The Alfa Romeo Giulia is a compact four-door sedan aimed at the BMW 3-Series, and the Quadrifoglio version is a BMW M3 fighter. The Quadrifoglio is the first car in an eight-product assault scheduled for the next three years. Alfa plans to release the Quadrifoglio late in the second quarter of 2016, and the base Giulia should follow not long thereafter. Pricing for both models will be made available closer to the on-sale date, but expect the base car to start in the mid-to-upper $30,000 range and the Quadrifoglio to start around $70,000.
The 2017 Alfa Romeo Guilia rides an all-new rear- and all-wheel-drive platform. The lineup will start with a base model powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder making 280 horsepower.
Thus far, Alfa Romeo has revealed far more details of the Quadrifoglio, so the rest of this preview will focus on that model.
The Quadrifoglio is powered by a Ferrari-derived, twin-turbocharged, all-aluminum 2.9 V-6 that pumps out 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, thanks in part to a whopping 35 psi of boost. It comes with cylinder deactivation-a technology Alfa Romeo claims will result in a 15 percent improvement in real-word fuel economy-as well as start/stop technology. Fuel economy numbers are not yet available. Alfa says the Quadrifoglio will rocket the car from 0-60 mph in just 3.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 191 mph. The lone transmission is an 8-speed automatic with paddle shifters.
Alfa claims the Quadrifoglio will have best-in-class torsional rigidity, a best-in-class power-to-weight ratio of seven pounds per horsepower, and a 50/50 front/rear weight balance thanks to smart engineering and lightweight materials. The mechanical bits support these claims. Carbon fiber is used for the driveshaft, hood, and roof, while the doors, fenders, front and rear subframes, mirrors, and suspension are aluminum components. An aluminum composite and plastic crossmember sheds pounds at the rear, while optional carbon ceramic brakes weigh half as much as the standard cast iron rotors and save unsprung weight at all four corners.
The front suspension is a double wishbone design unique to Alfa Romeo, and a multi-link independent suspension is found at the rear. The Alfa DNA Pro drive-mode selector will be standard, offering Advanced Efficiency, Natural, Dynamic, and Race modes that adjust the brake and steering feel, as well as the engine, transmission, and throttle response. The Advanced Efficiency mode will also activate the cylinder deactivation, while the Race mode will trigger turbocharger overboost, open the baffles of a two-mode exhaust system, and shut off the electronic stability control.
The Quadrifoglio will also come with adjustable dampers, mechanical torque vectoring, and an Integrated Brake System that reduces stopping distances. Carbon ceramic brakes will be offered, featuring 15.4-inch rotors and six-piston calipers up front and 14.2-inch rotors and four-piston calipers at the rear. Alfa claims a 60-0 mph stopping distance of just 102 feet with the carbon ceramics. Large cast-iron brakes will be standard, and both brake systems are sourced from Brembo.
The tires will be three-season Pirelli P Zero Corsas, 235/35R19s up front and 285/30R19s at the rear. Alfa Romeo hasn’t specified if the steering is electric or hydraulic assist, but it has said that it will be the most direct steering on the market.
The Giulia’s platform is scalable, which means it can be lengthened and widened. It is scheduled to play host to a crossover next and then to a larger sedan. More of the promised models of Alfa’s product assault may also come off this platform, but that is not yet confirmed.
To kick off the brand’s renaissance, Alfa Romeo has redesigned its family crest-style logo with fewer elements. Don’t worry, though, the snake eating a baby is still there. The Giulia’s design combines elements of the past with a modern look and a sporty stance.
The body is draped over a long wheelbase, but short front and rear overhangs give it a tidy overall length.
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