Stellantis wants all its brands to make the best possible use of the eCMP and CMP architectures. Predictably, their primary focus is on SUVs, which sell at higher volumes and also can have higher price tags, everything a carmaker wants to hear. After Jeep introduced the Avenger and Fiat presented the 600e, we were waiting for Alfa Romeo to have its B-segment electric SUV. CocheSpias obtained the first image of that car.
People still call it the Brennero, but Jean-Philippe Imparato already denied that. In a chat with the guys from the 100 Bornes YouTube channel at the 2023 Brussels Auto Show, the Alfa Romeo CEO said that the brand would organize a poll for the alfisti to choose the best name for this new product. He expected that to happen by June, but that did not occur until now. Although the poll was postponed, the vehicle's development could not stop. The picture CocheSpias published confirms the new car's design is locked down.
Although the Spanish website made the picture public with all necessary precautions not to tarnish its reputation, the new Alfa Romeo follows the same proportions we have seen in the Avenger and the 600e. CocheSpias said the images came from an Alfa Romeo graphic designer. Indeed, but the story is a bit more complicated than that.
This artist published several images of the user interface (UI) and brand identity he created for Stellantis in his online portfolio. The problem is that the vehicle is yet to be presented, and he probably did not know about that or just forgot about it. CocheSpias must have found them or received a tip about them and published the files. A strong sign of how revealing the pictures were is that he already erased the images from his portfolio, which did not prevent them from being published worldwide. Thanks to this involuntary contributor, we know the right way to call the new car right now: Project 966. Hopefully, this slip will not cost the talented designer more than a reprimand.
Photo: via CocheSpias
According to the artist, he worked in collaboration with the Alfa Romeo designers to create interfaces for three driving modes, each one linked to specific colors that relate to these setups. His work shows which modes he was talking about: Power (for high performance), Eco (for high efficiency), and Charge (to recover as much energy as possible). Some images reveal a vehicle with a battery pack, which confirms the 966 will be Alfa Romeo's first battery electric vehicle (BEV). We can also see the single motor on the front axle in two pictures, which may disappoint the brand's fans who love RWD vehicles. Their best shot is the AWD derivative that one of the images also discloses. The 966 could also have a derivative with an internal combustion engine (ICE) – just like the Avenger – but I suspect that will not happen in this case because of what Imparato told 100 Bornes.
According to the Alfa Romeo CEO, he followed three steps to ensure the brand would survive. The first one was to make it profitable again. That was the only way to ensure it would have money to invest in new projects. The second is what he called "0 to 0:" going from zero electrified vehicles to zero emissions by 2027. Commenting on the Alfa Romeo fans who bash him for taking that route, Imparato praised the alfisti who understand his reasons. "If we are not capable of going electric by 2027, (Alfa Romeo) is dead." It's either that or no more Cuore Sportivo.
The 966 gives the Italian brand a product in a very competitive segment. Small SUVs are market leaders in Europe – and even Lexus decided to tackle it with the LBX. Imparato already pulled off something that was not imaginable just a few years ago: he led Alfa Romeo to the top of J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study (IQS) in the premium segment. In other words, it beat Porsche and Lexus to get there. For a company that helped the Italians coin the expression "Donne e motori: gioie e dolori" (women and engines, joy and pain), that is a remarkable achievement.
Photo: via CocheSpias
With old automotive architectures, it was enough to compare a new car to what its brothers from other mothers offered. Ironically, the eCMP is so flexible that it makes it pretty difficult for the 966: even the wheelbase may change. For most of the small crossovers based on this platform, this measure is 2.56 meters (100.9 inches), but the Peugeot e-2008's wheelbase is 2.61 m (102.6 in). It is also the longest small electric SUV under Stellantis' umbrella, at 4.30 m (169.3 in). The shortest one is the Avenger, at 4.08 m (160.8 in), so this is the range where the Alfa Romeo 966 should fit in. However, even that is a risky bet with the eCMP.
What we can say for sure about the new B-segment electric SUV is that it should have a 54-kWh battery pack, with WLTP ranges of up to 400 kilometers (250 miles) in mixed cycles. The Avenger can run up to 550 km (340 mi) in the urban environment, which is a common trait for all BEVs: when they do not have to fight air resistance and keep highway speeds, their charges help them run much longer.
At this point, we should ask whether Alfa Romeo will still ask alfisti to choose a name for the 966 or if it has already decided on one and will just present it in a few weeks. Considering this vehicle should be for sale in 2024, we will not have to wait for long to learn what is the correct hypothesis.
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