- 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.
2019 Alfa Romeo Giulietta
The New Alfa Hatch Will Have ICE And EV Versions
While previous hatchbacks from the Turin-based automaker were offered exclusively with combustion engines, the new one will also have fully electric drivetrains. Alfa intends to base the unnamed hatch on the STLA ONE multi-energy platform, which is marketing speak for an architecture capable of accommodating both combustion engines and electric motors. The new underpinnings will support models across the B, C, and D segments and will debut in a Stellantis vehicle in 2027.
Although Alfa hasn’t said when the new hatchback will arrive, we do know the car is part of the Fastlane 2030 plan. Consequently, it’s expected to go on sale by the end of 2030 at the latest. Likewise, the compact crossover mentioned earlier is scheduled to launch within the same timeframe. Further updates to the Junior are also planned in the coming years.
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.
2019 Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Motor1’s Take: A new hatchback isn’t as exciting as the 8C and GTV revivals Alfa had planned several years ago, but we’ll take what we can get. Hopefully, the Italians will put in the effort to create a compact car that feels genuinely distinct from what its German and French cousins already offer.
A new hatchback is a breath of fresh air in an automotive sector dominated by crossovers and SUVs. Some buyers are growing tired of high-riding models and long for the days when hatchbacks were the default choice for many European drivers.
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