Italian brand Alfa Romeo has confirmed the next generations of its mid-size Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV will finally be released in 2028 – with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power.
And according to an Autocar report, at least the Giulia will be available in both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicle (EV) high-performance Quadrifoglio forms.
Specific details of what will power the new models – the first to emerge from Alfa Romeo since it became part of the Stellantis group, which was formed in 2021 – are yet to be confirmed, as the models move to the automaker’s new STLA Large platform.
The current Type 952 Giulia sedan and Type 949 Stelvio share the same Giorgio platform and have been built at the Cassino plant in Italy since they were first launched in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
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Alfa Romeo confirmed in October 2025 that both models will continue to be made until 2027 as it scrambles to add combustion engines to their second-generation replacements, which were originally designed to be electric-only as part of the Italian brand’s now-abandoned plan to sell just EVs from 2027.
Now Alfa Romeo CEO Santo Ficili has told Autocar: “We need to find a way to satisfy the needs of our customers. What does this mean? It means BEV [battery-electric vehicle] and it means all the other kinds of endothermic [powertrains], so ICE, PHEV, BEV. So that’s the direction.”
Four-cylinder petrol mild-hybrid (MHEV) as well as PHEV powertrains will be offered, with the latest STLA platform bringing an 800V electrical architecture and already incorporating a PHEV system in the Vauxhall Grandland, which is not sold in Australia.
Introduced in April this year in the UK, it combines a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, rear electric motor and 21kWh battery for combined outputs of 166kW of power and 350Nm of torque, along with an 82km (WLTP) claimed driving range.
The 800V architecture will bring rapid DC fast-charging capability for the electrified Alfa Romeos.
The move to the STLA platform and hybrid powertrains for the new Giulia and Stelvio has forced the current sedan and SUV – the only models in the current Alfa Romeo range apart from the Junior light SUV and Tonale small SUV – to remain on sale much longer than originally planned.
The existing Giulia, a rival for the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, was introduced to Australian showrooms in November 2016, followed by the Stelvio – the first Alfa Romeo SUV – 12 months later.
Originally developed by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the Giorgio platform primarily underpins the Giulia and Stelvio, but was initially planned for more applications. It has since been used for the Maserati Grecale, and was then evolved into the the ‘Giorgio Sport’ platform for the Maserati GranTurismo and GranCabrio.
Stellantis also has several petrol-electric PHEV powertrains at its disposal, including the 1.3-litre unit that produces 208kW/470Nm in the Tonale, and the 280kW/637Nm 2.0-litre dual-motor system in the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, which has now been axed in Australia.
Autocar reports that Alfa Romeo will offer both electric and combustion-powered versions of the Giulia Quadrifoglio, which will go toe-to-toe with the next-generation BMW M3 sedan that will also be available in both EV and ICE guises from 2027.
The STLA Large platform underpins the Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack EV, which has a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 3.3 seconds thanks to its 500kW all-wheel drive electric powertrain.
The new architecture means both Alfa Romeo models are expected to grow in size. The current Giulia measures 4643mm long overall, with the existing Stelvio being 44mm longer.
Exterior designs for both models will reportedly follow the blueprint of the Junior compact SUV, which was introduced here in 2025 with the choice of mild-hybrid petrol or battery-electric power.
Autocar also notes that Alfa Romeo’s penchant for offset front number plate positions is set to end, as new European Union (EU) regulations require new models to move their front plates to below the grille instead.
The new 2028 Giulia and Stelvio are expected to be the first Alfa Romeos to use the new ‘STLA Brain’ electrical system, bringing faster processing speeds, artificial intelligence (AI) integration, and active chassis control.
Stellantis, which lost €22.3 billion (A$36.5bn) in 2025, recently named four core brands as the focus for its future investment – and Alfa Romeo was not one of them.
The Dutch-based auto conglomerate said it will instead focus on Peugeot, Jeep, Ram and Fiat as it looks to strengthen its global business.
This includes a plan announced at the recent Auto China 2026 motor show in Beijing to manufacture Peugeot vehicles in China for export markets potentially including Australia.
MORE: Explore the Alfa Romeo showroom