Fiat’s Alfa Romeo division has shed insight into what we can expect from the all-new 2017 Giulia when it finally touches down on our shores.
The headline-grabbing model will be the Giulia Quadrifoglio (pictured), which was introduced at an event held in Milan, Italy, last June. Aimed directly at the BMW M3, it stands out as the most powerful street-legal car Alfa has ever built in its illustrious, 105-year long history thanks to a Ferrari-derived 2.9-liter V6 engine rated at 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. The six spins all four wheels via an enthusiast-approved six-speed manual transmission.
Alfa promises the Giulia Quadrifoglio will be capable of sprinting from zero to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds before going on to a top speed of 191 mph. To demonstrate its performance chops, the sedan recently lapped Germany’s famously tough Nürburgring track in 7 minutes and 39 seconds.
For motorists who can do without 500 ponies, Alfa will also sell a much tamer version of the Giulia powered by a new, brand-specific 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that uses a large turbo to deliver 276 horsepower. Rear-wheel drive will come standard, and all-wheel drive will be offered at an extra cost. Although the regular Giulia is expected to look markedly less aggressive than the Quadrifoglio, Alfa hasn’t published pictures of it yet.
Recent unconfirmed reports claim the sedan’s European debut has been delayed until about halfway through next year, meaning it’s not slated to arrive here until next fall or late next year. However, Alfa assures us that both versions of the Giulia are scheduled to join the mid-engined 4C and the topless 4C Spider in showrooms next summer at the latest. The Quadrifoglio model will cost approximately $70,000, a figure that will make it roughly $7,000 more expensive than the M3 and about $5,000 more than the Mercedes-AMG C63.
