Little things can make a big difference. And for the 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia, it's the little things that have been addressed, those that have been causing reviewers to kvetch and customers to look elsewhere. The cupholders that cause bottles to bang into the HVAC controls. The shifter and knobs made of cheap plastic that wobble about in your hand. The backwoods entertainment system that makes an Audi's look like it's been beamed in from the far-flung future.

The big things? They've been left untouched, almost entirely for the best. The Giulia's exceptional driving credentials have been well-documented with multiple awards and much gushing about divine steering and an astute chassis. For 2020, they're unchanged apart from some imperceptible tweaks to the steering that iron out an occasional low-speed refinement issue. Even when driven on the regrettably non-winding roads of southern Italy's "heel," the Giulia continues to come across as something different and special. That steering is pleasingly quick and full of feeling, friendly to both those who yearn for man-machine connection and those who'd rather not get an upper body workout when parking at Kroger.

The Giulia feels light and playful, with a stiff chassis and adeptly tuned suspension. When people talk about sport sedans losing their edge (cough BMW 3 Series), it can still be found in the Giulia. At the same time, the adaptive dampers available in the Ti trim's Performance package impressively sops up nasty bumps, of which there are a great many around Italy's heel (AKA Puglia). Cars with such a sporting "edge" are often given a pass when it comes to ride quality, as a sore back and kidneys bruised by the seat bolsters are considered par for the course. The Giulia needs no such handicap.

If there's a meh moment, it's the engine. Much is rightly made about the Quadrifoglio's 2.9-liter turbo V6 derived from Ferrari and possibly divine intervention. By contrast, the standard 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four doesn't offer much in the way of zest. Oh, its 280 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque are class-leading, and its 5.1-second estimated 0-60 time is exceptional. In sound, however, it's just another turbo-four, and most disappointingly, its 5,500-rpm redline is a real buzzkill. It's not exactly diesel-like, but it's close. Noticed mostly when using the enormous paddle shifters seemingly sourced from a Klingon knife factory, the sound and feel of the engine make it seem like there's still rev fun to be had, but then nope, you're done, onto the next gear. It takes you by surprise. "Wait, that's it?" You can pair this engine with a manual in Europe, and although we wouldn't say no to the option, perhaps it wouldn't make much of a difference.

Also unchanged is the design, for now, as Alfa Romeo will wait for the upcoming Tonale crossover to usher in a future brand-wide facelift (and Alfa says the final product has moved beyond what was leaked at a design clinic). There are some new colors available, including a premium white and the classy Verde Visconti shown in the photo gallery at the top of the page. The new rich red hue shown in the Giulia we drove, above, and the sexy new gold color you may see in European reviews won't be coming to the United States, at least for now. Too bad.

Back to those little things, though, nearly all of which are inside. The steering wheel is new, but the button layout, including the distinctive starter, is the same. You probably won't notice the difference. The center console, however, is a different story and gets the bulk of updates. The previously flimsy electronic shifter is a little more solid in action, it's now covered in stitched perforated leather and surrounded by a metallic housing festooned with a little Italian flag. The electronic parking brake has been relocated to the left of it, while a fairly useless fob-sized bin is on the right. Forward of the shifter are cupholders moved rearward to prevent bottles from smacking into the HVAC controls (we tested it, mission accomplished), and although they no longer have a retractable cover, the trade-off is a new bin forward of the cupholders where you can store and charge a smartphone using the adjacent USB port. There are additional USB ports under the center armrest, plus a new wireless charging pad angled underneath the armrest lip that's accessible whether the lid is open or closed. In general, a smart packaging rethink.

The three knobs on the center console get a much-welcome upgrade, too. They don't wobble about as much, but also don't have the solidity you'd find in an Audi, for instance. That's OK, we can't all be kings. At least they don't make you go "yuck" anymore. The knobs for the "dna" drive mode selector and volume/track continue to be ringed by a textured rubber, but the infotainment system knob now has a knurled metal finish that looks and feels premium. The surrounding "menu" and "option" buttons are also new, featuring icons instead of letters.

A more important upgrade related to that infotainment knob, however, is that it's now a redundant feature. Although Alfa Romeo kept it around because there are instances where it's preferable or safer to use (scrolling through playlists or contacts, for instance), the system's 8.8-inch display is now a touchscreen. The graphics and user interface are also new, as is a faster processor. Like other touchscreen systems, most similarly from Porsche, the home screen consists of three configurable tiles for various functions – radio, navigation and phone were set in our car. It's not as functional as Porsche's setup, however, as the three-tile layout is largely a more detailed home screen and generally requires you to dig deeper into one of those menus. Basically, the new system is less likely to be a deal breaker, but it won't be making many deals, either.

Also on the tech front are new-and-improved accident avoidance features. Forward collision warning and automatic emergency are not only standard, but the system has been upgraded to full-speed-capable Bosch-sourced technology. A driver inattention monitor and steering assistance for the lane-departure and blind-spot systems are now available for the first time. We found the lane-keeping assist system would occasionally try to steer us back into our lane even when signaling a change, which isn't great.

