Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale: daring to dream

DESIGN – THE MANIFESTO OF NECESSARY BEAUTY

• The sensual and attractive line makes this “fuoriserie” (‘custom-built’) car unique, combining beauty and performance.
• The exterior features a perfect balance between proportions, volumes and processing of the surfaces and becomes the epitome of Alfa Romeo’s “necessary beauty”.
• The front features the sinuous roundness typical of Alfa Romeo, referencing the unmistakable “V” on the bonnet and the iconic shield.
• The side design is sleek and dynamic, with side air intakes and “elytra” doors that enhance accessibility and ergonomics and offer a unique panoramic view for the driver.
• The rear expresses the “brutal” essence of the 33 Stradale, with a V-shaped graphic and round rear light clusters.
• The aerodynamic efficiency is confirmed by an excellent Cx of 0.375, achieved without the assistance of active aerodynamic devices.
• The interiors are offered in two base trim levels, “Tributo” and “Alfa Corse”, with high-quality materials and design inspired by its 1967 forerunner.
• The sports steering wheel and the “telescope” instrumentation emphasise the concept of driver orientation, with a precise and direct driving feeling.
• The dashboard and central tunnel feature “mechanical” details inspired by aviation, while the enveloping seats and door panels create an exclusive and comfortable environment.

Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, Head of Alfa Romeo Design: “The 33 Stradale project has come about due to the passion and dedication of a small team of designers and engineers at the Alfa Romeo Centro Stile. The design is inspired by Franco Scaglione’s masterpiece of 1967, with a bold look to the lines of future Alfa Romeo models. The result is made possible by the expertise and the best tradition of Italian design. A true manifesto of “essential beauty”: a limited number of lines, sensual and at the same time powerful capable of arousing desire and strong emotions.”

The sensual and attractive line – the work of the Alfa Romeo Centro Stile – gives this unique “fuoriserie” (‘custom-built’) car a combination of beauty and performance. Concerning an authentic icon but with just as much personality and audacity, the Alfa Romeo Centro Stile began to research and study its proportions and the harmony of its lines, with enrichments to its sculptural beauty with certain design elements from Alfa Romeo’s new style language. The car’s proportions are entirely in line with the original: the wheelbase relates to the length; the diameter of the wheels relates to the height. In addition, certain design details have changed. Still, the inspiration remains the same: the “brutal” rear is balanced by the sinuous front, and the maximum height is not at the windshield level, as on any other sports car, but in the middle of the roof.

EXTERIOR

A first glance captivates the viewer with the perfect balance between proportions, volumes and processing of the surfaces of the new 33 Stradale. It is an exciting combination that stands as the epitome of “necessary beauty”, i.e., the creative principle inherent in the brand’s DNA that sees aesthetics and technique profoundly intertwined.

Front: The 33 Stradale has a powerful and muscular volume, featuring the sinuous roundness typical of Alfa Romeo, epitomised by the 1967 33 Stradale. Certain stylistic features also refer to the unmistakable “V” on the cofango. This term identifies the single component that integrates the bonnet and fender to recall the air outlet 33/2. The front of the car also features Alfa Romeo’s characteristic shield in carbon fibre – up to the customer whether with the classic logo or a 3D version – as a natural point of convergence of the two ribs that run along the front. The features and DNA of the historic 33 are preserved in the look of the highly evocative and recognisable car. This is the result of the lights with their complex shape on an elliptical base, within which refined objects of design and technology reside, to breathe life into functions and performance with a modern flair. Finally, the creation of the front is completed by the aerodynamic carbon fibre appendages located in the lower part.

Sides: Strongly slender and dynamic, the sides ideally transfer all the power and energy expressed by the car’s powerful musculature to the rear axle. Two large side air intakes, necessary for the intercooler, graphically and volumetrically define the origin and development of the rear muscles. The body is projected forward, with surfaces modelled according to the criteria typical of Alfa Romeo’s formal expression. The cylindrical sections and the brand’s distinct processes convey that characteristic sensuality that unites the historical and current models.

A feature that has been deliberately taken up is the opening of the front and rear cofango. This is also the case with the new Alfa Romeo creation, offering a theatrical space and quick access to the mechanical parts in full racing style. The doors with “elytra” opening deserve a separate section. As well as paying homage to the historic 33 Stradale, where they were first seen, their kinetics guarantee excellent accessibility and ergonomics. In addition, courtesy of the corner opening of the doors and the large wraparound sunroof, the driver can enjoy a unique view of the road, the scenery and the sky, so much so their experience becomes very similar to in the cockpit of an aeroplane. The overall image offered by the opening of the cofango and doors enhances the car’s theatrical aspect.

