by Stellantis confirms work on ‘future evolutions’ of Giulia and Stelvio
Alfa Romeo fans waiting for new versions of the Giulia and Stelvio have heard many different things over the past few years. Initially, these mid-size cars were planned to become fully electric, then the Stelvio was pushed back in the calendar to make room for a hybrid version, and this week both names completely disappeared from Alfa Romeo’s product plans for 2030. Instead, a single vague item appeared — ‘New D-segment (under study)’, sparking concern.
The disappearance quickly fueled rumors of cancellation, which persisted until Stellantis responded to our inquiry, confirming that the mysterious ‘D-segment’ proposal is still under consideration. This single line left the door open, though it explained almost nothing about what lies behind it.
Background of the issue and the disappearance of the names
The story began at Stellantis’ Investor Day in May. The only D-segment offerings on Alfa Romeo’s slides were the current Giulia and Stelvio, in production since 2015 and 2016 respectively. The gasoline sedan and SUV recently received a life extension until 2028, and the Quadrifoglio with the V6 engine returned to production. But what about their long-awaited successors?
During this week’s event, a slide describing Stellantis’ 2030 roadmap listed five future Alfa Romeo models. The list included: an updated Junior, a compact SUV set to replace the Tonale, a premium compact hatchback, more Bottega Fuoriserie projects, and an unnamed D-segment model marked ‘under study’.
Official statement from Stellantis
Concerned by the absence of the Giulia and Stelvio names, we reached out to a Stellantis representative in North America to ask if Alfa Romeo had changed its decision. The representative responded with the following statement:
‘All future products are evaluated for each market individually, including North America, to ensure the right balance between brand positioning, customer expectations, and long-term sustainability. Alfa Romeo remains strongly committed to the North American market with a clear focus on premium segments, product excellence, and sustainable growth.’
‘As communicated during the Stellantis Investor Day on May 21, Alfa Romeo has a robust global product portfolio under development. This includes an updated Junior, a new generation C-SUV on the STLA Medium platform, a new C-segment hatchback inspired by iconic Alfa Romeo names, future evolutions of the Giulia and Stelvio in the D-segment, and new exclusive ‘few-off’ projects developed by Bottega Fuoriserie following the success of the 33 Stradale.’
Possible model merger?
The phrase that stands out is ‘future evolutions of the Giulia and Stelvio in the D-segment’. It raises the question: is Alfa Romeo planning two separate successors, or does it intend to merge both cars into a single model to cut research and development costs? Merging a sedan and an SUV into one body would be an unusual move, though it could explain why one item now stands where two names previously existed.
Earlier reports suggested that the Giulia successor would abandon the sedan form in favor of a fastback crossover. The only prototype spotted, however, was an SUV that appeared in 2025 and looked like the next Stelvio. A few months later, patent drawings refined its exterior design, shortly before Alfa Romeo postponed the project.
Whether Alfa Romeo has put that prototype back on the drawing board or started something new, no one can say yet. The only certainty is that the company is revising its plans, doing everything possible to survive in a tough market.
Photo of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio prototype: SH Proshots
The situation surrounding the future of the Giulia and Stelvio demonstrates the complexity of strategic planning in the modern automotive industry. Stellantis, like many other manufacturers, balances the need for electrification, development costs, and market expectations. The fact that the company publicly confirms the ‘study’ of models but provides no specific timelines or technical details indicates a cautious approach. Ultimately, the final decision may depend on the success of current models and the speed of new platform adoption. For brand fans, this means there is hope for a lineup refresh, but waiting for specific cars will likely take longer than originally planned.
