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Alfa Romeo delays the arrival of the next-gen Stelvio

The debut of the next-generation Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV is facing a delay, following a strategic pivot by the Italian automaker. Originally planned as an electric-only model, the new Stelvio will now also be offered with a hybrid powertrain—prompting a postponement of its launch timeline.

Alfa Romeo’s parent company, Stellantis, is re-evaluating its electric vehicle (EV) strategy due to weaker-than-expected market demand. As a result, the new Stelvio—initially set to be unveiled in 2025 with sales beginning in early 2026—will now be delayed, with deliveries not expected before September or October 2026.

The decision to introduce a hybrid variant marks a significant shift from Alfa Romeo’s earlier commitment to going fully electric by 2027. That plan was scrapped earlier this year, with Alfa Romeo North America head Chris Feuell confirming that future models will now offer a mix of powertrain options.

The updated Stelvio will move to Stellantis’ STLA Large platform—capable of supporting multiple powertrains—replacing the current model’s Giorgio architecture. The added development time required for the hybrid variant is contributing to the launch delay.

This adjustment does not affect the launch schedule for the next-generation Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan, which remains on track for a 2025 debut.

The delay could temporarily hinder Stellantis’ broader plan to revitalize vehicle manufacturing and employment in Italy. The company’s European operations chief, Jean-Philippe Imparato, noted that an updated strategy is being prepared for the Italian government.

Despite the delay, production of the new Stelvio will remain at the Cassino plant in central Italy, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to its domestic manufacturing base.

Source: Reuters, Photo: Alfa Romeo

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2026 Land Rover Defender

At the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show Land Rover revealed the current generation Defender, the first all-new update since the early 1980s. Now, the arrival of the new generation is announced, which will hit the market in a few months.

The new generation Defender will bring a refreshing exterior with new headlights, fog lights and integrated taillights, bumpers, engine hood, side vents, and a front grille in gloss black. Customers will be able to choose from several new body colors such as Borasco Gray inspired by Californian mines, Woolstone dark green with warm details reminiscent of the British landscape, and Sargasso Blue and Patagonia White matte foil for the top-of-the-range Defender OCTA version.

The Defender‘s interior has also been refreshed with a new 13.2-inch central touchscreen, the gear lever is now slightly closer to the dashboard, a redesigned center console. A center front seat is available as an option, for a configuration with three rows of seats.

Speaking of technology, the future Defender will be equipped with Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control, which allows the driver to maintain a preset level of comfort while driving on rough terrain, automatically adjusting speed even off-road. There is also a Driver Attention Monitor, a camera facing the driver that monitors attention while driving and sends visual and audible warnings in case of distraction.

When it comes to the powertrain, the top of the range will be the Defender OCTA powered by a 635 hp 4.4-L twin-turbo V8 engine. It is equipped with 6D Dynamics suspension, Body and Soul seats and OCTA off-road performance mode.

Land Rover will also offer several equipment packages (Explorer, Adventure and Urban) that include new black roof racks, dark underbody protection and fixed or retractable side steps.

Source: Land Rover

Gallery:

2026 Land Rover Defender
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Lotus Emira Turbo and V6 SE

Four years ago, the British company Lotus Cars launched the Lotus Emira sports car, which was followed by a racing version a year later. A little later, the Turbo SE version was introduced, and now two new versions are arriving on the market, with which the brand is expanding its offer, the Lotus Emira Turbo and the Lotus Emira V6 SE.

The Emira Turbo is powered by the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine as the Turbo SE, with 360 hp and 317lb ft, paired with a recalibrated 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.4 seconds, which is 0.1 seconds slower than the V6 SE, with a top speed of 171 mph (275 km/h).

The car is equipped with 12-way adjustable seats as standard, a 10-inch infotainment screen, a 190-watt audio system, and Traffic Sign Recognition, Blind Spot Warning and Fatigue Detection technology. It also gets an optimised cooling system for better flow to the transmission oil cooler and radiator. The car is priced at £79,500.

The Emira V6 SE pictured is finished in Zinc Grey with black accents, and buyers can also choose from 15 other body colours. It is identical in design to the previous version, but new features include 20-inch forged wheels and red brake calipers, modified suspension, optimised shock absorbers, and Tour and Sport settings. Subtle adjustments have also been made to the wheel geometry, to ensure sharper handling and greater ride comfort. Inside, there is Alcantara and sports pedals, and buyers can also choose from seven different interior themes.

When it comes to the powertrain, the V6 SE is powered by Toyota’s 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine, which develops 406bhp and can be mated to a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. This model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds with a top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h). The price of the Lotus Emira V6 SE is £96,500.

Source: Lotus

Gallery:

Lotus Emira Turbo and V6 SE

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