Alfa Romeo's Next GTV Coupe Will Draw Inspiration From An Unlikely Source

Alfa Romeo could have a replacement ready for the GTV coupe as early as 2026, and design boss Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos suggested that the unusual,wedge-like SZcould serve as design inspiration for the new coupe, and not thealready-revealed Giulia SWB Zagato. Speaking toAutocar, Mesonero-Romanos confirmed that development of the new Alfa coupe's design is progressing steadily behind the scenes.

For a company with an exceptional catalog ofstunning design iconsthrough the decades, not to mention beautiful current models like theGiulia, it's a shame that Alfa doesn't currently have a coupe on sale. The fact that this could change roughly three years from now will be warmly welcomed by the Alfisti.

An entirely separate model from Alfa'spromised low-volume supercar, the GTV replacement will likely be a fully electric model based on the Italian marque's timeline for switching to an all-electric lineup. But why choose the SZ (pictured below) as a source of design inspiration?

"[The SZ] wasn't a beautiful car, we all know," said Mesonero-Romanos when talking toAutocar, "but there is a lot we can take from its distinctiveness and independence of spirit when we think about designing a coupe for the electric age. I loved its wedge profile, its square tail, and the way the dark glasshouse just bubbles out of this great mass of body. It's a brutal design, but such a special, impactful one - and we need to emulate it if we can."

These comments, as well as the reference to the SZ, suggest that the new coupe will have two doors andnot four as previously thought.