S T R A D A

Alfa Romeo

Founded in Milan in 1910 by the French automobile firm Alexandre Darracq with Italian investors, Alfa Romeo is more than just an automotive brand. It embodies Italian craftsmanship, innovation, performance, and unforgettable experiences.

 

The 1920s and 1930s are considered the golden era for Alfa Romeo, marked by the success of its models P2 and 8C 2300 in auto racing. The 8C, in particular, was highly successful and became the brand's face in racing.

 

In the 1960s, Alfa Romeo introduced the legendary Giulia model, combining Italian elegance and performance. In 1986, Alfa Romeo became part of Fiat, opening a new chapter in its history. The 1990s saw the release of the 156 model, which won the European Car of the Year award in 1998, and the 147 model, which earned the same title in 2001. These models highlighted Alfa Romeo's commitment to innovation and design.

 

Recently, Alfa Romeo's flagship models have been the Giulia Quadrifoglio and the Stelvio, the brand's first SUV, offering exceptional performance and experience.

 

Alfa Romeo has been a source of inspiration for many Formula One drivers. Enzo Ferrari, before founding his own car company, worked on its design during a significant period of his life.

 

This brand continues to maintain its status as a symbol of Italian craftsmanship and leads with the latest technologies.

 

1910s - THE BIRTH OF A LEGEND

The origins of Alfa Romeo date back to The Società Italiana Automobili Darracq, founded in 1906 and located at 95, Strada del Portello, Milan, Italy.

When economic hardship hit in 1909, company shares were acquired by the organization's managing director, Italian aristocrat Ugo Stella.

On June 24, 1910, Stella relaunched and renamed his plant Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili – A.L.F.A. or “Alfa”

Alfa's First Merosi-Designed Vehicle, the 24HP

Alfa’s young technical director, Giuseppe Merosi, was an ambitious young man who started out selling bicycles. Soon after, Merosi was designing cars and motorcycles for Fiat and Bianchi.

At Alfa, Merosi designed the first vehicle to come off the new production line at Portello in Milan, Italy. The 24HP featured a single block 4.1-liter engine, single drive shaft and reached a top speed of 62 mph.

1914 Merosi Designed the Alfa Grand Prix

Anxious to establish a reputation in international racing, Alfa assigned Giuseppe Merosi the task of designing a competitive sports car based on the 40-60 HP. The result was the Alfa Grand Prix, the first automobile to feature a twin spark ignition. The 4 cylinder 4.5-liter engine helped it to reach a top speed of 87 mph.

1915 WWI Forced a Change of Plans

During the First World War, Alfa lacked the funds needed to convert its automobile manufacturing. Nicola Romeo – a successful electrical engineer from Naples, Italy – purchased Alfa and other companies, and started producing airplane engines and portable compressors.

The firm was called Società Anonima Italiana Nicola Romeo & Company. The new badge was changed to read “Alfa-Romeo Milano”.

1918 Alfa Prospered During WWI

In the winter of 1918, investors decided to take the company public with a new make on the original name – “Alfa Romeo”. The new company name was officially registered February 3, 1918.

1919 The Return to Automotive Production

Alfa Romeo resumed production at the end of the First World War. They began by assembling parts that were still in stock, and shortly after started designing new models.

The Grand Prix – which had been sold-off during the war – was reacquired. It proceeded to turn heads in a series of important Italian races in the early 1920s, such as the Mugello circuit, Parma-Berceto and Brescia circuit. A bright new era had begun.

2005 Alfa Romeo Began Manufacturing the Alfa Romeo 159 and Brera

This was an important year for production. Alfa Romeo 159 combined safety, performance and comfort without compromising design and racing appeal. The Brera was compact yet powerful. Its design was inspired by classic Alfa Romeo styling. It would become a benchmark for the coupe sector.

2015 4C Coupe and 4C Spider

The 4C Coupe continues an Alfa Romeo tradition of performance-oriented lines and proportions.Lightweight strength, supercar agility and race-inspired performance, the Alfa Romeo 4C makes its mark with an aggressive stance that’s owed to innovative technology and new levels of efficiency.###bb###Beyond delivering outdoor splendor, the open-air design of the 4C Spider includes an interior that caters to the senses.

2017 The All-New Giulia Quadrifoglio

The sportiest on-road Quadrifoglio ever. The all-new Giulia conveys pure design without being superfluous. Its styling is unmistakably Alfa Romeo, both sensual and substantial. It reflects the Alfa Romeo design heritage, with the focus constantly on the driver. Technology helps enhance performance and guarantee an exceptional driving experience. The relationship between driver and machine forms the core of every innovation, producing a car which is the natural extension of the brain, body and heart.

2017 Giulia and Giulia Ti

In the crowded market of sports sedans, the all-new Giulia arrives with all that it needs to own the game itself. Marked with the distinctive Alfa Romeo trilobe, pure allure is created through elegant lines, proportional balance and harmonious elements. The optimally balanced weight distribution, rear-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive, result in an aggressive stance; its profile of pure power and motion changes the horizon with a new perspective, truly exhilarating the driving experience.

2018 Stelvio, an SUV Only Italy Could Create

Leveraging its heritage while looking toward the future, Alfa Romeo has created yet another masterpiece. The Stelvio: born from the world’s greatest driving road.Inspired by the immensity and grandeur of the Stelvio Pass, the dreamers of Milan, engineers of Modena and artisans of Cassino have created the optimal vehicle for those demanding the highest level of performance and utility in equal measure.