Alfa Romeo's iconic side plates to be phased out amid safety regs

Future Alfa Romeo models will lose some unique character due to new pedestrian safety regulations.

Asymmetrically mounted license plates are as much a trademark of Alfa Romeo as the iconic "scudetto." Unfortunately, this will soon change. Because of strict regulations, the tradition that began in 1955 with the Giulietta Spider must become a thing of the past.

The issue of license plates came up again with the premiere of Alfa's smallest model, the Junior, which has a centrally mounted license plate. According to the brand's chief stylist, Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, a similar fate awaits all new Alfas.

In an interview, he said that we can no longer mount license plates to the side due to homologation regulations concerning pedestrian safety. Some die-hard Alfisti believe that an Alfa is not an Alfa without a side-mounted plate, but history remembers many beautiful Alfas with a center plate.

He added that he has an Alfetta and a Giulia with a central plate, which looks beautiful.

Brand fans may be concerned about the "scudetto." Those who worry that the central plate will obscure the grille can rest easy. The element will be redesigned in future models so that the plate fits below without a problem.