Alfa Romeo Considers Re-entry into Hatchback Market

Alfa Romeo’s CEO indicates the company may revisit the hatchback segment, as the brand’s financial standing strengthens.

• Alfa Romeo departed from the hatchback market in 2020 after a decade-long run with the Giulietta.

• The new potential hatchback might utilize the STLA Medium platform of the Stellantis group.

• The vehicle might also see the light of day in North America.

According to Autocar, Jean-Philippe Imparato, the CEO of Alfa Romeo, hinted at the brand’s potential return to the hatchback arena. This speculation emerged after the company phased out the Giulietta in 2020, which had been available for a decade. While the Tonale crossover was initially perceived as an indirect successor, the possibility of introducing a directly related new model hasn’t been dismissed, even with Alfa Romeo’s obligation to achieve substantial profit margins within the Stellantis group.

In its prime, the Giulietta witnessed robust sales, moving approximately 78,911 units in its most successful year in Europe, before it was overshadowed by competitors with advanced features. In a related development, there’s chatter about Alfa Romeo exploring the luxury electric MPV sector.

Should Alfa Romeo decide to launch a new hatchback, it would likely be anchored on the STLA Medium platform from Stellantis, maximizing the benefits of the group’s large-scale production capabilities. This platform can support the manufacture of two million vehicles annually and is crafted predominantly for electric drivetrains, but can incorporate combustion engines.

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As this platform will also be commercialized in North America, if the manufacturer decides to move forward with a re-entry in the hatchback world, the vehicle might make its way across the Atlantic. However, given Alfa Romeo’s declaration of transitioning to an electric-only lineup by 2027, a petrol-driven hatchback seems improbable.