Declining sales and repeated overhauls to its future plans are not typically signs of a car brand’s good health. So alfisti - passionate fans of Alfa Romeo - should be concerned about the short and long-term future of the storied Italian brand.

The new-car sales data released this week showed Alfa Romeo sales had declined almost 40 per cent year-to-date. While the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly played a part, the drop in sales of its too key models - the Giulia (down 46.7%) and Stelvio (down 23.5%) - are concerning, given both are relatively early on in their lifecycle.