Alfa Romeo Delays New Generation of Giulia and Stelvio
According to reports, Alfa Romeo has postponed the launch of the next generation of the Giulia and Stelvio models. The fully updated sedan and crossover are now not expected until 2028. These cars will be based on the STLA Large platform, and under the hood, a bi-turbo inline six-cylinder engine may be found.
Success of the Junior and Problems in Other Markets
The Alfa Romeo Junior model has become a much-needed success for the brand in Europe, where over 50,000 orders were received by mid-September. However, in other markets, particularly in the USA, the situation is significantly worse due to an outdated and uninspiring model lineup.
In the States, the company offers only three models: Giulia, Stelvio, and Tonale. Throughout last year, these cars together generated only 5,652 sales, which is 36% less than the year before. For comparison, BMW managed to sell more X4 crossovers than Alfa Romeo’s entire lineup.
A Radical Change of Course
Unfortunately, the situation will not improve anytime soon. Alfa Romeo CEO Santo Ficili stated that the company will have to “change everything” in the next generation of Giulia and Stelvio.
We need to move from exclusively electric vehicles to all other types of powertrains.
This is a very late change of plans, considering that the new Stelvio was initially planned to be unveiled last year. However, electric vehicle sales are not growing as fast as expected, and the USA has canceled tax incentives for “pure” cars.
Instead of releasing models that could fail, Alfa Romeo management decided that a radical redesign of the concept is needed. Ficili reported that future models will be built on the STLA Large platform, which could mean the possibility of installing a bi-turbo 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder Hurricane engine, already used in the Dodge Charger.
Awaiting Details and Lengthy Delays
Ficili did not confirm this information but noted that more details will be presented during the Stellantis Capital Markets Day event. There, the company’s CEO, Antonio Filosa, will present a new development plan for Alfa Romeo and other brands of the group.
While details remain unknown, according to Auto Express, European versions will likely receive electric and hybrid powertrains. An option with electric vehicles having an additional range extender is also being considered.
However, the fully updated models, according to rumors, will not appear before 2028. Such a lengthy delay means that the current Giulia and Stelvio will remain in the product line until the end of 2027.
This story well illustrates the challenges faced by automakers during the global transition to electric vehicles. Alfa Romeo’s decision to completely change the approach to its key models demonstrates flexibility and readiness to adapt to market realities, even if it means significant delays. The success of the Junior in Europe shows that the brand still has potential, but to regain positions in key markets like the USA, not just new cars are needed, but a thoughtful strategy that takes into account regional specifics of demand for different types of powertrains.