Could Alfa Romeo be about to go electric with its QV brand? EV pocket rocket possible for Italian brand’s performance division
Alfa Romeo has not ruled out turning to electric motors for its high-performance QV brand.
Fresh from the Australian launch of the Junior small SUV – it also steps in for hatchbacks such as the Mito and Giulietta – the Italian car maker says that while petrol is the norm for the Quadrifoglio sub-brand, it also needs to consider an electrified future.
As of now, there are no concrete plans for a Quadrifoglio version of the Junior, with Alfa Romeo instead giving owners the choice of a three-cylinder mild hybrid system (Ibrida) or an all-electric drivetrain in the Ellectrica.
READ MORE: Alfa Romeo Junior Review: Baby SUV sparks Italian resurgence against Japan, China, Germany and France
READ MORE: 2025 Alfa Romeo Junior is Italian stallion’s first EV in Australia
READ MORE: Full details: 2025 Alfa Romeo Junior previewed ahead of Aussie touchdown to tackle EV3 and BYD Atto 3
When asked about the possibility of a Junior QV, Alfa Romeo product manager Mario Lamagna said it wasn’t current in the planning.
“For the moment … we didn’t believe there was a powertrain that was the right one to be called Quadrofoglio (in the Junior),” he said.
“QV means serious stuff – we think that we have to be very careful in protecting that label,” he said, referencing the 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine with wisps of Ferrari DNA in the larger Stelvio and Giulia models.
He said that for now Alfa Romeo would “protect it and keep [Quadrifoglio] for the higher segments” but admitted that “depending on feedback” it may be considered in future.
“I will never say no to QV in every model, but it’s something that has to be studied.”
The heart within the Alfa Romeo product planning division suggests petrol is what should be creating the big power.
“We of course love thermal engines and we are in love with our V6,” said Lamagna. “We are for sure looking always at thermal engines.”
However, he also acknowledged the challenges of meeting tightening CO2 emissions regulations, which in Australia come under the banner of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).
“Thermal engines come with a lot of concerns with CO2 emissions … so it’s not easy to launch high performance engines in the second part of this decade,” said Lamagna, who insists he is open to electricity if it delivers on driving excitement.
“If you’re able to do something … that fits in very nicely, I am open to both (electric and petrol),” he said.
“With the future technologies you can do a lot of interesting stuff also with electric powertrains. It really depends on the actual performance of the car.”
Of course, one option would be to combine petrol and electric in a high-performance hybrid drivetrain.
That would deliver the noise and excitement executives consider so important for Alfa Romeo while also delivering fuel saving benefits essentially being legislated by governments around the world.
They’re debates that will no doubt be happening in Alfa Romeo’s headquarters in Turin.
