The Alfa Romeo Stelvio might take an prolonged hiatus in Australia as soon as inventory of the present mannequin is exhausted, given the launch of the next-generation mid-size luxurious SUV will reportedly be delayed till late 2026 in Europe.
Such a delay would imply the second-generation SUV can be unlikely to reach right here till 2027.
Reuters has cited sources saying first European deliveries of the brand new Stelvio will no longer happen till September or October 2026, following the slowdown of electrical car (EV) demand globally.
The following Stelvio was beforehand as a result of make its world debut in Italy later this 12 months, forward of first European deliveries within the first quarter of 2026.
It was set to be supplied completely with electrical energy, as a part of a beforehand said aim of Alfa Romeo’s to modify to an EV-only lineup by 2027.
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Nevertheless, the Italian model cancelled its plans to turn out to be an EV-only model in January.
Based on a March report, final month it was set to finish manufacturing of all-petrol powered variations of each the present Stelvio and its Giulia sedan sister mannequin, together with the Quadrifoglio V6 flagships.
The report stated manufacturing will proceed for diesel-powered Stelvio and Giulia variants, which haven’t been offered in Australia for a number of years.
Based on a second Reuters supply, Alfa Romeo is now creating a hybrid model of the following Stelvio, which was revealed in leaked photos in April.
The identical supply stated it would take a while for the hybrid model to be developed, regardless of the brand new Stelvio being based mostly on Stellantis’ multi-powertrain STLA Giant platform, and confirmed the deliberate 2026 launch of the next-generation Giulia sedan is to this point unaffected by the Stelvio’s delay.
Based on Reuters, the rescheduled Stelvio launch may initially gradual Alfa Romeo’s wider plan to revive manufacturing and jobs in Italy, which Stellantis offered to the Italian authorities late final 12 months.
Earlier final month, Stellantis’ European operations chief stated the corporate was engaged on an replace of the plan. And simply final week, Stellantis’ North American boss Antonio Filosa was appointed as its new international CEO.
A Stellantis spokesperson advised Reuters the group’s revised plan for Italy “contains an growth and reshaping of actions within the nation, in gentle of present market circumstances, uncertainties surrounding EU rules, and the affect of tariffs”.
Alfa Romeo offered simply 62,000 autos globally in 2024 – effectively down from the Turin-based automaker’s goal of 80,000-90,000 gross sales – together with 8865 within the US, which accounts for about 15 per cent of its gross sales, and simply 561 gross sales in Australia.
Final 12 months Alfa Romeo offered simply 190 examples of the Giulia in Australia (up 3.3 per cent on 2023), together with 125 Stelvios (down 25 per cent), and their axing would depart the fabled Italian auto model with solely the Tonale small SUV and the upcoming Junior gentle SUV.
The Tonale is a petroleum and plug-in hybrid mannequin and whereas the Junior might be Alfa’s first EV, it’s anticipated to be launched right here with mild-hybrid energy.
Primarily based on the identical STLA Small (eCMP2) platform because the Jeep Avenger and Fiat 600 (not offered right here), the Junior was deliberate to be Alfa’s last combustion-powered mannequin.
At this stage it’s unclear which petrol, hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrains the next-gen Stelvio and Giulia might be obtainable with, however each fashions might be based mostly on the STLA Giant platform that includes an 800V electrical structure, ‘STLA Mind’ software program system, and STLA SmartCockpit person interface.
The brand new Stelvio would be the first STLA Giant-based car to be produced and offered in Europe and, like their predecessors, each the next-generation Stelvio and Giulia might be constructed on the similar Cassino manufacturing unit midway between Rome and Naples.
No particulars have been introduced about their electrical powertrains, however Stellantis has beforehand confirmed the STLA Giant structure can home batteries with capacities between 85 and 118kWh, and assist each single-motor rear-wheel drive and multi-motor all-wheel drive configurations.
The primary manufacturing car based mostly on the STLA Giant structure, the Dodge Charger Daytona, is already obtainable within the US with quite a lot of all-electric drivetrains, together with the top-shelf 500kW/850Nm Scat Pack.
This has a claimed 0-60mph (0-97km/h) time of three.3 seconds, regardless of incorporating solely a 400V electrical structure, weighing virtually 2650kg and measuring 5.25m lengthy.
Nevertheless, the American muscle automotive will quickly additionally turn out to be obtainable in North America with the Hurricane 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six petrol engine from the 2025 Ram 1500, which produces over 400kW in high-output kind.
It’s unclear if this engine may make its solution to the following Giulia and Stelvio.
The present Giulia was launched in 2015, adopted by the intently associated Stelvio in 2016, and each fashions are at the moment obtainable with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine outputting 206kW of energy and 400Nm of torque in Ti and Veloce kind.
The range-topping Quadrifoglio variations pack a 375kW/600 2.9-litre twin-turbo petrol V6, which propels the BMW M3-rivalling rear-drive sedan to 100km/h in a claimed 3.8 seconds and the all-wheel drive SUV to 100km/h in a claimed 3.9 seconds.
Ti, Veloce and Quadrifoglio variations of each fashions proceed to be obtainable in Australia, the place a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine is now not obtainable regardless of persevering with in Europe.
When stories of petrol Stelvio and Giulia manufacturing ending in Could emerged in March, an Alfa Romeo Australia spokesperson advised CarExpert it was “enterprise as common” for each mid-size fashions regionally.
On the time, the corporate stated it continued to order each Giulia sedans and Stelvio SUVs ex-factory till additional discover, and had sufficient vendor inventory obtainable for the remainder of this 12 months.
Immediately, Alfa Romeo Australia stated Stelvio manufacturing is ongoing, and the mannequin is at the moment being supplied with value cuts of greater than $10,000 as a part of an end-of-financial-year promotion.
Following the native launch of facelifted mainstream variants in Could 2023 and upgraded Quadrifoglios in December 2023, a collection of special-edition variations of each fashions have been launched final 12 months, together with the Tributo Italiano in February, the Tremendous Sport in Could, and the Edizione Carbonio in November.
