► Next-gen Alfa Giulia revealed
► Ready for launch mid-decade
► Set to flip to STLA electric platform
We’ve already chronicled plans for a brand-new Alfa Romeo Spider – but it’s not the only new Alfa that’s preparing to plug in: the next-generation Giulia is also set to make the switch to full electric power.
CAR magazine’s artist’s impression above captures what we think the new Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio could look like once it adopts the Stallantis STLA architecture earmarked for future battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the Stellantis group.
The company is busy launching a flurry of SUVs, led by 2022’s new Tonale, but today’s heartland cars will remain in the range, CAR can confirm.
What do we know about the new Alfa Romeo Giulia?
The head of Alfa has told us that today’s Giulia (below) will be directly replaced, but it’s playing second fiddle to the new wave of SUVs; Alfa will soon have the Stelvio (large), Tonale (medium) and a new smaller crossover (B-SUV) to rival the likes of the hot-selling Ford Puma et al. But sports cars and saloons will remain in the line-up, it seems.
‘I’m in love with the shape of my Giulia,’ Alfa CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato tells us. ‘I can tell you that the Giulia will have a successor. You will see one day, it’s super, really gorgeous. And the Quadrifoglio version of the cars we will launch will have a very high level of performance.’
It’s a strong sign that Alfa Romeo is acutely aware of the marketing lure of performance models and sexy styling – needed to tempt buyers away from the German hegemony dominating the premium car marketplace in 2022.
‘The successor of the Giulia will not come in 2024,’ answers Imparato (below), when asked if we could see the new Giulia before the middle of the decade. He refused to be drawn on the exact launch date, but insiders tell us the current four-door saloon will receive updates and soldier on for some time yet as the brand rolls out its range of SUVs to capitalise on the market’s insatiable appetite for crossovers.
The boss adds that the Giulia and Stelvio are growing their share of the combustion-powered D-segment (think 3-series/X3), and it’s likely that Alfa Romeo will keep them in service with extensive makeovers, to bridge the gap until they can plug in.
Long-term test: we live with an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
How the next Alfa Romeo Giulia could go electric
This timeframe suggests that the new Giulia would arrive around 2025/26 – by which time a full electric powertrain will be a given, to dodge forthcoming bans on combustion engines in some territories.
Imparato confirms that Alfa will use four Stellantis architectures, and directly namechecks the electric STLA (pronounced Stella) Medium and Large platforms, which are tipped to power the new compact exec.
This hardware has battery capacity of up to 104kWh for a viably long range and electric motors rated at up to 241bhp; sling an e-motor on each axle for the Quadrifoglio model pictured and that’s an all-electric rocketship with damn nearly 500bhp. That’s the kind of EV that makes us sit up and pay attention!
More scoops on future Alfa Romeos here