Viper designer to pen Alfa Romeo sports coupe

IF YOU’VE been patiently counting down the days until Alfa Romeo reveals a new front-engined, rear-driven two-door sports car – the kind of vehicle that used to be the Italian marque’s bread and butter – salvation is in sight.

In amongst the six as-yet-unannounced models on Alfa Romeo’s product roadmap, there’s one slot for a vehicle defined simply as “specialty”. That’s the same category occupied by the current carbon-tubbed, mid-engined 4C coupe and 4C Spider, but Alfa’s upcoming sports car isn’t expected to follow the 4C’s template.

Instead, signs point towards a return to the traditional Alfa values of an engine up front, the driven wheels at the back and two doors in the middle. The most likely outcome is a coupe version of the excellent Giulia.

And if there’s anyone on the planet that knows how to design a sexy RWD two-door coupe, it’s the guy who designed the final-generation Viper: Alfa Romeo’s head of design Scott Krugger.

Speaking to Wheels, Krugger stopped short of giving up specific details about exactly what form Alfa Romeo’s new coupe would take, but indicated that the Giorgio platform that underpins the Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV had the right credentials to become the basis for a more focused sports car.

“I think the Giorgio platform, being something that’s extremely performance-based, the potential of what we can do with this platform is proven with Giulia Quadrifoglio,” Krugger told Wheels.

But the specifics are still under wraps. Will it be a 2-plus-2 version of the Giulia intended to do battle with the Audi A5 and BMW 4 Series, or will it be a more serious two-seater in the same vein as the long-departed Alfa 8C?

There's more opportunity for sales volume with the former, but a low-slung sports car with a selfish two-seat configuration is familiar territory for Krugger.

The man whose design was selected to become the last Dodge Viper still owns an example of the finished product, but is cruelly unable to fully enjoy it on the confined roads nearest to his new home base of Turin, Italy.

Asked if his experience with designing the Viper – one of the most aggressive-looking American sports cars of modern times – was a key factor in his appointment as Alfa Romeo’s top design man, Krugger said he wasn't sure.

“I never really asked that question as to ‘why me’,” he said.

“I’ve asked it to myself, but the experience that I have in terms of developing vehicles, I like to bring wherever it’s needed, for whatever vehicle type is needed.”

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“From a personal standpoint, it’s just exciting. For me right now I'm just doing my part to maintain [Alfa Romeo’s] historical value.

“As for the future, time will tell and we’ll see where we go next!” Krugger said with a wry smile.

A sports car (or perhaps two) isn't the only thing looming on Alfa Romeo’s horizon, however.

Volume-selling models like the Giulia and Stelvio will be augmented by a large X5-sized SUV and a 5 Series/E-Class sized large sedan over the next few years. All are expected to utilise the flexible Giorgio platform, and debut ahead of Alfa Romeo’s next gen sports coupe.

A small car is also planned as a replacement for the ageing Giulietta, but is not expected to surface until just before the end of the decade. Whether the Giorgio platform can scale down small enough to suit a C-segment hatch or sedan remains to be seen, and there's also the possibility Alfa may elect to replace it with a more fashionable compact SUV.