In a bizarre turn of events, rather than focusing on developing replacements for the aging Stelvio and Giulia, it appears the storied Italian automaker is instead trying its hand at the dating scene. The pitch? That the Junior Elettrica is the perfect segue to a romantic date.

According to its research, which comprises a 1,000-member sample size of people actively dating in the U.K., 60% of daters are tired of their dating apps. The solution? Go on a drive. Again, based on Alfa’s own research, 44% would prefer to go on a drive or a day trip versus the traditional dinner and drinks.

Read: Alfa Romeo’s Junior Has Some Appeal, But It’s Not The Smart Choice | Review

Fear not, singles. Because Alfa Romeo has partnered with Kate Mansfield, a dating and relationship coach, to craft the “Love Thy Romeo” guide to dating in real life, and not from behind a screen. Mansfield is apparently outstanding in her field, and specializes in helping women move from those pesky apps to a real-life connection.

It’s an odd development for a car company, sure. But then, we’ve seen weirder, and we suppose Alfa Romeos are often associated with passion, right?

A Ploy For The Junior

Now, obviously, we’re not really suggesting that Alfa has diverted its R&D budget away from replacements (even if the lineup is beginning to look a bit aged a la Chrysler) into creating a dating guide. What’s actually happened is it spent some of its marketing budget on something a bit different, if a bit odd.

But the way the Junior is being shoehorned in as the perfect road-trip companion is what makes it especially entertaining, with Jules Tilstone, Managing Director, Alfa Romeo UK, saying: “Junior Elettrica is the perfect date companion for a romantic escape, combining performance with passion and style, rooted in its Italian DNA.”

We’re not convinced, and it’s got us thinking: what might be the perfect car for that long, romantic road trip? A few suggestions we’ve come up with: perhaps a classic R107-generation Mercedes-Benz SL500, with that smooth, torquey V8 and the wind in your hair. Or, if you wanted to keep the Italian passion front and center, how about the Pininfarina-designed Fiat 124 spider. New or old, we’d probably take either of these over the electric Alfa.

Let us know what kind of vehicle you’d choose for a first-date getaway.

Changes are coming to Alfa Romeo’s entry-level car for 2027, though this time the badge on the tail isn’t looking for a new home. The Junior, which was originally called Milano before the Italian city objected to its use on a car built in Poland, benefits from some upgrades that promise to give it a more premium feel.

New 18-inch three-hole, and 19-inch four-hole alloy wheels help you spot one of the upgraded SUVs from the outside, though the biggest changes are found inside. And not just on the more expensive variants. Junior and Sprint trims head into MY27 with new ‘Icona’ upholstery that mixes black fabric seats, gray stitching and black Scuba material across the dashboard, console and door cards.

Related: Alfa Romeo’s Mystery Concept Looks Like A Low-Slung Supercar

Step up to Ti or Veloce spec and you upgrade to Alfa Romeo’s ‘Carbon’ interior. Scuba fabric is used again, but this time with red stitching and details and a new Microcloud material on the dash and doors. What you won’t find, despite that name, is any carbon trim, but these upgrades might offset criticism that the Junior’s cabin has always felt a bit low rent for something wearing a premium badge.

A load of extra standard equipment ought to lend an extra hand in that department. Sprint versions look like the sweet spot in the range now that they come with navigation, keyless entry, adaptive cruise, a reversing camera, wireless phone charging and blind-spot monitoring. But the Ti’s heated, powered and massaging seats, and ambient lighting will surely help open a few wallets wider.

Elettrica EV Holds The Performance Card

What Alfa hasn’t messed with is the mechanical package. Base Junior Ibrida models still feature a 143 hp (145 PS) 1.2-litre, mild hybrid engine in front-wheel drive, or Q4 all-wheel drive forms. The Junior Elettrica EV makes 154 hp (156 PS), but only drives the front wheels. Top dog is another EV, this one the 276 hp (281 PS) Junior Veloce, which relies on a sportier suspension tune and a mechanical limited-slip differential to help its front end handle the extra muscle.

Tonale Tweaks

The brand already upgraded the Junior’s Tonale big brother – Alfa’s base model for the US – and you can read about those changes, and why the model might soon be axed, here. But it’s only thrown a few teaks the way of the geriatric Giulia SUV and Stelvio sports sedan. By rights both of those models should have been replaced by now, but the planned replacements were EVs and in the wake of falling electric sales in the US Alfa was forced to go back to the drawing board and come up versions that could also take combustion power.

Giulia And Stelvio Tread Water

We won’t see those new Giulia and Stelvio models until at least next year, by which time the pair will be 12 and 11 years old. To keep potential buyers interested while we wait, the current models gain updated software and driver monitoring kit required by EU law, black and white Alfa Romeo badges and a new Anodized Blue paint option. Hardly, the kind of thing to worry BMW when it has a brand new 3 Series and i3 EV ready to ship to dealers.

