Electric-only new Giulia to underpin Alfa's EV switch

Reimagined Giulia is one of four Alfa EVs due by 2027 and will span 345-1000bhp

- WILL RIMELL

The Alfa Romeo Giulia will be reborn as an EV with up to about 1000bhp and a range of 435 miles as the Italian firm pushes towards a solely electric range by 2027.

Set to evolve from its conventional saloon shape to cover multiple segments, the new Giulia is expected to arrive around the middle of the decade and will not be sold alongside a combustion sibling.

Power will start at close to 345bhp and the hotter Veloce will offer roughly 790bhp. CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato confirmed to Autocar. The hardcore Giulia Quadrifoglio variant will arrive with "around 1000hp" (986bhp) - almost double the 503bhp of today's twin-turbo petrol V6 car.

This most powerful version is likely to have four-wheel drive, rather than the rear-wheel drive of the current car. It could get a set-up similar to fellow Stellantis brand Maserati's upcoming Granturismo Folgore, which uses three electric motors - one on the front axle and two at the rear - with torque-vectoring functionality.

As well as confirming Alfa's power ambitions for the Giulia replacement, Imparato suggested that the EV's range will be up to 435 miles on the WLTP cycle, so owners see it as a "substitute" for their current cars, not a downgrade or a forced switch.