Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Mamma mia! Alfa Romeo will unveil a new model at the Geneva Auto Show

By
frankfurt-alfa-romeo-giulia-2
Ronan Glon/Digital Trends

Alfa Romeo will introduce a brand-new model at the 2019 Geneva Auto Show, Digital Trends can confirm.

“Alfa Romeo will be at the Geneva Auto Show in full force with our award-winning lineup, and something new up our sleeves as well. We’re excited to show everyone a taste of what’s next in the world of Italian performance and luxury,” company spokesman Berj Alexanian told us via email.

Recommended Videos

While he stopped short of telling us precisely what the company will unveil, earlier rumors claim we’ll discover Alfa’s second high-riding model during the event. The yet-unnamed crossover will slot directly below the Stelvio, but the two models will allegedly ride on the same platform also found under the Giulia sedan. That means Alfa’s smaller crossover will offer rear- or all-wheel drive depending on how it’s configured.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Power will almost certainly come from a turbocharged, four-cylinder engine. Alfa may not be able to fit its sonorous V6 in an engine bay smaller than the Stelvio’s, and it may not want to as government regulations in many regions make selling cars powered by a large-displacement engine increasingly costly. Alfa’s research and development department is planning a hybrid car offensive, so it’s not unreasonable to assume the upcoming crossover will receive some form of electrification during the course of its life cycle.

Related

The five-year product plan Alfa Romeo published in June 2018 confirmed the arrival of a second crossover, though it didn’t provide a specific time frame. It’s a move that makes perfect sense. Off-roaders aren’t a big part of Alfa’s nearly 110-year heritage, though the company did build a Jeep-like model for the Italian army, but they’re in hot demand all over the world. The upcoming model could become the company’s best-seller, and it will undoubtedly help it reach its goal of selling 400,000 cars annually.

Nothing is official yet, Alfa Romeo hasn’t confirmed the reports of a second crossover, and it could surprise us with something else entirely. Alexanian added Alfa Romeo will reveal its new model on March 5, the opening day of the Geneva show. Stay tuned; Digital Trends will be on-location when the veil comes off.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon
Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Costco, Electrify America add EV-charging stations in three states
costco electrify america add 50 ev charging stations in three states ea chargers 1280

Costco, which had abandoned offering EV charging 12 years ago, is getting serious about resuming the service.

Over a month ago, the big-box retailer once again put its brand name on a DC fast-charging station in Ridgefield, Washington, that was made by Electric Era .

Read more
Mini’s infotainment system is very charming, but still needs work
Main screen of the Mini infotainment system

When you think Mini, you probably don’t think of infotainment. Personally, I think of the British flag taillights, the distinct exterior, and the surprising room on the inside. But after driving the Mini John Cooper Works Countryman over the past week, infotainment might well be something I think of more often when it comes to Mini. It’s charming.

It also, however, suffers from all the traps that other legacy automakers fall into when it comes to software design. Mini has something on its hands here — but it still needs some work.
Bringing the charm
The first thing that stood out to me about the system when I got in the car was how fun it was. That all starts with the display. It’s round! No, it’s not curved — the screen is a big, round display sits in at 9.4 inches, and I found it plenty large enough for day-to-day use.

Read more
Plug-in hybrids are becoming more popular. Why? And will it continue?
Kia Niro EV Charging Port

There's a lot of talk about the idea that the growth in electric car sales has kind of slowed a little. It's not all that surprising -- EVs are still expensive, early adopters all have one by now, and they're still new enough to where there aren't too many ultra-affordable used EVs available. But plenty of people still want a greener vehicle, and that has given rise to an explosion in hybrid vehicle sales.

That's especially true of plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can be charged like an EV and driven in all-electric mode for short distances, and have a gas engine as a backup for longer distances or to be used in combination with electric mode for more efficient driving.

Read more