The future Alfa Romeo Giulia already exists—except it just has a Dodge badge on it

Do you remember? Just a few years ago, the calendar for’Alfa Romeo It seemed pretty clear. A new Stelvio was set to arrive in 2025, followed by a new Giulia in 2026. Granted, at the time we were told the models would be exclusively 100 % electric, but at least the next generation was assured.

Since then, everything has changed. The projects have been canceled and Alfa Romeo's return to the D-segment is now «under consideration». Yet, on the other side of the Atlantic, it’s hard to look at the new Dodge Charger without thinking that part of the solution already exists. Because this Charger bears a striking resemblance to what an Alfa Romeo Giulia—or even an Alfa Romeo GTV—might have become….

A Giulia and a GTV, American-style?

This comparison might raise a smile when you remember that Dodge has already rebranded an Alfa Romeo: the Hornet was nothing more than a heavily rebranded Tonale. With the success we all know. Apparently, the Chryslers turned into Lancias didn’t serve as a lesson…

But with the Charger, the situation is different. It’s not just a matter of taking a Dodge, changing two logos, and designing a new grille. It’s the technical platform that’s particularly interesting. The Charger is available in two body styles: the two-door coupe, set to go on sale in 2024, and the four-door sedan, arriving in May 2025. Look at them through the eyes of an Alfa Romeo fan: it’s hard not to picture a GTV and a Giulia, respectively. And technically, the idea is much less far-fetched than it seems.

STLA Large: It Was All Already There

The Dodge Charger is built on the STLA Large platform, which we have long known as «Giorgio 2» on Italpassion. This new Stellantis architecture was intended for the group's high-end models, particularly those from Alfa Romeo, Jeep, and Dodge. Its use had even been considered for Maserati.

We won't go over the entire history again, but one detail is essential to understanding the current situation: there isn't just one STLA Large, but several variations, LP1, LP2, LP3, and LP4.

The future Alfa Romeo models had been developed on the STLA Large LP3 platform, designed for the all-electric 100 %. Dodge, on the other hand, uses the STLA Large LP1 platform, which is truly multi-energy. When Stellantis changed its strategy in response to the slowdown in the electric vehicle market, Alfa Romeo’s projects found themselves at an impasse. Not so for Dodge. And that’s where the situation becomes frustrating: the platform that Alfa Romeo needs today does, in fact, exist within the group.

Electric, four-cylinder, or six-cylinder: take your pick

The same is true for the powertrains. Dodge already offers electric versions with power outputs of up to 370 kW (about 500 ch) and 500 kW (about 680 ch). For a European Alfa Romeo, that’s almost too much: an entry-level rear-wheel-drive model with around 220 kW—or 300 ch—would have been an excellent starting point.

And for those who don't want an electric car, there's especially the new 3.0-liter six-cylinder GME engine. We've covered this extensively on Italpassion: available in a 550 ch version, among others, it's set to get even more powerful, with A 600 ch version is expected sometime in 2027, while some preparations already exceed 1,000 ch. The Dodge Charger also lets you choose between all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive. Awesome!

I’ve already heard comments from «true Italian car enthusiasts» explaining that they would never want an American engine in an Alfa Romeo. But let’s not forget one thing: this GME six-cylinder belongs to the same family as the GME four-cylinder that has been used for years in the Giulia and Stelvio. And that one doesn’t seem to bother anyone.

Is it really absolutely necessary to keep the Alfa Romeo V6?

Of course, one might say, «Yes, but the V6!» Fair enough. The Alfa Romeo V6 is an extraordinary engine. But at a time when every automaker is looking to pool its investments, having a modern, high-performance six-cylinder engine shared among Dodge, Jeep, and RAM makes a lot of economic sense.

For Europe, however, there remains one major challenge to address: hybridization. A truly efficient HEV or PHEV system would make it possible to utilize these engines while meeting European regulations, as the European Union aims for an average of approximately 50 g of CO₂/km for new cars by 2030. And that is likely the missing piece at Stellantis today.

As for the rest? The multi-energy platform is here. The electric motors are here. The GME four-cylinder engine is here. The GME six-cylinder engine is here. All that’s missing, really, is a compelling hybrid system… and, of course, a design by Centro Stile Alfa Romeo.

This could even help to better differentiate Alfa Romeo and Maserati. I’d be more in favor of letting Maserati keep the Giorgio platform and the V6, in order to preserve its true technical exclusivity. I know not everyone will agree with this view, but when a Maserati shares its platform and engine with an Alfa Romeo, it greatly enhances Alfa Romeo’s value… though not necessarily Maserati’s. An Alfa Romeo based on the STLA Large platform and GME engines would, on the contrary, allow for a clear repositioning of both brands without dooming the Giulia to extinction.

And then there's the price…

The next generation of the Tonale (expected in late 2027) is expected to share much of its technology with the new DS 7. The DS 7 starts at €49,520 for the hybrid version, which features a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine producing 145 ch. This already gives an idea of the price range in which the future Tonale might fall.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the two-door Dodge Charger (our hypothetical Alfa Romeo GTV) starts at $49,995 with a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine producing 420 ch. The five-door Charger, much more in the spirit of a Giulia, starts at $51,995 with the same engine. Of course, directly comparing U.S. and European prices has its limitations (taxes, manufacturing costs, etc.). But the contrast remains striking.

In the end, what is Alfa Romeo really missing?

Dodge is currently trying to convince Americans to gradually phase out their beloved Hemi V8 in favor of a new Charger based on the STLA Large platform, which is available in both an all-electric 100 % version and a version with a six-cylinder internal combustion engine.

And here in Europe, we’re still waiting to find out if Alfa Romeo will simply introduce a successor to the Giulia. Perhaps that’s what’s most frustrating. Stellantis already has nearly all the necessary components to build it: the STLA Large multi-energy platform, electric motors, four-cylinder GME engines, six-cylinder GME engines, rear-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive. Add a hybrid system truly tailored to Europe, entrust the design to the Alfa Romeo Centro Stile, and you’ve got a new Giulia. Make it a coupe, and you’ve even got a GTV.

So, when you get right down to it, this Alfa Romeo Giulia on the STLA Large platform isn’t an impossible project. It practically already exists. It’s just that, for now, it bears a Dodge badge.