Mark Megahan
Every once in a while Alfa Romeo will “unveil something totally unique.” They do it just to keep the Champaign and caviar set on their toes. Each one of these 33 “handcrafted” 33 Stradale supercars boasts a $1 million manufacturer suggested retail price. They sold out before they ever hit the market.
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
Alfa Romeo’s “revived” 33 Stradale, luxury racing car enthusiasts proclaim, is “a bespoke creation.” At the turn of the millennium, the Italian designer released the 8C. In 2010, they released the Disco Volante and “a Viper-based TZ3 Stradale to go with it.”
Their engineers don’t “shy away from building truly special cars to flex that their design prowess is still alive and well.”
The 2024 model is “built as an homage.” Described as the “modern interpretation of the 1960s homologated supercar of the same name.”
This time around Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera was commissioned by Alfa Romeo “to build the retro-futuristic model, which shares the majority of mechanical parts with the Maserati MC20.”
Jean-Philippe Imparato is the proud CEO of Alfa Romeo. He glowingly declares the “new 33 Stradale has been designed to enhance our identity, elevate our aspirations, and embody our DNA and values.” After all, “it is the brand’s first custom-built car since 1969.” He promises “it will not be our last.”
Fossil fuels aren’t dead as dinosaurs yet but they’re working on a new electric power plant which promises even more horsepower. As soon as they figure out how to build a battery with enough juice to get it more than a couple blocks down the road at a time.
Tipo 33 prototype
At the core of the high-tech precision engineered Alfa Romeo is a prototype race car “that participated in various competitions between 1967 and 1977.” The Tipo 33 had a steel frame which “supported the light and agile chassis.”
The 33 Stradale inherits the “handling prowess” that enabled the Tipo 33 “to eventually win the world sports car championship in 1975.”
This beast of supercar is described as a blend of Maserati’s DNA with Alfa Romeo’s “racing heritage.” Just like the Maserati MC20, the 33 Stradale “offers two ways of propulsion. The 3.0-liter V-6 equipped with twin turbochargers produces 620 horsepower and is coupled to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.”
The alternative is “an all-electric powertrain that will reportedly produce 750 horsepower.” The engineers mumble it’s “in the works” and won’t “give any specifics on its battery capacity.” Insiders are guessing they’re trying to wedge in the same 92.5 kilowatt-hour battery pack as the GranTurismo Folgore.
No matter which engine you prefer, you should have no problem cruising down the autobahn at around 207 miles per hour. You can hit 60 between the garage door and the street in “less than 3.0 seconds.”
While any supercar can boast similar performance, “what’s going on inside the cabin” is the real Alfa Romeo distinction. Beginning with the “bespoke bodywork,” “a digital gauge cluster sits in its usual position, while a combination of metal controls and likely leather or Alcantara trim pieces sprawl throughout the interior, delivering a similar aesthetic to the original 33 Stradale.“
