Update: ‘Specifications’ section updated.
Stellantis is not abandoning its lesser-known brands in the shift to full electrification. In the case of Alfa Romeo, the path to zero-emissions begins in 2024 with a small SUV, and more EVs are to come later this decade. CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato confirmed the Alfa Romeo Giulia Electric during a factory visit in Italy, reported Automotive News Europe on April 4, 2022.
Imparato had stated that the company is open to the notion of launching the next-generation Giulia as an electric car. He was discussing the idea of launching the Quadrifoglio variant of all models with an electric version. An Alfa Romeo Giulia electric, he said, would make sense if it could provide the desired performance. And now, the project seems to have received a green signal.
Design
The Alfa Romeo Giulia electric won’t be a traditional sedan like the Giulia currently on sale. It will feature an unusual blend of sedan and station wagon body styles, as Alfa Romeo wants to address sedan and station wagon customers with a single model.
Speaking to Autocar about the next-gen Giulia, Imparato said that having a sporty sedan is in the brand’s DNA, but at the same time, “there were many suggestions there should be a station wagon version of the Giulia.” The brand CEO added that something between the body styles could be the optimal solution, allowing the future model to “have the best of both worlds.” The all-new Giulia, thus the Giulia electric, could be something on the Iines of Genesis’ G70 Shooting Brake.
Specifications


Harald Wester, Chief Engineering Officer of Stellantis, has confirmed that Alfa Romeo would use the STLA Medium platform for its EVs but CAR magazine believes it would go for the STLA Large platform instead. Auto Express also expects Giulia Electric to be a STLA Large platform model.
STLA Medium platform-based EVs will be designed to accommodate 87-104 kWh battery packs that provide a range of 435 miles. Most models could get 125-180 kW powertrains, but some could sport more powerful motors that produce 150-330 kW (201-442 hp). The gross energy storage capacity of their battery packs would range from 87 to 104 kWh, enough to cover a distance of up to 700 km (435 miles).
The STLA Large platform-based models will be 4.7-5.4 meters long and 1.9-2.03 meters wide. They would have 101-118 kWh batteries that provide a range of up to 800 km (497 miles). Most models would get 150-330 kW electric drive modules, but some lower-end EVs/configurations may get 125-180 kW (168-241 hp) units instead.
Higher quality
The Alfa Romeos of the future, the Giulia electric being no exception, are likely to be higher quality products compared to the current models. Alfa Romeo has set Lexus as its benchmark for quality, Imparato said during the Tonale media drive, Automotive News reported on May 19, 2022.
Alfa Romeo isn’t always associated with quality, while Lexus usually tops independent studies in this aspect. In J.D. Power’s 2021 U.S. Initial Quality Study that involved 32 companies, the Italian brand ranked 28, while the Japanese marque took the third spot. Improved quality would increase customer satisfaction and lead to better resale values.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Electric release date
Imparato stated that the Giulia nameplate would celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2025. It would make sense for the brand to begin the next innings for the Giulia mid-decade, say in 2026. The CEO also confirmed the arrival of Alfa Romeo’s first electric crossover, larger than the Stelvio, by 2027.
Alfa Romeo won’t bid farewell to the internal combustion engine with the Alfa Romeo Giulia Electric. The next-generation Giulia will be available in plug-in hybrid and pure electric versions, with the former aimed at buyers in regions where EV adoption is not yet widespread. Stellantis wants Alfa Romeo to be a 100 percent electric brand in Europe, North America, and China by 2027. In 2025 and 2026, the business will introduce new models, which Imparato refers to as “major launches.”
Alfa Romeo Giulia sales in the U.S.
Alfa Romeo managed to sell 7,634 units of the Giulia in 2021, a 7% drop in sales compared to 2020 when the brand sold 8,203 units. 2022 hasn’t kicked off on a positive note either, with Q1 2022 sales plummeting by 45% for the Giulia in the United States. The brand managed to deliver 1,145 units of the Giulia in the first three months of 2022, compared to the 2,065 units that it sold last year during the same period. The Giulia is a key pillar of Alfa Romeo’s American operations as the Italian brand has just three models in its portfolio.
Featured Image Source: Stellantis