The American Dream Fades
Stellantis released its Q3 2026 sales results and showed steady performance, with its year-to-date total sales up by 3%. What didn’t look good was Alfa Romeo’s third-quarter sales, which dropped by 65% from 1,614 units to 569 units compared to the same period last year. In the near term, the brand faces an uncertain future in this part of the world, as the Tonale is set to be discontinued in North America after the 2026 model year, while the next-gen versions of the Giulia and Stelvio have been delayed.
But lately, Alfa Romeo has been teasing a new concept car dubbed a “manifesto for the brand’s future,” suggesting it could play a significant role in shaping the Italian marque’s direction. The previous teaser revealed the Cuorerosso name, which combines the Italian words for heart (cuore) and red (rosso). Its latest previews show some of the car’s design details, which, right off the bat, look distinctive.
A Peek Behind the Curtain
The Italian marque teased four design cues, including what appears to be a side mirror, a steering wheel, rear lighting, and a seat. The side mirror looks really thin, suggesting it could be a camera-based system like those seen in models such as the Lexus ES, at least in certain overseas markets, since fully replacing conventional side mirrors with cameras isn’t permitted under current U.S. regulations. However, it could also be a conventional mirror designed with aerodynamics in mind, helping explain its unusual shape.
The steering wheel image shows an illuminated Alfa Romeo badge with the “DNA” script, while the rear lighting is reminiscent of that of the 33 Stradale, the brand’s latest limited-production supercar, rather than the classic from the 1960s. There’s also a headrest shown on the brand’s social media page, which, interestingly, appears to hint at rear seating, suggesting the concept car may be a grand tourer rather than a two-seat sports car.
One of the more subtle teasers came from another social media post (embedded above), which featured the sound of a revving engine. It could mean the car may not rely solely on electricity for propulsion.
The Next Chapter Awaits
That would make sense, given that the delay of the next-gen Giulia and Stelvio had something to do with Alfa Romeo reversing its original plans for electric-only replacements. The new plan is to accommodate multiple powertrain types, a more flexible strategy amid uneven EV adoption around the world, especially in the U.S., where hybrids have been gaining traction.
It is worth noting that Alfa Romeo explicitly said the upcoming concept car – set to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show on October 12 – is “neither a preview of a future production model nor a mere styling exercise.” Still, with Stellantis championing Ram and Jeep in the U.S. under its FaSTLAne 2030 strategy, the concept car could offer some much-needed hope for Alfa’s future, especially as the brand struggles to retain its appeal among American buyers.
