The latest addition to the luxury sport-sedan club has plenty going for it in terms of style and what’s under the hood. The 2017 Giulia should also give the Alfa Romeo brand some much-needed visual wow with buyers in North America.
Unless you’re a serious car nut, the name Alfa Romeo won’t have significant meaning for you. At all. Yet the Italy-based, century-old automaker (now part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) traces its roots back more than a century and is practically a household word in most of Europe. It’s also the company that gave Enzo Ferrari his start as a racecar driver and team manager back in the 1920s, when Alfa Romeo was enjoying great success on the Grand Prix circuit.
The Giulia (pronounced “Julia”) is the second significant Alfa model to arrive here in this decade, following behind the 4C sports car, and just ahead of the Stelvio hatchback wagon due later this year. All are basically low-volume models that appeal to anyone with a penchant for something non-traditional (i.e. not originating from Germany, Great Britain, Japan or North America).
True to form, the Giulia is a 100 per cent made-in-Italy machine that in many ways resembles a BMW 5 Series from a generation or two ago. When viewed head-on, however, the triangular-shaped grille is a dead giveaway as to its Alfa origins. The sedan’s hunkered-down stance broadly hints at an ability to defeat the wind, but the rest of the body, although elegant, is actually bone-stock traditional.
Elegant is also an apt descriptor for the Giulia’s passenger compartment. Switches and knobs are held to a minimum, while the dash cover is stitched leather. The trim for the dash and door panels is wood, aluminum or carbon fiber, depending on the model, and fits like a Giorgio Armani suit.
Although the 5 Series is on the Giulia’s radar, the car more closely resembles the BMW 3 Series in overall length and wheelbase, and also weighs about the same as the Bimmer. That gives the Alfa a decent power-to-weight ratio, especially considering the choice of engines. A turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder that produces 280 horsepower and 306 foot-pounds of torque is standard for the base Giulia and Giulia Ti trim levels. Alfa claims the Giulia will hit 60 miles per hour (96 km/h) from a standing start in 5.5 seconds.
Those numbers are tame by comparison to the Giulia Quadrifoglio (Italian for four-leaf clover). This version is bent on crushing the BMW M5, Cadillac ATS-V and similar performance models with a twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V-6. It pumps out 505 h.p. and 443 foot-pounds of torque and dances to 60 miles per hour from rest in a mere 3.8 seconds.
The Quadrifoglio also holds the record for quickest production sedan to circle the benchmark Nürburgring test track in Germany. Both engines are mated to eight-speed automatic transmissions (a six-speed manual gearbox is rumoured to arrive later), but for all-wheel drive, the four-cylinder is your only choice.
Giulia acquisition begins at $50,900 (including destination fees). That gets you into a well-equipped sedan with dual-zone climate control, leather-covered seats (10-way powered in front), push-button start, 17.8-centimetre touch-screen and backup sensors.
The Giulia Ti includes heated front seats and steering wheel, 22.3-centimetre display and 18-inch wheels (17-inchers are standard).
Stepping up to the Quadrifoglio inflates the Giulia’s price to $90,600, but puts a host of specialized content into play. There’s a Quadrifoglio-specific grille and wheels, carbon-fiber hood, roof, trunk spoiler and a driver-adjustable lower front valence (splitter). Brembo brakes with carbon-ceramic pads are also included as part of the Quadrifoglio’s standard content.
Inside are sport bucket seats, carbon-fibre dash trim and, most importantly, adjustable suspension and powertrain settings, including a race mode.
Regardless of model, the hard-charging Giulia provides the best reason ever for establishing a connection with a fast, fun and relatively affordable Italian.
Market position
Alfa Romeo is taking aim at the established players at the premium end of the sedan scale. As a newcomer in this bracket, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is gambling big that the brand’s sporting reputation will win the day.
Points
Bold front end differs from the rest of the understated body. Crisp, clean interior adds a touch of class. Base turbocharged engine delivers more than enough power for most buyers. Quadrifoglio model is pricey, but not when compared to high-performance versions of similar-sized European models. Only fans of Euro-spec sedans will “get” this car.
Active safety
Blind-spot warning with cross-traffic alert; active cruise control; emergency braking; forward collision warning (all optional).
Fuel economy
12.8 (litres per 100 kilometres) city and 5.7 highway.
Competition
Audi A6: Solid, comfortable sedan offers a range of power choices. The S6 makes 450 h.p. Base price: $60,400.
Cadillac CTS: Mid-range four-door surprises with luxury and a 640 h.p. CTS-V. Base price: $51,700
BMW 5 Series: 2018 AWD model returns with the usual tame and a full-on 560-horse M model. Base price: $63,700.
