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2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio Super Sports close the book

Alfa Romeo is hitting the gas on limited-edition special-edition models of late, as the Italian outfit prepares to get rid of gas entirely. Last year we got the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio 100th Anniversario editions celebrating the centenary of the four-leaf clover trims, then came Quadrifoglio Carbon Editions celebrating that resin weave, then came Tributo Italiano Editions lauding the home country. Now that the world is closer to the end of the internal combustion Quadrifoglio lineup, Alfa's launched the 2024 Giulia and 2024 Stelvio Quadrifoglio Super Sport models. The Giulia Quadrifoglio Super Sport is limited to 275 units worldwide, 72 coming to the U.S. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio Super Sport is even more limited, rolling out just 175 examples for the world, 52 slated for U.S. purchase. Both are powered by the brand's twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 making 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, shifting through an eight-speed automatic to both axles. It would have been wonderful to get the upgraded engine making 520 hp and the mechanical limited-slip differential offered on the 100th anniversary models, especially since the Super Sports are only priced $140 (Giulia) and $660 (Stelvio) below the centenary editions, but it's not to be. Instead, the Super Sports are enhanced outside with a black Quadrifoglio badge, carbon fiber mirror caps, carbon fiber accents in the grille shield, black Brembo calipers, and dark five-hole wheels that are 19 inches on the Giulia, 21 inches on the Stelvio. Inside, special trim includes red carbon fiber on the instrument panel, center console, and door cards, embroidered headrests, and a steering wheel wrapped in leather and Alcantara.  Designers prepped three exterior color options for the Giulia: Bianco Alfa, Metallic Nero Vulcano, or "Three-layer" Rosso Etna. The Stelvio can be had in one of the latter two, not the Bianco Alfa. The 2024 Giulia Quadrifoglio Super Sport starts at $88,365 after the $1,595 destination charge, representing a $5,400 premium over the standard model. The $95,965 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Super Sport runs a stiff $7,000 above the standard four-leaf SUV. Orders are open now, deliveries expected in the fall of this year.

CAR adds details to Alfa Romeo's five-year plan

Much of this month's issue of CAR Magazine is devoted to Alfa Romeo and what we can expect from it in the next five years. Of course, they unfortunately went to print before FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne died (and it took a while for it to land in my mail box), so certain elements are bound to change in light of new leadership. Nevertheless, there are plenty of interesting tidbits to chew on. First, there are a few more details regarding the Alfa Romeo 8C super car, which was confirmed during FCA's recent five-year plan announcement. Unlike the last front-engined, rear-drive 8C, the new one would be mid-engined with the rear wheels powered by a version of the Quadrofoglio turbo V6 brought up to the 600-horsepower range, and some amount of electrification added to the front axle. CAR indicates a total output of around 800 hp and 660 pound-feet of torque. A carbon fiber monococque would help keep the weight down, and to keep cost down, reporter Georg Kacher posits its production will be farmed out to a third party like Dallara. Both pricing and performance will be interesting with the 8C: how much does FCA want Alfa Romeo to compete with Ferrari? Without Marchionne leading both, perhaps it won't matter. View 19 Photos Then again, how much it wants Alfa to compete with Maserati might, as the future Giulia-based GTV coupe could do just that. Apparently, the coupe and convertible range is intended to compete with the entire breadth of the German two-door catalogue, from 4 Series and M4, to C- and E-Class Coupes. Presumably it'll therefore be more than just a Giulia coupe. Regular, high-performance and plug-in hybrid versions are mentioned. Finally, as was part of the previously announced five-year plan, there will be SUVs introduced on either side of the Stelvio. Apparently, it was originally thought that the smaller of the two would be produced on the cheaper Renegade/500X platform, but that has been nixed in favor of the Giulia's "Giorgio" platform to maintain a higher degree of engineering sophistication. If so, good call. The bigger of the two new Alfa SUVs would also be on the platform, and since it's been rumored that the next Jeep Grand Cherokee will be as well, it'll be interesting to see how similar those two mid-size SUVs will potentially be. There are many more Alfa insights from CAR, but as it's restricted to print and not on their website, we can only urge you to swing by your local magazine rack and pick up the latest issue. They do good stuff.

Alfa Romeo 8C and GTV: Classic names revived as high-powered hybrids

BOLOCCO, Italy — There were grand plans for Alfa Romeo at FCA's last five-year plan. By 2018, we were supposed to get eight new products, including a new "specialty" vehicle. In reality, we've gotten the Giulia and Stelvio. At this year's follow-up, Alfa Romeo brand head Tim Kuniskis called the last plan ambitious, but he offered a new vision that was both more realistic and more far-reaching. Beyond doubling down on utility and electrified vehicles, by 2022 Alfa has plans to revive both the 8C and GTV names as high-performance hybrids. Since 2014, Alfa sales are up 160 percent, with an estimated 170,000 vehicles to be sold in 2018. The North American market counts for 16 percent of that, up from nothing back in 2013. Future products will focus on Alfa's current strengths: styling and performance. Look for new compact and full-size utility vehicles to slot on each side of the Stelvio. Plans for a larger sedan seemed to have been nixed, though a long-wheelbase version of the Giulia will make it to the ever-increasing Chinese market. The most exciting news obviously comes from the return of the 8C supercar and GTV sports car. We have few details, but what we do know looks promising. The 8C will use a carbon-fiber chassis with a mid-mounted twin-turbo V6. More than 700 horsepower will be sent to all four wheels thanks to an electrically-driven front axle. The car should hit 62 mph in fewer than 3 seconds. The GTV will be slightly more tame, though Alfa is promising more than 600 horsepower from its hybrid powertrain. The four-seater will also have all-wheel drive, torque vectoring and a 50/50 weight distribution. The brief teaser image shows a car that looks like a two-door Giulia, though it's unclear if we'll actually get a new coupe. Electrification, autonomy and connectivity are coming, too. Obviously, the 8C and GTV will get electrified powertrains, but look for each Alfa Romeo model to have some sort of electrification available. Look for six plug-in hybrids with all-electric ranges of more than 30 miles. Level 2 and 3 autonomous systems are coming, too. Related Video: Design/Style Earnings/Financials Green Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Coupe Crossover SUV Hybrid Luxury Performance Supercars FCA alfa romeo 8c