The 2.9-litre bi-turbo V6 is expected to be offered alongside the electric module in the next Giulia and Stelvio Image: Alfa Romeo
Ahead of its electrification switch in 2027, Alfa Romeo has confirmed that its 2.9-litre bi-turbo V6 engine will remain in production beyond the implementation of the Euro 7 emissions regulations in 2025.
The powerunit currently used in the Giulia Quadrifoglio Verde (QV) and Stelvio Quadrifoglio, as well as in bored-out 3.0-litre guise in the limited run 33 Stradale, the use of twin-turbocharging will remain, although no mentioning was made of electrification utilising a mild-hybrid or plug-in hybrid configuration.
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In making the announcement a week after the European Union announced a relaxing in regulations due to be enforced in July of 2025, Alfa Romeo CEO, Jean-Philippe Imparato, said the bent-six will be updated to meet Euro 7 requirements, but stopped short of confirming exactly how.
“I would like something [compliant with] the [new] regulation to be interesting,” the former Peugeot boss told Britain’s Autocar when asked about the emissions impact on the Stellantis brand.
A move that has been met with mixed reactions in the run-up to the banning of all petrol and diesel engine vehicle sales in the EU from 2035, no details surrounding the extremity of the regulation’s relaxing was revealed, despite it being described as “a missed opportunity” by the Association for Emissions Control by Catalyst.
Last month, the United Kingdom also announced a backtracking on the ban of combustion engine vehicles from 2030 to 2035 in a move Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described as a “pragmatic and realistic approach to meeting net zero” targets.
Met with significant criticism from both Ford and Nissan, who affirmed sales post 2030 will still consist solely of electric vehicles in the UK, the u-turn is unlikely to impact on Stellantis’ strategy of having all of its brands fully electrified without combustion motivation on the Old Continent before 2030.
This will start with Fiat in 2025 before concluding with Opel and its UK sister brand Vauxhall in 2028. A decision surrounding American divisions, Ram, Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler, remains unknown due to the differences in emissions requirements between Europe and United States.
For Alfa Romeo, the retention of the V6 will likely last until after 2026 in readiness for its eventual demise either later that year or in early 2027.
As such, expectations are it could be revised further with more power in the eventual farewell versions of the current Giulia QV and Stelvio Quadrifoglio Milan is expected to replace in 2026 or 2027.
For now, this is purely speculative and not confirmed by either Alfa Romeo or Stellantis.
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