On the other hand, the optional, also-by-Bosch adaptive cruise control system is excellent. It gets on the brakes and accelerator at a natural time, works in stop-and-go traffic, looks further ahead than is set to anticipate the need to smoothly slow down, and just generally behaves like a good human driver. The accompanying steering assist also works well, smartly steering around highway corners and not ping-ponging between lane markers. It's a first-class system.

The 2020 Giulia also gets standard app services, brought to you by Alfa's corporate cousins at Mopar, including My Remote (allows you to remotely lock/unlock the car) and My Assistant (SOS calling and roadside assistance). Additional remote diagnostic tools will be added to the app suite in the second half of 2020.

Indeed, any of these little things by themselves would probably make you shrug and go, "Yeah, so?" But in total, they address primary reasons people were likely to buy something other than an Alfa Romeo Giulia. However, the Giulia's primary pain point remains one that can't be quantified by a brief drive in Italy or by detailing a list of welcome new features: Alfa Romeo's terrible reliability reputation. From owner reports to multiple broken-down press cars, the Giulia has been infamously rife with issues. Perhaps more time on the market to iron out bugs will fix that, but more time is also what's needed to know that answer – or perhaps reassuring potential customers with a warranty longer than the existing four-year coverage. Either way, it's no longer the Giulia's little things that Alfa Romeo must worry about. It's that great big thing.

A few days ago, the Italian media was reporting that Alfa Romeo would present the B-UV subcompact crossover at the automaker’s 110th anniversary event. But since then, another rumor has sprung up in the guise of the Giulia GTA.

Mopar Insiders gets the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s output ratings right in the first paragraph of their report, but mention 2.7 instead of 2.9 liters for the twin-turbocharged V6 engine with Ferrari V8 origins. 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet is pretty good by anyone’s standards for a compact executive sedan, but what would you say about 620 horsepower in the Giulia GTA?

The Series 105 Giulia GTA came out in 1965 with a bit of a bang, cementing itself in the Alfa Romeo pantheon. The Giulia GTA for the 2021 model year – if it ever happens – would also benefit from lightweight materials because the name implies that in the first place. The GTA acronym stands for Gran Tourismo Allegerita in Italian, and the meaning of Allegerita is “lightened.”

Mopar Insiders claims “around 20 kilograms (44 pounds)" lighter than the Giulia Quadrifoglio, the one with the six-speed manual transmission that yours truly has driven on the track a few years ago. The report also goes on to say that Alfa Romeo would limit production to a handful of units, and there are slim chances for the Giulia GTA to be imported to North America.

When you think about it, the chances would be exactly zero. Alfa Romeo didn’t offer the manual stateside ever since the Giulia and Giulia Quadrifoglio were added to the lineup, and based on the automaker’s struggling finances, there’s little meaning in bringing the Giulia GTA to the U.S.

Unnamed sources told Mopar Insiders that “this may be the special vehicle unveiling that Alfa Romeo has planned for June 24th.” Not much is known about the anniversary event in Milan, and Alfa Romeo isn’t willing to spill the beans either at this particular moment.

On June 24th, 2020, Alfa Romeo will reach an important milestone in its remarkable history: 110 years in business. During that century-plus span, Alfa Romeo engineers and designers have relentlessly pursued innovation, while always remaining true to the Brand's DNA. Over the years, this DNA - the perfect combination of sportiness and elegance - has created not only some of the most iconic vehicles ever built, but also vehicles that are right at home both on the racetrack and in any beauty contest. To mark its 110th birthday, Alfa Romeo presents a vehicle that fully signifies a return to the brand's origins, while paying tribute to one of the most emblematic vehicles of Alfa Romeo: Giulia GTA.

A set of initials with a legendary feel: GTA

The acronym GTA stands for "Gran Turismo Alleggerita" (alleggerita being the Italian term for "lightened"), and it originated in 1965 with the Giulia Sprint GTA, a specific version derived from the Sprint GT, designed as a sports car and presented at the Amsterdam Motor Show staged that same year. The body of the Giulia Sprint GT was replaced with an identical version in aluminum, for a total weight of 1,642 lb compared to the 2,094 lb of the road version. A second variation concerned the 1.6 twin cam engine which, in the road configuration, with dual ignition, reached an impressive output of 115 hp. The technicians of Autodelta, the official Alfa Romeo racing team, chose it as the reference vehicle for the Touring category, and developed it to achieve a maximum output of 170 hp. The model's success in competitions was then immediate: three consecutive "Challenge Europeo Marche", tens of national championships and hundreds of individual races in every part of the world. And the way it ramped up the image of the entire range was also impressive: Giulia Sprint GTA expressed the claim "A victory a day in your everyday car" to perfection. From then on, the GTA made a name for itself as the undisputed icon of Alfa Romeo sportiness and the acronym GTA became so successful that the public soon associated it with all the sporty Alfa Romeo vehicles in general.

