'Dare 2030' is something you're going to hear a lot more about over the coming months and years. It is the name given to Stellantis's strategy for reducing its carbon footprint by half by 2030, on its way to carbon neutrality by 2038. Given the breadth of the conglomerate's portfolio - from Abarth to Ram and Vauxhall to Lancia - some fairly drastic steps will have to be taken to achieve that.
Now we have confirmation of one: no combustion-engined Alfa Romeos and Maseratis will launch after 2025. By 2030, new car buyers in Europe will only be able to buy electric vehicles from two of Italy's most venerated brands. Which is hugely significant, given memorable combustion engines have so often been the calling card of both. Still are, in fact, when the 2.9-litre twin-turbo Alfa V6 and Maserati's new 'Nettuno' 3.0 V6 - making 210hp per litre - are considered.
The 2025 move also covers DS and Lancia, as Stellantis's desire to generate more income from the premium brands - currently four per cent, with an aim for 11 per cent - really kicks up a gear. CEO Carlos Tavares outlined a road map"to embrace breakthrough ideas to offer innovative, clean, safe and affordable mobility." The rest of the brands under its umbrella in Europe, the non premium and luxury offerings from Stellantis, will follow in 2026.
But it's rather more impactful when dealing with Maserati and Alfa, and not simply for those now weeping onto their Busso V6s, either. It matters more for those two because of how drastic the range overhaul will have to be to make today's promise a reality. Like Jaguar, which has made a similar commitment to go electric-only after 2025, both Alfa and Maserati are a long way from offering a well-stocked EV lineup. The recently announced Tonale https://www.pistonheads.
Which sounds a lot like a Dragons Den pitch, but then an awful lot of soundbites tend to nowadays. As for Alfa and Maserati specifics, we're expecting the first Alfa EV in 2024, just a year before no new combustion-engined cars will launch, and Maserati's GranTurismo Folgore should be revealed this year alongside the petrol variants. But that still leaves an awful lot to be decided - and not a whole heap of time left if you fancy owning an Italian-made soundtrack from this decade.
Let me take this one more time: the ICE is not the enemy - it’s what we put into it that matters.