Alfa Romeo 12C Concept Is the V12 Supercar They Never Built

By Team Dailyrevs  

Alfa Romeo 12C Concept Is the V12 Supercar They Never Built

A V12 Alfa Romeo, Through the Eyes of a Young Designer

Alfa Romeo has a long history of expressive road cars and notable race machines—but none of its production models have used a V12. This student project from Emilio Palmieri, a recent graduate of the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED), explores that gap with a speculative concept named the Alfa Romeo 12C.

Palmieri developed the 12C as an independent styling exercise, starting with hand-drawn sketches before moving into 3D modeling using Blender. The result is a front-engined grand tourer proposal that borrows from traditional Italian proportions, Alfa Romeo design cues, and broader GT aesthetics.

A Controlled, Analog-Inspired Design Process

Unlike many purely digital concepts, the 12C began on paper. Palmieri laid out proportions, stance, and surface tension through sketching before transitioning to digital tools. This early focus on proportion helps give the concept a grounded visual structure.

The overall form is low and elongated, with a long hood and compact cabin. The surfacing is fluid but avoids exaggeration, relying on clean panel transitions and subtle curvature to define the car’s character.

Key features include:

  • A recessed shield grille in the nose, flanked by narrow lighting

  • Smooth side volumes with minimal sculpting

  • A tapered rear deck with integrated aero details

  • A stance that suggests performance without overt aggression

Sketch of Alfa Romeo 12C by Palmieri

Check out the full image gallery of Palmieri's Work below. 

No Direct Precedent, But Familiar Language

To date, Alfa Romeo has not produced a V12-powered road car. The brand’s racing division has employed V12 engines in the past—most notably in sports prototypes and Formula One—but road-going production models have relied on 4-, 6-, and 8-cylinder engines.

While the 12C is entirely speculative, it draws from familiar themes in Alfa Romeo’s back catalog. References to the 8C Competizione and the 33 Stradale are evident in the surfacing and proportions, though the design does not attempt a direct retro recreation.

Image gallery of 2007 Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione

Plausibility and Parallel Concepts

The 12C shares its layout with cars like Ferrari’s recently unveiled 12Cilindri, another front-engine V12 GT. While Palmieri’s project is not linked to Ferrari, the architectural similarity invites comparisons.

Historically, projects like Zagato’s limited-run rebodies of the Dodge Viper demonstrate that high-performance donor cars can be reinterpreted under a different design language. In theory, a coachbuilder like Touring Superleggera or Zagato could rebody a Ferrari platform with a design language inspired by Alfa Romeo, although such efforts remain rare and highly bespoke.

In that context, the 12C could be viewed less as a production concept and more as a reference point for design discussions or coachbuilt possibilities.

Pictures of 2010 Zagato Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale

Framed as a Study, Not a Statement

Palmieri refers to the 12C as an “independent concept” and a tribute to Italian automotive design. The project does not attempt to predict future production or outline engineering feasibility. Rather, it functions as a styling exploration, using Alfa Romeo’s visual identity as a design brief.

The use of traditional sketching methods followed by digital refinement suggests a designer who prioritizes proportion and surface control over speculative styling. The absence of excessive ornamentation or extreme features gives the 12C a more reserved tone than many student renderings.

Final Observations

The Alfa Romeo 12C is a student-led concept that approaches a familiar subject—the front-engine Italian GT—with a degree of restraint. While Alfa Romeo has not pursued a V12 road car, the idea remains a point of curiosity among enthusiasts, and this project explores that space through a thoughtful design study.

Palmieri demonstrates a solid grasp of proportion, surface control, and brand alignment—skills that form the foundation of strong automotive design. With input from experienced professionals, a concept like this could likely be refined further, both in detailing and broader design resolution. As it stands, the 12C reflects a competent and well-structured approach to a speculative challenge.

Palmieri is currently contracted by IED Design as a design consultant and professor, where he supports students in developing their own skills. More of his work can be found on his Instagram profile: @emile__design.

The 12C remains a speculative design study—developed independently, and intended as a portfolio project rather than a production proposal.


  • The Alfa Romeo 12C is a student concept developed by Emilio Palmieri through sketching and 3D modeling.

  • It explores the idea of a front-engine V12 Alfa GT, referencing brand heritage without direct retro styling.

  • While not intended for production, the design offers a measured interpretation of a hypothetical Alfa flagship.

Contact Emilio