After bowing out of the Malaysian market in 2013, Alfa Romeo is now finally back, under the helm of a new private distributor, DLSB Partners. The historic Italian marque is marking its comeback with two models, the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio, both of which are now open for booking.
In Malaysia, the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio are both presented in their facelifted guise, introduced back in 2022, which sees both cars receiving a revised exterior with new LED matrix 3+3 headlights, taillights, and interior.
Overall, the two cars share many design traits, especially at the front, featuring sculpted bonnets with creases extending to the iconic “Trilobo” shield. As the Giulia is a sedan and the Stelvio an SUV, the rear-end treatment differs slightly, though both feature dual exhaust outlets for a sporty look.
For wheel sizes, the Giulia is equipped with 19-inch wheels, whereas the Stelvio is equipped with 20-inch items, but both featuring the iconic five-hole teledial design. Regardless of the wheel sizes, all are paired with red Brembo brake callipers.
Continuing the resemblance, both the Giulia and Stelvio share a similar interior, featuring an 8.8-inch centre infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. The digital cluster offers three distinct configurable themes: Evolved, Relax, and Heritage.
Meanwhile, the leather-wrapped steering wheel features large, fixed aluminium gearshift paddles mounted to the steering column. The engine Start/Stop button is mounted directly on the steering wheel, a design choice that emphasises the brand’s racing heritage. Other interior equipment on the Giulia and Stelvio includes a 14-speaker Harman-Kardon sound system and a wireless charging pad.
Previewed in Malaysia in the Veloce trims, both the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio will share the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which produces 280 hp and 400 Nm. This engine is paired to an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox.
Power is routed to the rear wheels on the Giulia, while the Stelvio Veloce receives the Q4 all-wheel drive system. Both cars achieve the 0–100 km/h sprint in 5.7 seconds. Top speed is rated at 240 km/h for the Giulia and 230 km/h for the Stelvio.
Other drivetrain components shared by both models include the sophisticated Alfa Link suspension system, which features a double-wishbone front suspension with a semi-virtual steering axis, designed for quick and precise steering, and a patented multi-link solution with four and a half arms at the rear, optimising comfort and handling performance.
In addition, both models are equipped with the Q2 mechanical self-locking differential, which improves traction and maintains stability during aggressive cornering or in wet and slippery conditions.
For safety systems, both the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio are equipped with a suite of ADAS features, which include adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist and traffic sign recognition, blind spot monitors, lane keep assist, and driver attention assist.
Following the preview of both the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Alfa Romeo Stelvio in Malaysia, the company will soon be unveiling its first flagship 3S centre (Sales, Service, and Spare Parts), named ‘Casa Alfa Romeo’, located at TREC, Kuala Lumpur. This will be joined in the near future by two more facilities, located in Penang and Johor.
Aside from serving as a 3S centre, the facilities are also designed as hubs for the local Alfisti community. This commitment is formalised through the ‘Famiglia Alfa Romeo’ programme, which extends professional support across all Alfa Romeo vehicles—new and classic. This includes access to factory-certified technicians, genuine Alfa Romeo parts, and reliable roadside assistance.
Alfa Romeo Malaysia is also introducing a suite of exclusive new ownership benefits in celebration of its return to the Malaysian market, including: ‘La Bella Vita’, a curated lifestyle event; ‘Speed Dating’, which allows owners to bring their Alfa Romeo to the track; and ‘Alfa Concierge’, which offers personalised assistance and services to all new Alfa Romeo customers.
DLSB Partners Sdn. Bhd, Executive Director, Dato’ Douglas Cheng, stated in his opening remarks that both models are now open for booking, with the Giulia estimated to be priced around RM400,000. More detailed info and pricing will be shared closer to launch.
The two models will also be joined by the Alfa Romeo Junior and Tonale in the near future, the company revealed in its press event today.
GALLERY
