Alfa Romeo chooses “ugly” SZ as inspiration for new sports car

We think the Alfa Romeo SZ is very cool! But whether we really like the curious coupé, we’re not sure. But Alfa Romeo chose “the monster” as the inspiration for its new all-electric sports car.

In the car world, we always had to laugh a little about Alfa Romeo, because every few years the brand announced another model offensive that didn’t materialize. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles can be held responsible for this.

Alfa Romeo gets a chance from Stellantis

We never understood what FCA owned. There was just no continuity. Not with Alfa Romeo, not with Fiat, not with Lancia and not with Maserati. When the production of a car model is stopped, a new one is ready, isn’t that so difficult? Well, FCA seems to be like that…

So it’s good that the Italian brands are now finding shelter under the Stellantis umbrella, because there they not only get enough money for development, but also enough time.

Don’t turn up the volume on a sports car

Alfa Romeo needs SUVs and electric cars. The Tonale is a good first step and a compact SUV with the electric powertrain of the Jeep Avenger, Opel Mokka-e and Peugeot e-2008 will be added in the near future.

Alfa won’t go big with a sports car, but the brand is introducing one nonetheless, the successor to the GTV. It’s slated for launch in 2026 and will have an SZ-inspired look.

“Alfa Romeo SZ was not a nice car”

“[De SZ] “It wasn’t a pretty car,” said Alfa designer Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos in an interview with Autocar. “But what I want to emphasize is how distinctive and independent the model was.”

“I love its wedge shape, square back and the way its dark glass house bulges out from the massive body. It’s a rough and rough design, but the SZ is also special and impressive. I want to try to take over that.”

SZ was not designed by Zagato

The Alfa SZ (Sprint Zagato) was introduced in 1989. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t designed by Zagato, but by Robert Opron of Centro Stile Fiat. The SZ gathered at Zagato.

It is powered by a 3.0-liter V6 developing 210 hp, has a five-speed manual gearbox and shares its chassis with the Alfa Romeo 75. In 1992 Alfa launched a convertible version of the SZ, the RZ (Roadster Zagato ).