CM - Auto Journalist Gem by me These are editorial instructions that I take deadly seriously. I have prepared an article that smells of petrol, leather and that special mix of Italian chaos and brilliance. Here it is. Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio 'Collezione': V-6 returns because electrics are not (yet) sexy enough Goodbye silence, hello Akrapovič and a cancelled funeral! We thought we had said goodbye. We prepared tissues, wrote a eulogy and sniffed the exhaust pipe one last time. But look at it, in typical Stellantis Group fashion, where decisions change faster than the weather in the mountains, Alfa Romeo has done a "salto mortale". The petrol engine is not dead. In fact, it is returning in its noblest form, to send shivers down our spines once more before the bureaucrats finally force us into silence. So the Quadrifoglio 'Collezione'.
If you thought Alfa Romeo had said the last word to its legendary Quadrifoglio models with the Super Sport last year, you were wrong. And thank God you were. The Italians have figured out something that we, thewe've known for a long time that the cats of motoring: electric cars may be the future, but for now, sales figures show that people still want “soul”. And soul at Alfa has six cylinders, two turbines and a sound that wakes up the neighbours three blocks away. And so the farewell collection was born – the Quadrifoglio 'Collezione'.
As the life cycle of the first generation Giulia and Stelvio has been extended – their successors are delayed because engineers are frantically reworking them to accept petrol engines in addition to electricity – Milan (or Turin) said: “Andiamo! Let's make another series!”
The result is the new Quadrifoglio 'Collezione' series, limited to just 63 units for each model. Why 63? Because it refers to 1963, when Alfa Romeo first launched a production car with the iconic clover. This is not just a car, it's a history lesson on four wheels.
A heart that beats like a Ferrari – the Quadrifoglio 'Collezione'
There are no changes under the hood, and that's the best news of the day. The 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 still reigns supreme. It's an engine that we all know has Ferrari DNA, even though no one is officially allowed to say it out loud.
Numbers are poetry for technical purists: Quadrifoglio 'Collezione'
- Power: 377 kW or 382 kW depending on market (513 hp / 520 PS).
- Torque: 600 Nm (442 lb-ft).
- Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 3.9 seconds for the Giulio and 3.8 seconds for the Stelvio.
- Final speed: 307 km/h (191 mph) for the Giulia and 283 km/h (176 mph) for the Stelvio.
But numbers are one thing, feelings are another. Alfa Romeo has added a serial version to this “Collezione” series Akrapovič exhaust system. Yes, you read that right. Slovenian knowledge will make this Italian orchestra sound more aggressive than ever. The sound of that engine at 7,000 rpm is not noise; it's a symphony of mechanical violence that you'll miss when we all drive silent washing machines on wheels.
“If that sound doesn’t move you, check your pulse. You’re probably dead.”
They also included carbon-ceramic brakes in the package. Because if you're moving at the speed of a bullet, it's good to know that you can stop without the brakes burning up after three corners.
Visual Drama: Red as Sin
Since the Giulia has been on the market for a decade (the automotive equivalent of 90 human years), the designers had to do something to hide the wrinkles. And they succeeded. Both models get an exposed carbon fiber roof, which lowers the center of gravity and looks just plain badass. This lightweight material is also found on the mirror caps and even on the front emblem.
But the real star is the color. The Collezione comes in a special shade of red, found on the ultra-exclusive 33 Stradale supercar. It’s a deep, sophisticated shade that appears darker on the Giulia and slightly lighter on the Stelvio due to the refraction of light. This is not “Rosso Corsa”; this is a red that says, “I know I’m beautiful, and I don’t care what you think.”
Interior: Where Alcantara meets nostalgia
Step inside and you'll immediately know this is no ordinary rental car. The dashboard is covered in leather with red stitching, and the center tunnel is adorned with even more carbon. The seats? Sparco. A combination of leather and Alcantara with carbon shells that keep you in place as you test the limits of physics in the corners.
The headboards are individually numbered. “1 of 63.” It’s a detail that will allow the owners to brag at the bar: “Mine is number 12, yours is just a regular Quadrifoglio.”
Why is this important?
In a world that is rushing towards full electrification, Alfa Romeo's move to extend the life of these engines is almost rebellious. The original plan was for the next generations to be exclusively electric. But the market has spoken. Buyers of luxury sports cars are not yet ready to swap the roar of a petrol engine for the hum of an electric motor.
Although this series is aimed primarily at Europe, Japan, and the Middle East (sorry, Americans, you're out this time), the message is clear: the V-6 is here to stay. The next generations, not arriving until 2028, will offer both - electric for those who want to save the world, and gasoline for those who want to enjoy it.
Finish: Quadrifoglio 'Collezione'
Alfa Romeo Giulia and the Stelvio Quadrifoglio Collezione are not just cars. They are monuments to an era that is slowly coming to an end, but not without a fight. Are they imperfect? Probably. The infotainment system will probably still lag behind the Germans, and maybe some light will come on that shouldn't.
But who cares? When you step on the gas, when Akrapovic roars and when you feel the rear-wheel drive (or Q4 in the Stelvio) push you out of a corner, forget all your shortcomings. This is motoring at its best. Raw, loud, emotional. The price? Probably astronomical, but if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it. And considering there will only be 63 of them, their value will only increase. Buy one while it's still legal.
