Following a period of more than 10 years away, the iconic Alfa Romeo marque has now triumphantly returned to brighten Malaysian roads with its inimitably characterful Italian style once more. Indeed this is a siren call to local enthusiasts to Drive Beautifully again; embracing the true art of motoring and rediscovering the greater nuances of cars as expressions of artistic culture & engineering as expressed by the Milanese marque’s evocative styling, soulful drivetrains and telepathic handling.
This historic comeback is happening with the auspices of DLSB Partners Sdn. Bhd., an independent private distributor and member of Atlantis Motor Group backed by over 5 decades of experience in our local automotive sector. With its people including presently dedicated Alfa owners themselves guided by a deep passion for the legendary Italian marque, DLSB Partners is committed to sparking Malaysians’ admiration and intrigue for the brand once more, decisively rebuilding its local presence with a fresh long-term vision on customer support & satisfaction.
Malaysians have long had an especially emotive relationship with this iconic brand born in Milan 115 years ago, innately understanding that they embody more than just simple transportation; imbuing us with emotional sensations and powerful memories unequaled by any other marque. Alfa Romeo first entered our market with City Motors in 1965, before rapidly thrilling homegrown fans with the sort of competitive excellence already proven by multiple Grand Prix & Touring world championship titles. Indeed just 5 years later in 1970, none other than former Hong Kong police inspector Albert Poon led Malaysia’s Alfa Romeo team to a celebrated ‘Grand Slam’ by winning the Singapore, Selangor, Perak and Malaysian Grands Prix.
The story goes further: in that same year, the locally-assembled Berlinas & Alfettas became the first ever Alfa Romeos to be built away from their Italian home while establishing our homegrown car manufacturing capabilities beyond a doubt. With Alfas then also favoured by the Italian carabinieri for their dynamically agile performance, our Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) then made further history by being the first authority outside Italy to use them as official police cars.
They started off with the 1.3 and 1.6 Giulias, before taking up the Alfettas themselves. Having captured the imaginations of Malaysian drivers with such resilient performance & proven heritage, Alfa Romeo’s return to these shores is more than just a brand revival – it’s a rekindling of emotional spirit that has always forged unbreakable bonds among its most ardent enthusiasts. Snapping forwards to the present day with all the verve of a Twin Spark engine or Busso V6, this is now heralded by the modern era’s celebrated Giulia sedan and Stelvio Veloce SUV; both being built on the bespoke Giorgio platform.
Ever since their global debut, they have instrumentally shaped Alfa Romeo’s modern renaissance, widely renowned for their alluring style & driving dynamics par excellence. The modern Giulia Veloce itself is heir to a legendary lineage stretches back over more than a half century of Alfa’s greatest sports saloons; from the artfully sculpted beauty of the Giulia Sprint GTs and Alfetta, to the 75 and 156’s touring car triumphs. It then distills those storied decades of motorsport proven heritage into a contemporary performance sedan defined by beauty with balanced dynamism.
Each one of its voluptuous curves has been artistically yet efficiently formed in the wind tunnel for stable confidence inspiring high speed airflow. Truly unmistakable Alfa design cues here include the “Trilobo” shield taking pride of place between paired full-LED Adaptive Matrix “3+3” headlights, giving the Giulia its own distinctive visual presence while honouring its modern-classic predecessors. Its very sporting profile is rounded out by 19-inch wheels, dark finish elements and red Brembo brake calipers.
Within the Veloce’s sculpted bonnet beats a 2-litre turbocharged inline-4 engine, delivering 280 hp & 400 Nm of torque to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. 60km/h is reached from rest in a brisk 5.7 seconds, with top speed being electronically capped at 240km/h. Beyond straight line speed though, the Giulia’s extensive aluminium construction, almost 50:50 weight distribution and bespoke Alfa Link suspension system all work as one to connect it intuitively with its driver.
Control inputs are directly translated into quick-footed motion by the 11.8:1 quick-steering ratio, a lightweight carbon fibre driveshaft & Q2 mechanical LSD, creating a driving experience that feels confidently alive with all of the agility which has long defined the greatest drivers’ Alfa Romeos. Fine Italian craftsmanship carries through into the Veloce’s cabin too, with the updated 12.3-inch digital TFT cluster touting classic-style Alfa Romeo dials to compliment the dashboard’s clean minimalism; complimented by the 3-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel, sports seats and aluminium accents.
Meanwhile, named for the legendary mountain pass that has wound through the Italian Alps while testing & thrilling generations of spirited drivers, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio transforms the very definition of a performance SUV. Alfa’s very first such car is conceived to embody true sports car soul with Grand Touring usability, bringing Italian panache, precision handling, and all-weather capability together in one irresistible platform. Powered by the same 2.0-litre turbocharged 280 hp engine & 8-speed transmission as its Giulia Veloce sibling, the addition of its Q4 intelligent AWD system ensures sure-footed traction when driving spiritedly or in challenging conditions.
Putting both agility and driver engagement first, the Stelvio stays true to the long-held Alfa Romeo ethos with a chassis & suspension that endow it with exceptionally agile dynamic responses. Its trademark Alfa Link suspension system also plays its part here, working with the SUV’s extensively lightweight construction and balanced 50:50 weight distribution to give it incredibly sedan-like steering precision; along with all the poise of an Italian thoroughbred. Pricing for both cars has been indicated to be around the RM400,000 mark, with confirmed details to come once 2026 has dawned.
Alfa Romeo’s new home in Malaysia will take the form of ‘Casa Alfa Romeo’, a fully equipped flagship 3S Centre soon to be unveiled at RS-G-1, Rhapsody Square, TREC Kuala Lumpur. Intended to be a hub for the ‘Alfisti’ community, it will enable customers to explore & test-drive the latest Alfa Romeos, enjoy bespoke services, and benefit from aftersales support for their cars at the official Service Centre staffed by certified technicians.
Malaysian Alfa Romeo owners are a fabulously passionate cohort, with the Alfa Romeo Owners Club having been founded in 1993 & continuing to passionately keep the brand’s spirit alive all these years until the present day. In recognition of that and as a celebration of its return, Alfa Romeo Malaysia will truly elevate the ownership experience for legacy & new Alfisti alike with exclusive benefits. Starting off with La Bella Vita, this will comprise curated cultural and lifestyle events from Grand Tours and spirited country drives to unique experiences around Malaysia & even beyond, including historically significant locations including the Museo Alfa Romeo itself.
Meanwhile, Speed Dating enables more sporting driving enthusiasts to push their Alfa Romeo automobiles’ limits on track, focusing not just on chasing lap times but also exploring that love of driving itself. Finally, Alfa Concierge will provide personalized assistance and services to care for all new Alfa Romeo owners’ automobiles. Alfa Romeo Malaysia will also honour the deep passion of existing owners, embracing its loyal community with the Famiglia Alfa Romeo programme to professionally support all classic & modern Alfa Romeo vehicles. Factory-certified technicians, genuine parts and dependable roadside assistance will give every Malaysian Alfa all of the proper care it well deserves.
This is the moment that Malaysia’s ardent Alfisti have long been waiting for. The time has come to rediscover the irresistible allure of Che Bella, and experience once again the unique, passionate dialogue between car & driver that only an Alfa Romeo can provide. Our finest roads are waiting, and never has the drive looked quite as beautiful as this.
