alfa romeo

A brief history about alfa romeo: Romeo isn’t just a Shakespearean heartthrob—he’s also half of one of Italy’s most legendary car brands. Alfa Romeo has been crafting cars with passion and precision since 1910, never once hitting the brakes permanently. Their logo? A red cross on a white background (a nod to the Crusades) and a snake-like creature swallowing a man—pretty dramatic, right? But make no mistake, Alfa’s true religion has always been performance and design.

Even though Alfa Romeo is considered 100% Italian, its roots actually trace back to France. The company was first founded in 1906 as Societa Anonima Italiana Darracq by a French entrepreneur, Alexandre Darracq, with backing from Italian investors. One of them, Ugo Stella, an aristocrat with a vision, later took over the company when things weren’t going so well by 1909.

Ugo and his partners decided to start fresh. They rebranded as ALFA—short for Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili (Lombard Automobile Factory, Public Company). From the get-go, ALFA built some seriously impressive machines, winning over the Italian market and setting the foundation for what would become an automotive icon. In 1915, Nicola Romeo, a mathematics professor turned businessman, took over during World War I and shifted production to military equipment to meet wartime demands. When the war ended, Alfa was ready to make history.

Alfa Romeo has always been about speed and competition. Their first model, the 24 HP, entered the famous Sicilian Targa Florio race in 1910, and from then on, victories started stacking up across Europe. For over 50 years, Alfa dominated the racing world, with its cars becoming symbols of performance and innovation. But despite its success on the track, financial struggles hit hard. By the 1950s, the Italian government stepped in, with state-owned Finmeccanica taking over to save the brand from going under.

That rescue didn’t last forever. Eventually, Alfa’s financial troubles resurfaced, and the government had to let go. Just when things looked uncertain, Fiat stepped in, officially making Alfa part of its family in 1986. Since then, Alfa has been rolling under Fiat’s wing, keeping the brand alive and kicking.

One major market that’s been missing out on Alfa’s magic? The U.S. Alfa pulled out of North America in 1995, leaving American fans longing for its return. But don’t lose hope—rumors have been swirling about a comeback, possibly through a partnership with Maserati. If that happens, get ready to see those sleek Italian machines back on American roads.

Current Models

Browse through this alfa romeo’s current models below and explore their specifications