Retro is in vogue and the insatiable appetite for limited edition supercars is further fuelling manufacturers to flick the pages back into its history with a tantalising retro refresh. The new Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is one such intriguing specimen with only 33 units being made and its styling is delightfully faithful to the original design template as well.
The Tipo 33 was a 60s design icon and its gorgeous lines have largely stuck on its modern iteration. Those large headlamps along with those low-slung lines drawn on a beautiful silhouette is 60s perfection but with a modern twist.
The new 33 Stradale has been developed at the Alfa Romeo “Bottega,” a place where the designers, engineers and historians first met with potential buyers to create each car just like Renaissance artisan boutiques and workshops of renowned Italian coachbuilders.
Alfa Romeo: Preserving a classical design
It is all going back to the coach-built era and the classical design has been happily preserved. There are theatrical flourishes like those butterfly doors while the large wraparound sunroof gives a cockpit like view. The rear styling is brutal though with its edgy design and round tail-lamp design. It lays down the racer template with precision.
You can also spec the Alfa Romeo scudetto or the shield in carbon fibre or in a period correct classic form. Alfa Romeo has been careful though and has not messed up the recipe with the same LED headlamps too.
Retro is in vogue and the insatiable appetite for limited edition supercars is further fuelling manufacturers to flick the pages back into its history with a tantalising retro refresh.
Crazy speed and power
Inside, it is even more lovely with a 60s racer vibe flowing generously across its interiors and it is also a minimalistic look that is period correct. The number of controls has been watered down while the flick style switch is also reminiscent of an era gone by. It is not all retro though as the driver has a 3D telescope display along with a modicum of luxuries on offer.
The powertrain choice is somewhat interesting since there is not just one but two of them. The first one is an obvious: a V-6 twin-turbo engine delivering more than 620 horsepower while being paired to an eight-speed DCT gearbox to the rear wheels along with an electronic limited-slip differential.
0-100 km/h in less than three seconds
The second one will raise eyebrows since it is an electric powertrain with more than 750 horsepower while having an estimated range of 450 km (WLTP). It is fast of course with a top speed of 206 mph/333 km/h plus a 0 to 100 km/h time of less than three seconds and braking from 100 km/h to 0 in under 33 m.
Elsewhere, there are two drive modes, a front axle lift, brake-by-wire system and Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes.
Alfa Romeo: Hand-built Italian supercar
With the roof being made from carbon fibre, the Stradale is lightweight and has the performance to match that. However, the significance of this car goes beyond the numbers as it is a gorgeous time machine which brings back the racers of the 60s and shows that sometimes, old ways are the best.
All these hand-built Italian supercars have been spoken for with buyers having an option of either going for the internal combustion engine car or the electric. It seems the future of the coach-built era will take the best from the past while infusing the present.
Images: Alfa Romeo
Somnath Chatterjee grew up around cars and most of his childhood was spent obsessing over supercars. Years later he decided to start writing about them and hasn’t looked back since. While he has had his fair share of cars, the world of automobiles never ceases to amaze him. Travelling all over the world to drive them along with sharing that experience is what ultimately keeps him going. He hopes to drive a Ferrari 288 GTO someday because, well, do you really need a reason?