The legend is renewed with excellent technical solutions

On the year of its 110th anniversary, Alfa Romeo intends to break a few rules: it doesn't intend to talk about history, especially its own, nor does it want any gifts for its birthday. Instead, it prefers to give a gift to Alfa enthusiasts by presenting the Giulia GTA. Today, this is a real return to the roots of Alfa Romeo, planted deep in the world of performance and grand touring.

Specific technical features and functional style

For the new Giulia GTA, Alfa Romeo engineers have striven to improve aerodynamics and handling but above all to reduce weight: the same guidelines followed for the 1965 Giulia GTA. The active aerodynamics were specifically studied to increase the downforce. These solutions contain technical know-how that comes directly from Formula 1, thanks to the synergy with Sauber Engineering and the use of the Sauber Aerokit. The same task is assigned to the side skirts, the specific rear spoiler and the active front splitter. The titanium Akrapovi? central exhaust system integrated in the carbon fiber rear diffuser is also new, as are the 20-inch center lock wheels, appearing for the first time on a sedan. The handling at high speeds has been improved by widening the front and rear wheel tracks by 50mm and developing a new set of springs, shock absorbers and bushings for the suspension systems. On GTAm, the aerodynamic front piece has been optimized to an extreme level, by adding a larger front splitter and a real carbon rear wing, which ensure a perfectly balanced load at high speeds. In terms of performance, the powerful 2.9 V6 Bi-Turbo, made entirely of aluminum and capable of unleashing no less than 510 hp in the standard configuration, reaches a power output of 540 hp on Giulia GTA, thanks to meticulous calibration work performed by Alfa Romeo engineers. The same team has also succeeded in optimizing the implementation of the new Akrapovi? specific exhaust system, with its unmistakable sound.

Moving inside the car, several new details stand out: the trim in 100% Alcantara® on the dashboard, door panels, glove compartment, side pillars and the central trim on the seats. Alcantara® is used even more extensively on the GTAm version, where the rear bench has been removed, leaving room for a fully upholstered "basin", hosting specific moldings deigned to hold helmets and fire extinguisher. The new matte carbon inserts endow the interior with a distinctive technical and aesthetic elegance. In the new GTAm, the interior is unique in that it features a roll bar, no door panels or rear seats and the door is opened with a belt in place of the handle, another touch that comes from the racing world.

An excellent weight/power ratio

But power on its own is not enough to ensure extraordinary performance. The work done to reduce vehicle weight has been meticulous and it has reaped particularly impressive results, with a total weight reduction of 220 lb, thanks to the adoption of lightweight materials such as carbon fiber for the drive shaft, hood, roof, front bumper, front wheel arches, rear wheel arch inserts and, on the GTAm, the shell of the specific sporting seats with 6-point Sabelt safety belts. Further, lightweight aluminum is used in the engine, doors and suspension systems, and various other composite materials are used throughout. For instance, Lexan - a unique polycarbonate resin that comes straight from the world of motorsports - has been used in the side and rear window frames, further contributing to the weight reduction. The result is a weight set around 3,350 lb which, combined with the increase in power to 540 hp, brings the weight/power ratio to an excellent level, 6.2 lb/hp, making Giulia GTA and GTAm capable of delivering extraordinary performance. Its acceleration from 0 to 62 mph is lightning fast - thanks to the Launch Control system, the chronometer stops at just 3.6 seconds. The Giulia GTAm is the two-seater configuration approved for on-road use, with front splitter and larger visible rear wing in carbon, the ultimate expression of sportiness. In the GTA version, with the same power, Giulia offers four seats, no rear roll-bar; spoiler and splitter optimized for daily use on the road; the same door panels, seats and windows as those of the Giulia Quadrifoglio. The result is a veritable supercar for everyday use.

A privilege for 500 lucky customers...

Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA and its extreme version, Giulia GTAm, will be built in a limited edition of only 500 units in total, all numbered and certified and ready to take up their place alongside their 1965 forerunner as one of the most sought-after collector's items. They are not only magnificent to look at, but they are also ready to unleash impressive power on the road, usable thanks to a series of sophisticated technical solutions. The same exclusivity found in Giulia GTA and Giulia GTAm will also characterize a particularly exclusive dedicated customer experience, designed to treat the 500 lucky owners to a unique interaction that is 100% Alfa Romeo. After the advance bookings, which are now officially open and will close as soon as the 500th unit has been reserved, the sales process will be one-to-one, with a Brand ambassador product specialist following each customer from order to delivery. But the buying experience doesn't stop at the dedicated sales process. Indeed, the new owners will also receive a personalized experience package kit, which includes a Bell helmet in special GTA livery, a full racing set by Alpinestars (race suit, gloves and shoes) and a personalized Goodwool car cover for protecting his or her GTA or GTAm. In addition to other equipment for true enthusiasts, the Alfa Romeo customer experience also includes a specific driving course devised by the Alfa Romeo Driving Academy.

