Latest news with #FrankStephenson
Motor 1
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
The McLaren P1's Designer Thinks the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale Is 'Stunning'
Believe it or not, Frank Stephenson , the famed car designer, is still gushing about the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale. The Italian automaker revealed the car nearly two years ago, pledging to build just 33 examples. It's a faithful tribute to the 33 Stradale of the late 1960s , considering the quagmire of modern safety constraints, and it's a car that Stephenson calls one of the "most stunning" of the last few years. The Stradale revival has retro-inspired sheet metal and a mid-engine layout, just like the original. However, despite Stephenson's praise, he reveals to Top Gear the car is "still not perfect," and that there's "room for improvement." He criticizes the 33's chunkier rear-end design , noting the license plate's distracting location and other styling flubs. Stephenson praises the front-end design of the Alfa , however, calling it "fantastic," although he questions whether the headlights should have been rounder. Alfa revealed the 33 Stradale in August 2023 , even though it had sold all of them nearly a year earlier. The car is available with two powertrains— a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 engine or a battery-electric setup. Alfa never revealed the split between the two choices, but he admitted that it had " just a few EVs " in development despite it being the more powerful option. The EV version produces 750 horsepower and could sprint to 60 miles per hour in less than three seconds. The V-6, meanwhile, makes 620 hp, sending power to the rear wheels. Alfa announced it delivered the first example last December. And if you want the company to make more cars like the 33 Stradale, you're going to have to buy more SUVs first . Here's More Alfa Romeo News: Alfa Romeo Could Delay Its Most Important Car Alfa Romeo's Next Quadrifoglio Models Will 'Surprise You' Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Top Gear Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Top Gear
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
What does McLaren P1 designer Frank Stephenson make of the Alfa 33 Stradale?
Opinion The designer talks Top Gear through Alfa's stunning new supercar. Hot, or not? Skip 1 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Frank Stephenson is a car designer with more hits than the Beatles, including the Escort RS Cossie, first BMW Mini, Maser MC12, numerous Ferraris and the McLaren P1. These days he runs his own consultancy – Frank Stephenson Design. Here he shares his views on Alfa's new 33 Stradale with Top Gear It takes a lot of courage to go out and redesign a true icon of automotive design. The original 33 Stradale is widely considered the Mona Lisa, so any attempt to reinterpret the iconic shape into a modern package is no mean feat. Advertisement - Page continues below But my goodness, the team at Alfa's Centro Stile have made a heck of a job of it. It's easily one of the most stunning releases of the past few years, but still not perfect. I feel it misses the ultimate mark because of a few critical design choices. You might like In some areas, the details appear overly complicated – the side intake, the edgy bonnet, the fussy rear end. The OG 33 is one of the most pure and simple forms in automotive history, an ode to beauty in its most stripped-back form. We're talking about a £1.7 million supercar here, so sadly only a select few will be able to buy one. But that's the beauty of good design - we all get to enjoy it so long as owners use them in the wild and don't lock them away forever. Advertisement - Page continues below Room for improvement then, but still a smoking hot effort from Alfa. Very complex surface treatment. The front graphic is a fantastic modernisation of the original. Thinner A-pillar to reduce visual weight? Black mirror cap to blend into glass area? Rounder, more organically shaped headlights? Intake design is much more aggressive than the original! Rear plate position could be lowered to make it less of a focal point. Overcomplicated design [bottom half of rear light signature]! Reflector position is too generic. Not enough for this surface [rear three quarter carbon to side of wheel arch] Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. The proportions are not as unique as the original 33. The rear is much higher! Verdict: HOT
