Alfa closes in on new, fifth model

Electric Cayenne rival for 2027 is tipped but a family hatchback is also in the running

- JAMES ATTWOOD

AIfa Romeo boss Jean-Philippe Imparato says the car maker will make a final decision on what form its fifth model line will take before the end of this year - with a Porsche Cayenne-rivalling large SUV still the front-runner.

The Italian firm recently added the new Junior crossover as its fourth model alongside the Giulia saloon and Tonale and Stelvio SUVs, and it is planning to add a fifth model line in 2027. Alfa has long been linked with an E-segment electric SUV, but Imparato said it is dependent on proving a business case - and he revealed that the alternative could be a C-segment hatchback.

Imparato told Autocar a final decision would be made before the end of 2024 and said: "The question is do we go up [in size]? And for me the answer is yes: we have to go up. We have everything - the platform, the engines, the software. We can push the limit to the max and I have some design sketches that are very good."