Based on the Giorgio vehicle architecture, the Giulia and Stelvio have been updated for the 2021 model year. Now arriving at U.S. dealers with more standard equipment, the compact executive sedan and SUV deliver “unsurpassed value, performance, and driving dynamics.”
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As far as the Giulia is concerned, you have four trims to choose from. The Sprint starts at $39,450 while the range-topping Quadrifoglio can be yours from $74,750 excluding destination. All-wheel drive is also available as a $2,000 option on all trims except for the Quadrifoglio.

The Stelvio costs from $2,000 to $6,000 more depending on the specification. One of the most important updates for this model year is Level 2 semi-autonomous technologies designed to control acceleration, braking, and steering thanks to the likes of Highway Assist and Traffic Jam Assist.

Over-the-air updates, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a mobile app with remote operations, and an 8.8-inch touchscreen display are also worthy of mentioning, along with a machine-knurled rotary knob and the Italian flag at the base of the shifter. For 2021, Alfa Romeo further sweetened the deal with four new exterior colors. Be it the Giulia or Stelvio, the palette now includes Verde Montreal, Rosso Villa d’Este, Rosso GTA, as well as Ocra GT Junior.

As opposed to Europe, the U.S. doesn’t get the 2.2-liter turbo diesel. Customers will have to settle for a 2.0-liter turbo known as the Hurricane in the Jeep Wrangler or the Ferrari-based V6 with 2.9 liters of displacement.

The base engine develops 280 horsepower and 306 pound-feet (415 Nm) of torque, enabling the Giulia to accelerate to 60 mph (97 kph) in 5.1 seconds. Level up to the six-cylinder and twin-turbo option, and you’re looking at 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet (600 Nm).

Even though American enthusiasts were looking forward to a stick shift when the Giulia Quadrifoglio was new, the Italian automaker couldn't care less about their wish. And no, you can’t get a six-speed manual transmission on lesser versions with the 2.0-liter engine either.

Alfa Romeo has opened a new chapter to its long history with the Carabinieri by delivering an armored Giulia to the Italian military police force.

Joining their motor pool, which includes other rides such as the Suzuki Jimny, this is the first of a fleet consisting of 1,770 units. It was handed over last week during an event held at the automaker’s Turin headquarters that was attended by the President of the Stellantis Group, John Elkann, the Commander General of the Carabinieri, Teo Luzi, the CEO of Alfa Romeo, Jean-Philippe Imparato, and other Stellantis and Carabinieri officials.

Set to be used by the local Carabinieri stations across the country, besides the B4 armored windscreen, side windows, front doors and shatterproof rear window, this Giulia features other modifications such as protection for the fuel tank, weapon and police baton holders, bulletproof vest in the cockpit, radio for use by the crew members, detainee cell, external amplifier, LED flashing lights on the side mirrors and emergency lights.

The car is painted in the specific Carabineri livery with a dark blue body, white roof and red accents, and is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 200 HP and is coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Alfa Romeo has been supplying vehicles to the Carabinieri since 1951, when the 1900 M Matta entered service, joined by the 1900 Sedan in 1952. Over the years, they delivered many other models to be used by the local authorities, including the 90, 75, 155, 156 and 159, which was the predecessor of the modern Giulia. The Giulia QV entered service in 2016, with its 503 HP, 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 and the ability to accelerate to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.9 seconds.

Alfa Romeo launched the ‘6C Villa d’Este’ limited editions of Giulia and Stelvio as a nod to the limited production 6C 2500 SS Coupé that won the Referendum Grand Prix at the 1949 Concorso d’Eleganza di Villa d’Este.



Both models get a striking three-layer Etna Red paint for the exterior which is a reference to the original, combined with chrome-plated window frames. The Stelvio sits on Alfa Romeo’s classic 21-inch alloy wheels while the Giulia has a different set of 18-inch wheels with five double spokes.

Inside we find ’6C Villa d’Este’ emblems embroidered on the front headrests and on the dashboard. Standard equipment includes electrically adjustable and heated seats with beige premium leather upholstery, aluminum shift paddles, level 2 ADAS systems, a rearview camera, parking sensors, a wireless charging pad, and an automatically operated tailgate.

The Giulia ‘6C Villa d’Este’ can be ordered with either the 2.2 turbodiesel producing 187 hp (140 kW / 190 PS), or the 2.0 turbo petrol producing 197 hp (147 kW / 200 PS). In both cases, power is sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Meanwhile, the Stelvio ‘6C Villa d’Este’ is offered with a more powerful 2.2 turbodiesel producing 207 hp (154 kW / 210 PS), or the 2.0 turbo petrol with 276 hp (206 kW / 280 PS) – just like the Veloce Ti variant. The SUV is exclusively offered in AWD form with the the eight-speed auto.

