpose is that it actually is determined by the precise efficiency of the automotive,” he mentioned. “If you’ll be able to do one thing that drives effectively and that kicks in very good, I’m open to each.”
In any case, the tightening of world emissions rules might pressure Alfa’s hand. Europe is planning to ban the sale of latest combustion-powered autos from 2035, whereas new-vehicle CO2 emissions are set to turn out to be more and more restricted in Australia beneath the federal authorities’s New Automobile Effectivity Normal (NVES) over the following 5 years.
“It’s very arduous to inform what you are able to do on the finish, as a result of for thermal engines now we have now lots of considerations with the CO2 emissions,” Mr Lamagna added.
“We now have lots of regulation in Europe and for positive additionally [in Australia], so it’s not simple to develop or launch high-performance engines within the second a part of this decade.”
After all, high-performance EVs aren’t a brand new factor. Hyundai has made important strides with its Ioniq 5 N electrical SUV and Ioniq 6 N electrical sedan, whereas Porsche additionally presents the spectacular Taycan Turbo GT, and Audi the RS e-tron GT.
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