Alfa Romeo Revives Its Most Extreme Cars | Carscoops

      The flagship models are set to make a comeback next year, equipped with the same twin-turbo V6 engine.

      9 hours ago

      by Thanos Pappas

      The V6 Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio are scheduled to return in 2026.

      The CEO is now directing attention towards smaller models, abandoning plans for larger EVs.

      The upcoming Giulia and Stelvio will continue as flagships, with hybrid and electric options available.

      While many were eagerly anticipating the next-generation Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio to debut soon, Stellantis chose to alter its strategy by extending the current models' production until the end of 2027, thereby postponing the launch of their successors.

      More: We Were Expected to Receive New Giulia and Stelvio, but Alfa Has Different Plans

      That’s just part of the update. In addition to the regular models, the brand intends to bring back the discontinued Quadrifoglio versions, and it has also decided against entering larger segments. This decision is not surprising, given that every Alfa CEO over the past twenty years has promised a flagship sedan and SUV without ever realizing that promise.

      The Big Alfa Is No More

      Alfa Romeo CEO Santo Ficili is anticipated to unveil a new roadmap in the first half of 2026. In the meantime, he provided some insights to Automotive News. Ficili confirmed that Alfa will concentrate on the small (Junior), compact (Tonale), and midsize (Giulia/Stelvio) segments, underscoring that larger vehicles simply don’t align with the brand’s "territory."

      Review: The Junior Is Exactly What Alfa Romeo Needed But Not What Alfisti Wanted

      This represents a significant shift from the strategies of previous CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato, who aimed for a large SUV with a fully electric drivetrain. That planned flagship was intended to utilize Stellantis’s STLA Large platform and was set to debut in 2027, targeting North America and potentially China.

      However, the new leadership appears less inclined to compete with BMW, Mercedes, and Audi in the large EV market. Instead, the forthcoming successors to the Giulia and Stelvio will remain the flagship models of the Alfa Romeo range. Built on the STLA Medium platform, they will provide both hybrid and fully electric powertrain options.

      The Return of the Cloverleaf

      Shortly after the Quadrifoglio variants of the Giulia and Stelvio were retired, plans for their revival have already begun. Jules Tilstone, Managing Director of Alfa Romeo UK, mentioned to Autocar that production of the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio is set to commence in April 2026.

      Tilstone indicated that the powertrain “will be essentially the same,” implying that these models will retain the non-electrified twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 engine. Minor adjustments may be required to comply with Euro 7 emissions standards, but any performance changes are expected to be minimal.

      Review: Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Feels More Like a Sports Car Than an SUV

      This V6 engine produced up to 513 hp (383 kW / 520 PS) in special Quadrifoglio variations and achieved 532 hp (397 kW / 540 PS) in the limited Giulia GTA and GTAm editions.

      In the United States, the availability of the Quadrifoglio models ended in 2024 with the limited-production Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio Super Sport editions. Whether Alfa Romeo will introduce new U.S.-spec Quadrifoglio models following the resumption of production in 2026 remains uncertain.

      Previous reports suggested that Alfa Romeo was contemplating both combustion and electric variants for future Quadrifoglio models. For now, with the extension of the current generation's production, any new high-performance models seem to be a distant prospect.

      Sources: Automotive News, Autocar