Alfa Romeo didn’t release information on the pricing and the availability of the limited editions, but we expect them to be slightly more expensive than the Veloce trim. As a reminder, the Giulia was launched back in 2015 followed by the Stelvio in 2016. Both models received a facelift in 2020 with several updates. At the moment those two are the only models offered by Alfa Romeo. However, the Italian automaker is getting ready for revealing the Tonale plug-in hybrid C-SUV in summer 2022, followed by a fully electric B-SUV in 2023.

In March 2020, Alfa Romeo presented the Giulia GTA and GTAm, two limited-production performance-oriented special editions of the premium compact sedan with more power, more extreme aero, and less weight.

A year and a half later, and not forgetting that they had a significant price premium over the Giulia Quadrifoglio, Alfa Romeo has managed to sell all 500 examples of its GTA/GTAm series.

The Italian company said that beyond Europe, “a significant number” of GTA/GTAm were sold in China, Japan, and Australia. We know that a total of 18 units were reserved for the Australian market, out of the 500 that came out of Alfa Romeo’s factory. We’ll remind you that the GTA and GTAm were not offered for sale in North America.

The decision to produce 500 units is a nod to the iconic 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA developed by Autodelta Racing Team at Baloco since this was the number required for type approval as a sports car in the Group 2 Turismo class.

Alfa Romeo always intended for the Giulia GTA to be a collector’s car. After all, this is the model that brought back the legendary GTA badge on Alfa Romeo’s 110th birthday. It is also the last pure ICE-powered performance model of the Italian brand before the forthcoming electrification, something that should increase its value in the long run.

Besides the historical significance, the Giulia GTA is also gorgeous, and judging from the glowing reviews published after the model’s official European debut on May 2021, it has the character you would expect from a special model.

As a reminder both the Giulia GTA and GTAm are fitted with a tweaked twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 producing 532 hp (397 kW / 540 PS) that drives the rear wheels only. Using launch control, it needed 3.6 seconds for the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint. Thanks to a new suspension setup developed with the help of Alfa Romeo’s racing drivers, it was also faster around the corners.

Visually, it is distinguished by the single-locking nut 20-inch wheels and the redesigned bodykit which included an active splitter, larger intakes, fender extensions, a fixed rear wing (GTAm), and a larger diffuser housing the Akrapovič titanium exhaust. Thanks to a diet including the removal of the rear seats, the GTAm weighs 220 lbs (100 kg) less than a standard Quadrifoglio.

​​​​​​​For the record, pricing in Italy started from €175,000 (the equivalent of around US$203,000 at today’s rates) for the Giulia GTA, and from €180,000 (US$209,000) for the more hardcore Giulia GTAm.

Earlier this month, we spied a new special edition version of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The test car was almost camo-free but now it is time for its full and official debut. The Stelvio Estrema is joined by the Giulia Estrema with both filling the space between the Veloce trim and the range-topping Quadrifoglio models.

Described as “the first globally available limited-edition series from Alfa Romeo,” the Estrema duo is positioned as a more performance-oriented alternative to the Veloce trim. It comes with standard adaptive suspension and a limited-slip differential. The advanced suspension reads the road and adjusts shock valving according to the road conditions in an attempt to deliver better handling characteristics.

Another technology the Giulia Estrema and Stelvio Estrema share with the QV models is the LSD. It distributes torque between the wheels to ensure better traction during acceleration and cornering. Responsible for generating the power is a 2.0-liter turbocharged gas engine, good for 280 horsepower (206 kilowatts) and 306 pound-feet (415 Newton-meters) of torque. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is standard on both the sedan and the SUV. The Stelvio also has a standard all-wheel drive, while Alfa Romeo’s Q4 AWD system is optional for the Giulia.

Thanks to these hardware upgrades, the Italian automaker says the sedan can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour (0-96 kilometers per hour) in 5.5 seconds with RWD and 5.1 seconds with all four wheels turning. The Stelvio, in turn, needs 5.5 seconds for the same sprint.

Also standard for both cars are adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot assist. Alfa is especially proud of its collaboration with the Alfa Romeo F1 team, which helped with the weight distribution and other performance tweaks.

You can now order both the Giulia Estrema and Stelvio Estrema with first deliveries expected in the third quarter of the year. Four colors are available for both vehicles and prices start at $55,090 for the RWD Giulia Estrema and $58,950 for the Stelvio Estrema. If you want an AWD Giulia Estrema, you’ll have to spend at least $57,090 (all prices exclude a destination of $1,595).

Alfa Romeo is reportedly working on a new SUV as an alternative to the BMW X5, but it has also recently revealed the all-new Tonale. Clearly, SUVs are where the Italian automaker is putting most of its focus, but new sports cars are promised. As for existing offerings, the Stelvio and Giulia were recently updated, but both are getting a little long in the tooth, so one can't help but wonder if these will soon be killed off. Fortunately, Alfa Romeo has said that it is "not abandoning the Giulia." The brand's CEO, Jean-Philippe Imparato, says that "there will be a future Giulia, and it will be an electric-only model."

