by Wallace Wyss –
Car designers the world over wish they could be assigned a two door coupe to design instead of a four door but Alfa Romeo, with a vivacious GT concept shown in Paris at the 2026 Paris Motor Show. The car demonstrated that beauty can be found in a car with four doors, and four seats.
The car is called the Cuorerosso, a car that blends Alfa Romeo’s design language from the past into new challenges. And it’s not electric, maybe it will start with a twin turbo 2.9 liter V6 but eventually be a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or full electric.
The size is interesting, similar to a Lexus IS or Tesla Model 3. They claim rear headroom is enough for two normal-sized adults. Here’s what those dimensions look like:
– Length: 185.0 Inches (4.7 Meters)
– Width: 77.0 Inches (2.0 Meters)
– Height: 51.0 Inches (1.3 Meters)
Here’s my critique of the Cuorerosso, which was designed by Alfa Romeo’s styling team under the leadership of Alejandro Mesonero. Alfa said that the design was developed as a basic shape without wheels windows or the traditional grille.
Note that the windows sit flush with the bodywork, and there’s no glossy-black trim like other marques are using, even Ferrari.
FRONT All important is the grille. The front fenders both take second place to the front hood which culminates in the grille shell, for a powerful look. Too bad the hood’s “bulge” has side vents like a big block ‘60s Corvette, but that’s a minor detail. The only thing spoiling the front is the white lettering of an old Alfa serpent insignia in the grille but that could be optional.
SIDE From the side, the Cuorerosso has an incredible profile—where the whole body builds up to the rear wheel well flares give it a tautness of a jungle cat ready to leap. Similar to the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale. The side windows in the rear have a very artful curve, for a four door sedan. And it’s a pillarless hardtop four door, one wonders about strength of body structure in a four door performance car.
It’s admirable that they get such a beautiful shape and still have a drag coefficient of 0.28.
REAR This is the main failing of the design. The taillights are about one third too large. The rear spoiler is at least twice the height it needs to be aestheticlaly, and from some viewpoints it looks like a suitcase is falling out the back of an open trunk or maybe the clay model wasn’t parked with the brake on and rolled into a building wall, shortening the rear bodywork. And there’s a curious matt silver vertical piece low down at the rear, whose purpose is not definable in pictures. But that’s part of the purpose of a concept—with enough criticism, there’s still time to change it.
INTERIOR Thankfully Alfa did not go full digital –there’s still some physical controls, with the primary infotainment display all in the center console. Alfa Romeo says the display changes according to the driver ‘s call, using the phrase “dynamic telescope” that changes depending on the drive mode: Cruise, Sport, or Quadrifoglio.
It can display navigation and vehicle information simultaneously using two elements, or simplify narrow the focus of the driver’s attention on the road.
IN SUM… with this one car, Alfa Romeo has shown many of the great design influences of the previous Alfas can still be relevant in a new design for 2028 and beyond, even if it’s a four door.
Unfortunately, the Alfa Romeo Cuorerosso, billed as a concept, may not reach production, but its fresh approach to design and technology will be in future models, most likely the compact SUV Alfa Romeo has planned for 2027.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
THE AUTHOR Wallace Wyss is a fine artist, specializing in high performance cars, who is currently embarking on a series of collectable event-themed car posters.
“a curious matt silver vertical piece low down at the rear, whose purpose is not definable in pictures.” Exhaust outlet…..