The Stellantis group, which recently revived several powerful models in the USA, is taking similar steps in Europe. After bringing back diesel engines for a number of cars, the company has officially confirmed the resumption of production of the high-performance Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio versions for the European market. Sales of these models will begin in early March 2026 and will last until 2027.
Details of the Legendary Models’ Return
The Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio, returned to production, will not receive any updates in design or technical aspects. Production of these models, which are already over ten years old, has been resumed to fill the gap caused by the delay in the arrival of their electric successors.
Standard versions of the Giulia and Stelvio with gasoline and diesel engines, as well as the powerful V6 Quadrifoglio models, whose production was previously discontinued, will be manufactured until 2027. European orders for the Quadrifoglio will start being accepted again from the beginning of March 2026. There is no official information yet regarding plans for the North American market.
Collezione Special Series and Technical Features
The return of the models is accompanied by the publication of images of the special Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio Collezione versions, which were presented back in December 2025. These cars feature Rosso Etna paint, exposed carbon fiber accents, dark alloy wheels, Sparco seats with carbon frames, and upholstery in leather and Alcantara. Production is limited to 63 units for the markets of China, Japan, Europe, and the Middle East.
The technical specifications of the powerful 2.9-liter bi-turbo V6 engine remain unchanged: 513 horsepower and 600 Nm of torque. The sedan is rear-wheel drive, while the SUV has all-wheel drive. It is currently not reported how Stellantis achieved compliance of this engine with the strict Euro 7 standards, but its power has remained the same.
Quadrifoglio is the most authentic embodiment of Alfa Romeo’s sportiness and our cars created for true driving enthusiasts, with the focus always on the driver. We are confident that it will continue to inspire our future.
New Generation Delay and Strategy Change
The next generation of the Stelvio, which was initially planned to be presented at the end of 2025 as a fully electric SUV, as well as the new Giulia in a fastback body, have undergone serious changes in plans. Both models were to be based on the STLA Large platform; however, Alfa Romeo engineers were forced to reconsider the approach to leave the possibility for installing internal combustion engines. Because of this, the premiere of the completely updated models has been postponed until 2028.
Alfa Romeo CEO Santo Ficili noted that the company will have to “change everything” to return to the strategy of using different types of powertrains, which is being shaped under the influence of market demand and the evolution of regulatory requirements. Consequently, the old models on the Giorgio platform will remain in production longer, extending the life of the brand’s gasoline and diesel offerings.
This decision by Stellantis demonstrates the flexibility of a large automotive conglomerate in response to unpredictable market conditions. The delay in the full electrification of key models and the return of iconic sports versions indicate that the transition to electric vehicles is more complex than expected, and manufacturers are ready to adjust their strategies to maintain market presence and satisfy the demand of car enthusiasts for traditional, yet emotional cars. Similar steps may become a trend among other premium segment manufacturers facing similar challenges.