Alfa Romeo revives 8C as hybrid supercar

Alfa Romeo will nix its 4C sports car and bring back the 8C name on a 700-horsepower, electric-hybrid supercar before 2022, the brand announced earlier this month while outlining FCA’s fiveyear product plan.

The carbon-fibre chassis car’s rear wheels will be driven by a twin-turbo V6 while the front axle will be electrically powered, said Alfa chief Timothy Kuniskis, which should give it enough oomph to take on rivals like the Audi R8 and McLaren 570S.

The company will also revive the GTV nameplate, sticking it on a two-door Giulia-based sports car meant to challenge the BMW 4 Series. That car will boast a “perfect 50-50 weight distribution” and a top-line Quadrofoglio trim with 600 hp.

Making sure the company’s wallet stays fat enough to afford to build these outrageous machines will be two new SUVs, one larger and one smaller than its Stelvio offering. All three SUVs will be available with plug-in hybrid drivetrains, and the entire Alfa Romeo line will be electrified in some way by 2022.

Alfa Romeo sister brand Maserati will have a new flagship model, the all-electric Alfieri, which will boast a top speed of 300 km/h and nail the zero-to-100 km/h sprint in less than two seconds.

The car will come available in both coupe and cabriolet variants, and besides the all-electric model, will show up with hybrid or plug-in hybrid trim options, too. The automaker plans to launch it under a Maserati Blue brand.

Hybridization will spread to the rest of the Maserati line before too long, and FCA even suggested Level 3 autonomous capabilities could show up in the Quattroporte and Levante by 2022 or earlier.

A mid-size SUV will join the Maserati line in the next five years, said Kuniskis, and all the drivetrains underpinning these Maseratis, including the hybrids and full-electrics, will be supplied by Ferrari.