The Beauty (and) Beast – the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

There's a long-standing saying in the automotive world that you're not a true car enthusiast if you've never owned an Alfa Romeo. Manufacturers of this brand have long accustomed us to the incredibly beautiful styling found exclusively in Italian cars. Unfortunately, for many years, Alfa Romeo's beauty has also been associated with its reliability. Each successive model raised high expectations, which unfortunately translated into disappointment during testing and use. However, ever since the 159 and 4C models, we began to believe that the day would come when the Italian brand would embarrass its German competitors, and that day finally arrived with the launch of the Giulia Quadrifoglio.

Appearance and style

One glance is enough to see how much more sporty the Alfa Romeo possesses than its rivals. The aggressive line of the lights, which merges with the beautiful grille that forces the license plate to be moved, immediately catches the attention of passersby. Such a stylized line is nowhere to be found on any of its competitors. The front fenders feature a four-leaf clover, which has always brought good luck, but never so quickly. The QV also distinguishes itself from the standard version with a hood with integrated air intakes and an aerodynamics package. The rear of the vehicle showcases its capabilities with a quad-tip exhaust. Nevertheless, it must be admitted that even the less powerful Giulia retains its appearance and effectively attracts attention. Of course, attention was paid to reducing the vehicle's weight by using a carbon fiber engine cover and roof. The front splitter, which moves to optimize downforce, is made of the same material.

Interior

The vehicle's interior is designed in a rather minimalist manner; once seated, you're not overwhelmed by a multitude of switches and unnecessary decorations. Everything is designed to evoke a sporty, weight-saving approach without distracting the driver while driving. It's worth noting, however, that the carbon fiber used on the steering wheel and dashboard is truly impressive. The materials used in the cabin are of very high quality. The steering wheel design itself immediately conveys the sporty driving style.

Engine and performance

The Giulia's most important element is, of course, the engine, a 2.9-liter turbocharged V6 developed in collaboration with Ferrari. It generates 510 horsepower, which is transferred to the rear axle via a carbon fiber shaft to save weight. The engine block is made of aluminum, as are the cylinder heads for both banks. The twin-scroll turbochargers are additionally water-cooled, ensuring perfect operation. Thanks to these technologies, the entire system achieves 600 Nm of torque, allowing the car to accelerate to 100 km/h in a manufacturer-claimed 3.9 seconds. However, the real performance isn't seen during acceleration tests, but rather when cornering. Power transferred to the rear axle eliminates understeer and allows for very quick cornering. The vehicle's perfect balance is also crucial. All of this allows for quick road-tripping and excellent grip, while the high power allows for slippage and easy steering, with a smile on your face. Most importantly, after a few corners, you can look in the mirror at the M3, unable to catch up. All of this is accompanied by the goosebump-inducing exhaust note.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia has restored faith in the brand's capabilities. The car will satisfy even the most discerning drivers. While this brand was once chosen solely by heart, now common sense also dictates choosing this model over the competition.

We would like to thank R4Less for lending us the car.