Rear: This part of the car embodies the “brutal” essence of the Stradale. The central V-shape of the truncated tail enhances the perception of the body colour, keeping the technical part in carbon fibre at the bottom in view. The thoroughly evolved taillights are a powerful reference to their round counterparts in the car’s predecessor. The side direction indicators are divided into two parts, one integrated into the centre of the rear light cluster and another that emerges from the side of the fender, breathing life into a reinterpretation of the side air outlets behind the rear wheel.

Aerodynamics: From the outset, the development of the 33 Stradale’s exterior was characterised by the need to enhance the car’s style and technical specifications from both a dynamic and aerodynamic point of view. Therefore, all the style solutions adopted have been optimised according to the ultimate goal: performance. For example, the headlights in the lower part also integrate an air intake to direct the airflow in the right direction and to feed the radiator; on the sides, they give rise to an aerodynamic slot, the purpose of which is to improve the car’s Cx. Similarly, the support arm of the rear-view mirrors has a dual role of a spoiler to direct the airflow towards the side intakes to maximise their performance. These solutions, combined with sculptural forms, enable the 33 Stradale to achieve the highest levels of aerodynamic efficiency. Air envelops the car and follows its natural path, unhindered by edges and irregularities. This results in a “ground” effect, increasing stability at high speeds. Likewise, an initial meticulous CFD analysis followed by testing in a wind tunnel made it possible to achieve an excellent Cx (aerodynamic drag coefficient) of 0.375 without assistance from active aerodynamic systems.

INTERIOR

The interiors – available in the Tributo configuration, a homage to the historic car, and in Alfa Corse, the sportiest expression – are also distinguished by the minimalism of design and materials, all of which were designed to aim at the most outstanding possible engagement in the driving experience. Inside the 33, as in the historic car, the driver and passengers can experience the precise intent to offer an approach to driving purified of all the interactions required in a conventional vehicle. A limited number of controls with practical usage when driving can be found on the centre console. Directly ahead of the driver is a display, the 3D “telescope” design of which engages the driver in a first-of-its-kind interaction. Like in every Alfa Romeo, the steering wheel is the primary “means of communication” with the car; devoid of all the buttons it usually comes with, it gives you an experience of pure driving pleasure, courtesy of the prestigious aluminium shift paddles. As in an aeroplane cockpit, the controls are located at different levels, in the low centre console and on a higher plane, installed in the central lining on the inside of the roof.

Sports steering wheel and “telescope” cluster: The 33 Stradale enhances the concept of driver orientation, made possible by two essential components for any Alfa Romeo: the steering wheel and the driver’s instrument panel. The former is compact and sporty in shape, ensuring a precise and direct steering feeling; it is also embellished by the clean lines, given the lack of controls on the steering wheel, and by the three spokes in aluminium in one trim (Tributo) or carbon fibre in the other (Alfa Corse). The second hallmark is the “telescope” instrument panel, with a clear Alfa Romeo stylistic matrix, bringing together all the information required when driving. Depending on which of the “Road” and “Track” drive modes are selected, the instrument cluster has easy-to-read graphics, meaning the driver can keep everything under control without distractions from commands that would be superfluous in this type of car.

Dashboard and central tunnel: Inspired by the world of aviation, a field intrinsically linked to the brand’s history, the main tunnel features “mechanical” switches for the few functions where there is no room for doubts or errors. Therefore, even starting the new 33 Stradale is an immersive experience to enjoy fully. The simple and function-based dashboard combines the cold solidity of aluminium and carbon fibre and the warmth and softness of leather and Alcantara. The traditional air vents are hidden in the volume of the dashboard, making it a clean and sporty component. In addition, between the dashboard and the central tunnel is a large retractable display to manage all the settings of the Alfa Romeo special edition. Last but not least, every model is equipped with a refined and powerful seven-speaker Premium audio system for total immersion in sound.

Seats and door panels: comfortable and enveloping, the seats – upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather – are the contemporary reinterpretation of the originals, as seen in the colours and the famous side ribbing; they also have six-way electric controls and four lumbar positions. Finally, the same materials and colours as the seats are used in the upholstery of the door panels, the dashboard, the cockpit and the central tunnel, creating an exclusive environment.

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