“Passion is written into every detail of the Cuorerosso”.
Usually, words like these are just words: perhaps exaggerated, perhaps bearing little relation to reality. But when Alejandro Mesonero, Head of Design at Alfa Romeo, speaks of passion, he is not simply paying lip service to the idea. Passion is indeed the word, in all its intensity and emotional force. But this is more than passion in the abstract. It is Alfa Romeo’s passion: the spirit of a manufacturer that pioneered the concept of the Italian sports car, combining captivating design with performance that stirs the emotions before the car has even begun to move.
When it comes to exterior design, most designers insist that carefully judged proportions are the key to a car’s visual appeal. This would naturally suggest that the most beautiful and visually striking cars are supercars with mid-mounted engines. After all, it is difficult for a car whose fundamental proportions are those of a saloon to match the visual drama of an exotic sports car, no matter how many coupé or GT-inspired styling cues are incorporated into its design.
Yet the Cuorerosso — Red Heart — manages to do precisely that. It not only commands attention wherever it appears, but also manages to outshine many supercars in terms of sheer visual impact.
The Cuorerosso is a statement of intent, offering a glimpse into Alfa Romeo’s future direction. It is not a promise that specific models will soon enter production, but rather an indication of the path the brand intends to follow. When developing the design, Mesonero asked his team to begin by sculpting a three-dimensional form, initially setting aside the constraints imposed by engineering platforms, wheels and windows. The priority was to establish the ideal proportions and volumes before introducing the elements needed to transform the sculptural form into a functioning car.
Mesonero sees the automobile as a cultural artefact: a machine that communicates a message, reflects a way of life and embodies emotion. From Roman times to the present day, Italian culture has placed great emphasis on beauty, balanced proportions and simplicity, seeking to create something closer to a work of sculpture than a mere means of transport. In our view, the Cuorerosso embodies all these qualities in its design.
For this concept, Alfa Romeo has opted for an exterior that blends coupe and saloon styling, while accommodating four seats. Mesonero regards this approach as more sophisticated than that of a conventional two-seat sports car, offering a balance between beauty and everyday practicality.
Its dimensions are also relatively realistic, with an overall length of approximately 4.7 metres, a width of 1.95 metres and a height of 1.30 metres. The intention was not to create a futuristic car simply for the sake of it, but to explore a design that might one day evolve into a production model.
The car draws inspiration from the traditions of Italian design without resorting to direct imitation. Mesonero sees echoes of Pininfarina’s elegance in its lines, alongside the muscular rear-end treatments associated with Zagato and Bertone, all reinterpreted through a contemporary lens.
For the designer, Alfa Romeo’s mission is not to recreate cars from its past, but to draw on its rich heritage to create something entirely new. Marcello Gandini’s Carabo concept is a perfect example of this approach: a project that looked to the future rather than seeking comfort in tradition.
The same philosophy could shape the brand’s future models. While Mesonero is reluctant to reveal specific details about upcoming production cars, he does outline a few key principles: simplicity, clean and flowing surfaces, restrained lines, and a strong visual identity.
The interior follows the same pursuit of fluidity and cohesion seen in the exterior design. Mesonero describes it as an organic whole, with flowing surfaces extending from the dashboard towards the rear passengers. The driver remains at the centre of the experience, without feeling cramped or enclosed within the cockpit.
One particularly interesting feature is the dynamic, two-piece instrument cluster, whose two elements can come together to form a single unit displaying essential driving information. The centre console, meanwhile, combines a screen with tangible physical controls, bringing digital technology and traditional switchgear together.
This approach is also rooted in a broader philosophy. According to Mesonero, adding more screens and information does not necessarily improve the passenger experience. It can instead create more distractions and drive up costs without delivering benefits that justify the added complexity. Alfa Romeo therefore aims to integrate technology in a more thoughtful and intelligent way, steering clear of the race towards ever-larger digital displays.
While one could certainly argue that the Cuorerosso is the most beautiful design on display at this year’s Paris Motor Show, its looks are not necessarily its most remarkable feature. Compared with the other concept cars unveiled by a number of manufacturers—most of them part of the Stellantis Group—the Cuorerosso stands out as the only one powered by an internal combustion engine. More specifically, it uses the same 2.9-litre V6 found in the current Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio models. The engine is housed within a platform designed to accommodate a range of powertrains, from conventional combustion engines to hybrid systems and fully electric setups.
by
Fadi Takieddine