The Stellantis-owned brand is planning to go all-electric by 2027, so there's no time to dawdle with electrification. Thus, the Alfa Romeo Giulia will be losing its combustion-powered engine, which means that the brilliant Quadrifoglio variant that gave the last BMW M3 nightmares will no longer be tormenting the Bavarians. Hopefully, a high-performance model will still follow, but without that spectacular 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6, the soul of this fiery Italian is gone.

In addition, the Giulietta hatchback will not be returning, as Imparato says that the Tonale crossover has filled that niche and that the hatch was originally a Euro-focused model while the Tonale is a better fit for more global markets.

We're still expecting new sports cars at some point, but for now, it appears that we will have a long wait ahead of us. Alfa Romeo is prioritizing moneymaking SUVs as it tries to regain a commanding foothold in the luxury car market, so the passion-driven cars that fans actually want will have to wait a little while. Alfa Romeo hopes that the Tonale will help it sell more than 100,000 vehicles a year, as it used to. If that does happen, Alfa's coffers will be replenished somewhat and the performance cars we expect will become viable. So say goodbye to the raucous Giulia and prepare for a silent drive. We may hate it now, but if it means the survival of a brand like Alfa, we'll take it.

With Alfa Romeo moving on to electrification of its SUVs, the Giulia will not be left out of the spotlight. Before adopting a battery-powered system, Alfa Romeo is giving the sedan a refresh – and a prototype has been spotted on the road, courtesy of Walter Vayr on Facebook.

Don't expect a revolutionary change in terms of design, though. In fact, Alfa didn't even bother covering much of the bodywork except for some details on the grille, the headlamps, and the lower intakes. We expect some minute rework here and there but nothing extensive. As far as the meaning of facelift goes, this is pretty much it.

That's because the refresh was done only to keep the Giulia fresh before its inevitable foray into the EV market. For the uninitiated, Alfa Romeo has confirmed that the next-generation Giulia will be an all-electric model. Details of the sedan's EV future are scarce at the moment.

Of note, Alfa Romeo has confirmed that it will become an EV-only brand by 2027, so introducing a new generation with an internal combustion engine will not make sense within this timeframe.

That said, this facelifted Giulia will likely be the last iteration before Alfa's EV era.

Alfa's venture into the EV market comes with a reinforcement in the SUV segment. The Tonale has been introduced as a model under the Stelvio. A smaller crossover will be introduced under the Tonale with the name Brennero, confirmed to debut in 2024. Electric versions of these high-riding models are underway.

The focus might be on electrification and SUVs but you can expect the facelifted Giulia by 2023. If you're a fan of the BMW 3 Series rival, here's your final chance to buy one brand new without a charging port.

The New Giulia and Stelvio are making their debuts. These two award-winning models have won over the international community thanks both to the brand's trademark excellence-perfect weight distribution, best-in-class driving dynamics, top-of-the-line technological and motor solutions-and to the timeless design which makes any Alfa Romeo vehicle a long-lasting "moving work of art". Today, Alfa Romeo's distinct take on the beauty of Italian design has been made even more seductive and contemporary on both models with stylistic interventions being made on their fronts to create a clear and strong family feeling with the Tonale. The New Giulia and Stelvio will be available starting from February 2023.

A new "look"

Standing out on the fronts of the New Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio, the front grille, where the logo is positioned, and the lower grilles of the two main air ducts have been given a unique finishing which provides a contemporary reinterpretation of the famous and distinct "Trilobo" grille. In fact, the headlights are the main new feature on the front. Starting today the "3+3" lights make their debut on both models with new Full-LED Adaptive Matrix headlights. This creates both a strong family feeling with the Tonale and, at the same time, recalls one of the brand's famous features which was introduced by the iconic Alfa Romeo SZ Zagato and the Alfa Romeo Proteo concept car. The three modules make up the New Giulia's and Stelvio's unique frontline and supply daylight, a dynamic turn signal ensuring the best lighting conditions thanks to the introduction of two sophisticated technologies: the "Adaptive Front Lighting System", which constantly adjusts the dipped beam headlights based on the speed and driving conditions, and the "Glare-Free High Beam Segmented Technology", which in poor lighting conditions automatically detects both directions of traffic to avoid blinding the other cars; and finally the"Welcome and Goodbye" device, a function which turns on every time the driver closes or opens the car. All of this means more efficiency-in terms of duration and energy savings-and greater safety due to less stress on the eyes and increased driving comfort. The layout of the group of rear LED tail lights, which provide the perfect combination of style and sophisticated technologies, have also been made over to accentuate both models' sporty souls. Specifically, the New Alfa Romeo Giulia has new tail lights in glass with a transparent finish, while those on the New Stelvio come in smoked glass with a glossy black finish.

