Change of plan at Alfa Romeo: The future Giulia and Stelvio will appear two years later than expected

Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio: Why did "Il Biscione" postpone the launch of the new generations until 2028?

In an auto industry undergoing radical transformation, Alfa Romeo has chosen a strategy of caution. Although fans of the brand were eagerly awaiting the successors to the current Giulia and Stelvio, the Stellantis group recently confirmed that the launch of the new generations will be postponed by another two years. Thus, the models we know today, initially launched in 2016, will remain on the market until the end of 2027, with the new iterations not due to debut until 2028.

The Paradigm Shift: From “Electric Only” to “Multi-Energy”

The main reason for this delay is the recalculation of the engine strategy. Initially, under the previous management, Alfa Romeo had proposed a lightning-fast transition to 100% electric propulsion. However, the slowdown in global demand for electric cars and the relaxation of EU rules on internal combustion engines from 2035 have forced a rethink of the project.

Santo Ficili, the brand's new CEO, explained that the future Giulia and Stelvio will be developed on the STLA Large platform, an extremely versatile architecture. This will allow the manufacturer to offer:

• Fully electric versions (BEV) with ranges of up to 800 km.
• High-performance hybrid and thermal engines, to satisfy markets where charging infrastructure is still lacking.

This “reinvention” requires additional time to adapt electronic architecture and connectivity systems so that cars remain competitive for the next decade.

Alfa Romeo on the Romanian market: Exclusivity and Prices

In Romania, Alfa Romeo remains a niche brand, aimed at "Alfa fans" who put the emotion and dynamics of driving above resale value or volume.

1. Sales and popularity

Although the Tonale (the new compact SUV) has taken over the role of the "engine" of sales in the last two years, the Giulia and Stelvio retain a core of loyal customers. In 2024 and 2025, the Stelvio continued to be the favorite of Romanians due to its high ground clearance, while the Giulia remains a rare and exotic presence on the roads, being appreciated especially in the top versions.

2. Current prices in Romania (estimated)

In the local market, prices reflect the premium positioning of the brand. In the context of the latest technological updates (facelift in 2023), list prices start from:

• Alfa Romeo Giulia: approx. €48,000 – €55,000 (for the 2.0L diesel/petrol versions), reaching over €95,000 for the Quadrifoglio variant.
• Alfa Romeo Stelvio: approx. €53,000 – €60,000, with well-equipped versions (Veloce) frequently exceeding the €70,000 threshold.

On the second-hand market in Romania, these models are in high demand. A 2020-2021 Stelvio sells for between €25,000 and €35,000, offering a performance-price ratio that is hard to match for German rivals.

Conclusion

Postponing the new generations until 2028 is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the current Giulia and Stelvio risk appearing technologically outdated (infotainment, assistance systems) in the face of the competition. On the other hand, Santo Ficili's decision to keep the thermal engines in the offer could be the "salvation" of the brand, giving customers the freedom to choose between the sound of a gasoline engine and electric efficiency. For Romania, this news is positive, as the local market is still strongly attached to internal combustion engines.

Could these future "latest" thermal versions be collector's items? Probably yes, given that the driving purity offered by the Giorgio platform (the current base of the models) is considered by many automotive journalists to be the benchmark in the segment.