At Alfa Romeoproduct calendar announcements have often been the stuff of enthusiasts' dreams... but also of frustration. Just a few years ago, Jean-Philippe Imparato, then CEO of Alfa Romeo (now head of Stellantis Europe), was promising a new Alfa every year. This would be enough to give the Italian brand a serious boost, with a modernized, richer and more coherent range.
In fact, after the launch of the Tonale in 2022, we had to wait until 2024 to discover the Junior. As for what's next, it's a long time coming: all eyes are now on the next generations of the Stelvio and Giulia.
Timetable: Stelvio in 2025, Giulia in 2026
Logically, according to the original plan, the Stelvio should have been presented during 2025, with sales to follow, and the Giulia in 2026. This scenario seemed to be confirmed when we spoke directly to a brand manager during the press tests of the Alfa Romeo Junior Q4. He told us a presentation of the Stelvio for late 2025followed by a spring 2026 launch. The four models (Tonale, Junior, Stelvio and Giulia), he adds, will be launched on the market. would be present in dealerships by the end of 2026.
But in Cassino, a different discourse
But the Cassino plant, which will produce future models based on the STLA Large platform, is starting to take a different approach. A few weeks ago, the unions were talking about production of the Stelvio scheduled for mid-2026. This information could still be consistent with a launch date in the second half of the year. But the latest rumor to come out of Cassino is, to say the least, unexpected and even worrying.
Production pushed back to 2027?
According to insistent rumors in the corridors, production of the new Stelvio would not begin until 2027. The reason? Technical difficulties linked to the integration of hybrid powertrains, currently incompatible with the current version of the the STLA Large (LP3) platform.
This platform was designed primarily for electric 100 % models. Although it is derived from a modular base, the LP1, LP2 or LP4 variants are compatible with hybrid blocks, the version planned for Alfa Romeo would not yet be suitable for this intermediate powertrain.
A decision influenced by Italian legislation
We therefore sought to verify this rumour with a reliable internal source, and her words partly confirm this complex scenario. According to this source, the 100 % electric version of the Stelvio would have been ready for the summer of 2026, in line with previous union statements. A HEV (simple hybrid) version would have followed six months later, in late 2026 / early 2027.
But it was changes in Italian legislation on company cars that would have changed everything. With even more stringent CO2 requirements (below 60 g/km), only PHEV (plug-in hybrid) versions could now be considered. This would require a further six months of development, postponing the Stelvio's release to the summer of 2027. And Alfa Romeo, rather than releasing an electric-only 100 % model, plans to postpone the launch until it can offer the full range of powertrains, including PHEVs. Italy remains by far the number 1 market for Alfa Romeo.
Another disappointment in store?
If confirmed, this would be a huge disappointment for fans of the brand. And a feeling of déjà vu: Alfa Romeo would once again have difficulty keeping to its schedule, despite its stated ambitions. Worse still, it would mean that in 2026, the range would still only consist of the Junior and Tonale, and that the current Stelvio and Giulia would have to be extended a little longer.
Should we believe these rumours? For the moment, official confirmation is hard to come by. But several important dates are expected in June, which could clarify the situation: the brand's anniversary, the presentation of the new CEO de Stellantis, and above all the presentation of the new "Piano Italia" to the Italian government. Perhaps the opportunity for Alfa Romeo to clarify the future of its range once and for all.
English 
French 
Italian 
Spanish 
Portuguese 
German 
Japanese 
Turkish
The worst merger in history
Well no ... Fiat Chrysler, which gave rise to FCA, was exactly the same piece of junk. The worst thing is that it's the Italian shareholder who's sabotaging his industry! PSA should never have merged with FCA. What stupidity, and yet all the pros in the business predicted it...
Last time I checked, it was Tavares' policies that were responsible for the situation. Between low-costization, reliability problems in the French part of the group and brutal management, it's the ex-PSA that's the group's lame duck.
It's fca that shouldn't have merged with psa, which was bankrupt in 2014. Fortunately, the Chinese invested in the psa group, and we mustn't forget that Fiat is number 1 in the stelantis group, far ahead of Peugeot (see on the internet).
In an ever-changing world, some things never change. Okay, Italy remains (and logically so) the brand's most important market, but to end this dependence, we may have to take risks and seek to develop new markets that can accommodate Electrics and HEVs just fine until we see PHEVs arrive on the scene.
It would seem that in addition to design and sportiness, the brand's DNA is also made up of a lack of direction and durability.
All because of Tavares, who was obsessed with launching only new 100 % electric vehicles, and today we're seeing the result with the automotive market turning around and failing to sell electrics.
Stellantis made a mistake in not launching a hybrid version of the current Giulia /Stelvio, even though this technology exists at Maserati.
We're back to the same problem as the electric 500, which should have been available as a thermal hybrid when the model was launched, and the same goes for the Abarth version.
Sell Alfa you incompetents
The idea of launching only electric 100% models on the assumption that buyers would follow is yet another disaster of the Tavares era. With production of the Stelvio and Giulia finished (or about to end?), Alfa Romeo will survive thanks to the Junior and the restyled Tonale until 2027?
We wonder how a brand can make so many mistakes!
But Tavares isn't the only one who's made a mess of things, as Imparato and Elkann have let Tavares get away with it.
Abarth, whose electric models sell in very small quantities, is another example of a bad decision (why didn't they offer an Abarth Ibrida?).
Stellantis has always made the wrong decisions, at any level. Scrooge and his gang (who I hope will soon leave) being the epitome of nullity.
I love Alfa. But this is the most confused brand in car history. Communication is very terrible
A relative fiasco with no real surprises. I remember an interview with Mr. Imperato (a very nice man, by the way) who explained on a media channel 2 years ago (100bornes, without naming him) that the brand would not be able to survive without electrification! Of course not! And it's not the (very relative) success of the 2008 Stellantis Junior clone alone that will save Alfa, despite the glowing articles published here and there in an attempt to participate in a certain shipwreck!
I always remember the SAAB brand... all things being equal! 🙄
Long live Alfa 🇮🇹 🍀
I totally agree with you.