The new, completely digital instrument panel

The New Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio are equipped with the most cutting-edge technology to ensure a comfortable and connected experience, while simultaneously providing the trademark pleasure of driving an Alfa Romeo. The most significant update can be seen in the instrument panel with its historic "telescopic" design. It includes the new, completely digital 12.3" TFT screen, where one can access all the vehicle information and parameters related to the autonomous driving technologies. Moreover, the cluster can be reconfigured into three layouts: Evolved, Relax, and Heritage. Evolved represents the future of Alfa Romeo design and uses the central area of the screen, despite keeping its two lateral quadrants in place. Relax focuses on comfort, is free of detailed vehicle information, and goes without the two quadrants. Heritage is inspired by the brand's iconic Sixties' and Seventies' models, with distinctive details like inverted numbers at the end of the speedometer.

Alfa Romeo’s first series-production electric vehicle is due to debut in 2024, with chief executive officer Jean-Philippe Imparato confirming a hybrid powertrain as well. Come 2027, the ailing brand will debut EVs only.

​​​​​​​Imparato promised in the ballpark of 1,000 metric horsepower (make that 986 mechanical horsepower) for the long-overdue replacement of the Giulia compact executive sedan, the model that premiered the Giorgio rear-wheel-drive platform shared with the Stelvio SUV.

The Giorgio went live in 2015, and Stellantis will replace said platform with the STLA Large following Fiat Chrysler’s merger with Groupe PSA. Developed for D- and E-segment applications, the Giorgio further underpins the Maserati Grecale, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Jeep Grand Cherokee L family-sized utility vehicle.

Stellantis couldn’t make a case for the Giorgio vehicle architecture in the mid-term future because it can’t accommodate hybridized or electric powertrains. With Euro 7 going live in 2025 and CAFE standards getting more draconic with each passing year, this extremely well sorted platform will soon go the way of the dodo.

Extremely well sorted platform is not hyperbole. Having driven a few variants of the Giulia and Stelvio, as well as having tracked a manual Giulia Quadrifoglio, yours truly stands by his words. The Giulia and Stelvio may handle superbly, but nevertheless, they fall short pretty much everywhere else versus the German competition.

They’re not as comfortable, not as techy, not as desirable, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles couldn’t even make a case for a touchscreen infotainment system. Even under Stellantis, the facelifted Giulia and Stelvio don’t have touchscreen infotainment. Given that W214 E-Class can run TikTok and Angry Birds, there is no excuse whatsoever for not offering a damn touchscreen.

On the upside, Alfa Romeo has big plans for the next generation of the Giulia, which is likely to be followed by an electric successor to the Stelvio in 2026. British publication Autocar understands from Imparato that 435 miles (700 kilometers) of all-electric range are possible, with the entry-level specification to boast 345 ponies.

Similar to the current generation, the all-electric Giulia is expected with rear-wheel drive for the base specification. The performance-oriented Veloce is reportedly getting 790 horsepower, which is more than what the Porsche Carrera GT and Ferrari Enzo make. The Quadrifoglio will serve as the cream of the crop with the aforementioned 986 horsepower, purportedly split between three electric motors (think Maserati Folgore).

The GranTurismo Folgore from the House of the Trident should have packed 1,200-odd horsepower, but alas, the Modenese automaker couldn’t deliver on its promise. 818 horsepower in boost mode is the most the GranTurismo Folgore currently makes, a limitation brought by the lithium-ion pack’s discharge capability.

The pouch cells of the GranTurismo Folgore and upcoming GranCabrio Folgore are produced by LG Chem, and the South Korean company is expected to supply Alfa Romeo as well for their electric vehicles.

On April 15, 2023, 100 years will have passed since an indelible symbol of Alfa Romeo, the Quadrifoglio, made its debut on the racing version of the RL during the XIV edition of the Targa Florio.

On this special anniversary, Alfa Romeo has introduced the new Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio with the exclusive commemorative "Quadrifoglio 100th Anniversario" edition. Limited to just 100 units both for the Giulia and Stelvio, the Anniversary Edition is the result of one hundred years of research into technical excellence which has been applied to racing and production vehicles. Its iconic nature, technical purity and technology have been combined to place it at the top of its respective segments, with best-in-class handling and power-to-weight ratio, creating a direct and immersive one-of-a-kind Alfa Romeo driving experience. Lots of new features: celebratory badges, exclusive characterization, and lots of technology thanks to the new adaptive full-LED matrix headlamps and the new fully digital instrument cluster embellished with the historic 'telescope' design.

To celebrate one century of pure sportiness, the Quadrifoglio is heading back to its native land of Sicily, as Alfa Romeo has chosen the island to be the backdrop for a commemorative photo shoot which, in addition to recounting tradition, highlights Italian "Great Beauty" and "Made in Italy". After one hundred years, the Quadrifoglio journey has not ended, as it continues to be reinvented and projected into a bright future which pays homage to the successes of the past.

