Alfa Romeo Once Planned a Porsche Boxster Rival—Design Sketches Revealed

Alfa Romeo secretly launched a mid-engine convertible sports car project in 2008, aiming to directly challenge the Porsche Boxster. Recently, former Alfa designer Juan Manuel Díaz shared design sketches of the project on Instagram. Positioned as a compact luxury sports car, the vehicle emphasized elegant lines and dynamic proportions, featuring the brand’s signature trilobe grille at the front. Its overall styling blended soft, flowing surfaces with sharp contours, delivering an “elegant sportiness” reminiscent of the Boxster. Although specific powertrain details were never confirmed, it was speculated that the car might have used the 1.75-liter turbocharged engine introduced in 2009—similar to the one later found in the Alfa Romeo 4C. Unfortunately, the project was ultimately shelved and never reached production. Had it been realized, it could have significantly reshaped Alfa Romeo’s product lineup in the 2000s.