Name Drop
Alfa Romeo has once again dropped another breadcrumb for its mysterious concept car. This time, the Italian marque named the concept: Cuorerosso. It was one of the many names shown in the previous teaser and combines the Italian words for heart (cuore) and red (rosso).
The latest press release focuses more on the philosophy behind the concept than on new technical details, so the powertrain, horsepower, and body style are still up in the air. Still, it, along with previous teasers, can offer some context as to what the automaker may be developing, especially considering the concept is dubbed a “Manifesto for the Brand’s Future.”
Passion Project
Explaining the nomenclature, Alfa Romeo wrote, “Red, the color of passion and an unmistakable sign of the Alfa Romeo imagination; Heart, the origin of that same energy and symbol of the visceral relationship that unites every Biscione-brand creation with its drivers.” In other words, the concept is designed to make driving feel like an emotional experience. Lamborghini might interpret that through more advanced hybrid powertrains, but Alfa Romeo is still leaving its answer up to interpretation.
However, the explanation suggests that the concept car will be performance-oriented, not just a flashy design exercise. That is backed by the automaker’s statement from the first teaser, saying the car “embodies its vision for the future and the full creative strength of Stellantis’ premium sports brand.” The company also specifically cited sportiness, performance, dynamism, and driving pleasure as inspirations for the concept.
So perhaps not another Tonale, which targeted a high-volume segment but struggled in the U.S. The nameplate will leave North America after the 2026 model year, ending a relatively short run.
The teasers suggest the concept will offer a look at the brand’s future design and identity, which is timely, given that successors to the Giulia and Stelvio have faced major delays. Both were originally expected to go all-electric, but Alfa Romeo later revised its strategy to accommodate multiple powertrain types. New versions are expected to arrive around 2028.
From Milan to Paris
Alfa Romeo will officially unveil the concept car at the Paris Motor Show, happening between October 12 and 18.
There may be a lot of details yet to emerge, but one thing’s for sure: Alfa Romeo needs to breathe new life into its U.S. lineup. The automaker sold only 1,747 vehicles in the country during the first half of this year, down 45% year-over-year. Whether this concept can help turn things around remains to be seen, but that would be a welcome development considering the brand has produced cars like the Giulia Quadrifoglio, capable of going up against more popular BMW rivals.
