Few Americans understand Alfa Romeo. But the Italian luxury automaker hopes it can find 130 who get the appeal.
Alfa’s lineup in the U.S. is limited, but it has two beautiful compact vehicles at its heart. Each competes with European luxury rides from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and each does it with pure aesthetic appeal and a pitch to those who want something unusual.
The Giulia compact sedan is known for crisp handling and engines ranging from 280 to 505 horsepower. Our expert test driver says the “human desires for thrills and good looks aren’t going away, which is why the Giulia retains its appeal.”
Yet it remains a slow seller behind rivals like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
The Stelvio SUV has the same exceptional engine lineup but combines SUV space and available all-wheel drive (AWD) with what our reviewer calls “a particularly Italian style that nods to great heritage yet still looks forward.”
But it’s unlikely ever to threaten the sales numbers of the Mercedes GLA or BMW X3.
For 2024, Alfa will just lean into that scarcity. The automaker is introducing a pair of extremely limited edition models.
Carbon Fiber and Scarcity
The Carbon Edition models will be based on the extraordinary Quadrifoglio trims of the Stelvio and Giulia. That means a Ferrari-derived turbo V6 you’ll hear in your dreams, active suspension, and a torque-vectoring differential for tighter handling.
The carbon in the name comes from carbon fiber. The pair get actual carbon fiber grilles, mirror caps, and side sills. The Giulia even gets an exposed carbon fiber roof.
Gold brake calipers shine behind the unique five-hole wheels. Inside, red leather sports seats and carbon fiber trim make them stand out from other Alfa models.
They won’t be cheap — the Giulia’s carbon model carries an MSRP of $84,875, while the Stelvio’s starts at $92,275. Both also require a $1,595 destination fee.
They won’t be common, either. Alfa Romeo plans to build just 130 in total between the two models. So, if you’re interested, you might want to call a dealer ASAP.
