What’s All Included in the Alfa Romeo 100th Anniversary Edition Models?
Alfa Romeo is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Quadrifoglio name with special edition models of the Giulia and Stelvio. Racing heritage runs deep in the Alfa Romeo brand, and these special edition units express that tradition with style. Here’s a look at what kind of design changes and exclusive features are available in the Alfa Romeo 100th Anniversary models!
What’s included in the Alfa Romeo 100th Anniversary models?
The 100th Anniversary editions of the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio are similar. Since they specifically commemorate the Quadrifolgio moniker, these special editions are only available in the Quadrifoglio trim of both models. According to Stellantis, they’re both powered by the Ferrari-derived 2.9-liter twin-turbo V8, generating 505 horsepower. They also both benefit from a Race drive mode, a carbon fiber driveshaft, and upgrades to the brakes, suspension, and exhaust compared to their respective lower trims.
The 100th Anniversary edition is primarily an appearance package. It includes special 100th Anniversary badging and embroidery throughout the exterior and interior. A 100th Anniversary badge on the front fenders has a gold border with “1923-2023” written below the clover. It also has carbon fiber mirror caps, a carbon fiber V Scudetto grille, gold brake calipers, leather/Alcantara-trimmed seats with 100th Anniversary badging and embroidery, and gold contrast stitching. These anniversary packages are available in three paint colors; Red Etna, Verde Montreal, and Vulcano Black.
What is Alfa Romeo celebrating with these limited edition vehicles?
The Alfa Romeo brand was born in Lombardy, Italy, in 1910. However, the iconic Quadrifoglio name and badge first appeared in 1923. The name “Quadrifoglio” means “four-leaf clover” in Italian, which explains the recognizable shamrock logo.
The four-leaf clover wasn’t originally Alfa Romeo’s idea. The Italian brand struggled in the international racing scene early in its life. Engineer and designer Giuseppe Merosi prepared four cars based on the Alfa Romeo RL for the Targa Florio race in 1923. Incidentally, one of those cars happened to be piloted by Enzo Ferrari. One of the other racers was named Ugo Sivocci and had a reputation for bad luck, often finishing in second place.
Sivocci took it upon himself to paint a white square with a green four-leaf clover on the car in a superstitious attempt to change his luck. In the race’s final lap, Sivocci was in second place behind Antonio Ascari, another Alfa racer.
Ascari had some mechanical problems that were quickly resolved, but he was disqualified because the mechanics climbed aboard the car so they could cross the finish line. The result was a victory for Sivocci, credited to the lucky four-leaf clover on the vehicle.
This story has gone down in racing history as the genesis of the Quadrifoglio line of high-performance Alfa Romeo models. Since then, the now-legendary shamrock has adorned classic sports cars like the 33 Stradale, modern exotics like the 8C Competizione, and even little hatchbacks like the MiTo.
It’s now impossible to get your hands on a 100th Anniversary model
These 100th Anniversary Quadrifoglio models will be available in Fall 2023. However, if this is the first you’re hearing of them, and you somehow had the dough to spare, you’re out of luck. The Alfa Romeo 100th Anniversary models are already sold out, according to Classic Cars Journal.
For those with a reservation in place, this is a chance to own a small piece of automotive history. Whether you’re an avid Alfa Romeo collector or shopping for your first high-performance luxury sedan or SUV, these unique vehicles will surely be a blast to drive.