But the new M3 and X3 M are a year or two away, and you can still buy both Alfa Romeos in 520 hp (513 PS), 2.9-liter V6 Quadrifoglio guise. Go for the hot Stelvio Quadrifoglio and you now get 21-inch wheels instead of 20-inch rims, while buying either of the QVs unlocks a day’s on-track training at the Alfa Romeo Driving Academy.

All of these Alfa updates will be on display at Alfa’s Paris Motor Show Stand, though they might not get much attention. The brand has teased a new concept for Paris called the Cuorerosso (image below) that looks like a low-slung supercar, and it’s sure to dominate the conversation.

Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo is gearing up for the debut of a mysterious concept at the Paris Motor Show next month, but before that happens they have a new special series in store. The Biscione brand has introduced Edizione Luna Rossa editions for its entire lineup, including the Junior, Tonale, Giulia and Stelvio.

Luna Rossa is an Italian yacht-racing team competing at the America’s Cup. Its collaboration with Alfa Romeo was inaugurated in June 2025, followed by the debut of the ultra-exclusive Giulia Quadrifoglio Luna Rossa in January 2026. While the first model was only produced in 10 units with custom colors and a unique aero package, the Edizione Luna Rossa models are available for everyone, serving as the flagships of their respective lineups.

More: Take A Ride With Me To Alfa’s Homeland In Its Smallest SUV, Sins And All

The special editions feature boat-inspired colors, custom touches inside-out, and a dedicated Alfa Romeo emblem. However, not every model is the same, with the Junior and the Tonale getting a different treatment than the stealthier and more exclusive Giulia and Stelvio.

Alfa Romeo Junior Edizione Luna Rossa

Starting with the subcompact and compact SUVs, the Junior and the Tonale Edizione Luna Rossa feature a gray shade with Gloss Black accents and red stripes on the profile, although buyers can also choose black or white for the main color of the body.

Review: The Junior Is Everything Alfa Romeo Needed And Nothing Alfisti Wanted

The wheels measure 18 inches on the Junior and 20 inches on the Tonale, both featuring a gloss black diamond cut finish and three-spoke designs. Besides the larger wheels, the Tonale also gets Brembo brakes with red brake calipers.

Alfa Romeo Tonale Edizione Luna Rossa

Inside, we find black and gray upholstery, with 3D knit technology on the premium fabric, red stripes featuring Luna Rossa lettering, and red Alfa Romeo emblems. The SUVs also feature aluminum sports pedals and kick plate, new graphics for their digital cockpits, and ambient lighting.

More: Alfa Teases The Tonale’s Successor, And Maybe A Dodge Called Goes Like Hell

Equipment is pretty generous, with the Edizione Luna Rossa being the highest-spec trims. In terms of powertrains, the Junior offers the option between hybrid and fully electric setups, while the Tonale is available with hybrid and PHEV options.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Edizione Luna Rossa

Moving on to the midsize offerings, the aging Giulia and Stelvio take a different route, focusing more on exclusivity and sportiness. The mechanically-related models are pictured with a blacked-out configuration, but the color palette of the Edizione Luna Rossa editions also include white and Etna Red shades.

More: Alfa Romeo Swears The Next Giulia And Stelvio Aren’t Dead, They’re Just ‘Under Study’

Independently of the color, the aging duo benefits from extensive use of carbon fiber on the exterior and the interior, red Alfa Romeo emblems, and the Luna Rossa logo on the mirror caps. The Giulia features Quadrifoglio-inspired side skirts and rear spoiler combined with Gloss Black 19-inch alloy wheels, with the Stelvio riding on 21-inch wheels.

Alfa Romeo Giulia Edizione Luna Rossa

The monochrome interior features a generous amount of carbon fiber on the dashboard, center console, and door cards, alongside leather and recycled Econyl fabric upholstery. Red stripes on the steering wheel and seatbacks break the monotony of black, alongside the matching Alfa Romeo emblems.

Review: Alfa’s 2026 Giulia Quadrifoglio Is Over A Decade Old And Still Out-Handles A New M3

The Edizione Luna Rossa Giulia and Stelvio come standard with a Harman Kardon Hi-Fi system and the electronically controlled suspension. Finally, the electric sunroof is standard on the sedan and optional on the SUV.

As with the regular Giorgio-based models, the special editions are available with the 2.2-liter turbodiesel in two power outputs, while UK buyers also have access to the 2.0-liter gasoline engine that has been phased out in Europe. In other words, only the V6-powered Quadrifoglios escape the Luna Rossa treatment.

The Junior, Tonale, Giulia, and Stelvio Edizione Luna Rossa will gradually go on sale on European markets, positioned at the top of the lineup of each non-Quadrifoglio model. Pricing will be announced closer to the market launch.

More: Alfa Romeo Charged $22,000 Extra For Gold Trim, And Dubai Said Yes

According to Stellantis, the partnership between the two Italian brands goes deeper than colors, materials, and special emblems. More specifically, Alfa Romeo “has provided its expertise in simulation, dynamics and virtual analysis to Luna Rossa, while also collaborating on the development and fine-tuning of the control software for the systems that manage sail movement.”

Alfa Romeo