The origins of a legend

A symbol of Italian noble sportiness, the legendary Quadrifoglio has always been synonymous with the brand's highest-performing creations. This not only holds true for its racing models, but for its most powerful and exclusive road vehicles as well. On the occasion of its one-hundredth anniversary, it is being introduced in a commemorative version. Reinterpreted in a modern key, the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo has projected its historical logo into the brand's future while preserving its solidity and elegance. Plus, its color point has been given a contemporary chromatic update and recalls the brand's glorious vehicles and celebrated racing victories which are now part of the collective imagination.

The Quadrifoglio has been part of Alfa Romeo's racing and industrial history since the very beginning. It all started on April 15, 1923 on the occasion of the XIV edition of one of the oldest automobile races in the world, the Targa Florio-the prestigious event which, at the beginning of the 20th century, transformed Sicily once a year into the most famous European "salon". Intense and incredibly challenging, the race was one of the most important milestones of its time for drivers and could thrust particular car models and entire brands onto the market. That's why, in 1923, Alfa Romeo put enormous importance on the Sicilian race, developing a specific version of its RL and recruiting talented drivers.

In the end, Ugo Sivocci, an important driver of his time, brought home the win thanks to his skills and a series of fortunate events which would make the choice of the Quadrifoglio (a four-leaf clover) even more meaningful as an emblem of sportiness on the hoods of race cars. With this victory, Alfa Romeo was catapulted onto the Mount Olympus of car manufacturers, inexorably linking the symbol of the Quadrifoglio to the brand's legendary vehicles and setting the stage for an extensive series of brave achievements by unforgettable drivers. From the first Grand Prix championship in 1925, and moving on to the Mille Miglia, the Targa Florio and "24-huor Le Mans", the brand dominated the international racing scene from then on. However, the lucky symbol soon began to stand out on exclusive road vehicles as well. In fact, the glazed Quadrifoglio badge would make its first appearance on a road vehicle with the Giulia Sprint GT Veloce and launch a tradition which continues until today. These are the brand's most powerful versions in their ranges and have been designed for a public of car-enthusiasts who are passionate about sporty driving.

A 100-unit, limited-edition jam-packed with exclusive content: technology, greater power with 520 HP, and superior technical refinement thanks to the limited slip-differential

The Giulia and Stelvio "Quadrifoglio 100th Anniversario" editions are the result of one-hundred years of research into technical excellence which has been applied to racing and production vehicles. The V6 engine has been enhanced to 520 HP (for Europe, the UK and China) and is combined with the mechanical self-locking differential, a feature that makes its debut on this special launch series. This is an important technical device that, thanks to specific tuning derived from the Giulia GTA's design experience, contributes to improving the car's behavior and traction, optimizing torque transfer, and increasing stability, agility, and speed in bends.

Best in class driving dynamics, the result of surprising lightness, due to the use of ultra-light materials such as aluminum for the engine and carbon fiber for the drive shaft, bonnet, spoiler, and skirts. On the Giulia, active aerodynamics remains with the carbon front splitter: when activated it controls the quality of airflow passing under the vehicle, increasing stability and performance. Finally, the Akrapovich exhaust system gives the exhaust an unmistakable sound.

Strong personality on the exteriors where Giulia and Stelvio renew their look in continuity with the family feeling of the range characterized by the '3+3' headlights, with new adaptive Full-LED Matrix headlights that offer an anti-glare and adaptive driving beam for optimal lighting in all conditions, guaranteeing energy savings, a high improvement in safety and less eye fatigue. Burnished 5-hole 19" sports alloy wheels for the Giulia, and 21" for the Stelvio with new, exclusive gold brake calipers. The same precious hue distinguishes the emblem celebrating 100 years of the Quadrifoglio, positioned on the mudguard of both cars. To add even more sportiness, for both Giulia and Stelvio, the grille and mirror caps are in visible carbon. Three liveries are available: Rosso Etna, Verde Montreal, and Nero Vulcano.

The same sporty feel can be found in the interiors where there is an exclusive combination of black and Alcantara leather which is enhanced by new and exclusive in sight golden stitching and an innovative 3D finish in real carbon for the instrument panel, the central tunnel, and the door panels. On the dashboard, there is a special stitching of the number "100" next to a golden Quadrifoglio. The steering wheel is upholstered in leather and Alcantara with black stitching and carbon fiber inserts.

Whether it is the exclusive look, technology or onboard connectivity, all of the features are at the service of a trademark Alfa-Romeo driving experience. This can be seen in the new instrument panel which includes the historic "telescopic" design and debuts a completely digital 12.3" TFT screen where you can access all of the vehicle's information and the parameters related to the autonomous driving technologies. In addition to the three layouts available on the entire Alfa Romeo layout (Evolved, Relax and Heritage), the exclusive 'Race' configuration makes its debut on the Quadrifoglio.

The 'Race' layout gathers in the central screen the fundamental information that every rider wants to have under control: rev counter, speedometer and shift light for manual driving. The layout can be customized by placing additional information, including instant performance ones, in the side dials.