Alfa is back with a bang. And if the car in question is a Giulia Quadrifoglio (QF for short) that bang is probably emanating from its quad exhausts, because not only is this super saloon rear-wheel drive, it also boasts a heady 503bhp from an engine fettled with some Ferrari know-how.
So, what is the Giulia QF? It’s the first model based on an all-new platform, which is “make or break” according to Alfa. Eventually destined to spawn as many as eight models, including SUVs, this is its first – and arguably most important - outing. It’s also expected to sell well in North America and China, two markets where Alfa has lagged behind rivals.
We can all remember how Alfa made its name with delicately poised, lightweight saloons and coupes, and then sadly lost its way somewhat. The 159 was pleasant, but heavy and a little underpowered. The Giulietta and MiTo aren’t bad cars either, but their underpinnings date back to the Fiat Bravo and Punto and they didn’t have the handling finesse of the best-in-class.
So, Alfa has “hit the restart button”. Not only did the Giulia begin with a clean sheet of paper, it has also been overseen by Philippe Krief, the engineer who played a key role in the development of the Ferrari 458 Italia, and is now going back to work at Maranello.
At its heart is a 2.9-litre V6 with twin turbochargers, which is effectively a version of the V8 in the Ferrari 488 with two cylinders deleted. Constructed entirely from aluminium, it is capable of producing a heady 503bhp, significantly more than the 425bhp of the BMW M4. Coupled with rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox, it can launch from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds, before hitting 191mph. The M4 takes 4.3 seconds and has a limited top speed of 155mph.
Its chassis is special too, with perfect 50:50 weight distribution, thanks in part to the use of a mixture of materials, including plenty of aluminium, as well as a carbon fibre bonnet, roof, front splitter, rear spoiler and interior trim. Optional carbon ceramic brake discs and front seats shells contribute to a dry weight of 1,524kg, which is impressively light for a big-horsepower saloon car.
No room for excuses then. Luckily, with an advanced suspension layout, you can instantly tell the way the Giulia handles has been Alfa’s top priority, even if the engine might be something of a superstar too. Flooring it out of Alfa’s pit garage and into a second-gear right-hander, you can instantly feel that this isn’t a car that’s needlessly stiff.
That’s the beauty of a properly sorted suspension setup, the tyres maintain their contact patch and grip, even if there’s a touch of body roll, allowing the chassis to have a lovely, supple feel. This bodes very well for UK customers, because while Alfa’s Balocco test track is smooth (save for some red and white curbs), it feels as if it should ride comfortably and stay composed over rougher roads.
At higher speeds the Giulia feels remarkably stable, but at lower speeds, particularly in Balocco’s tightest switchbacks, the tail is playful and once the impressive front grip has tucked the nose into the corner, it’s easy to provoke a slide from the rear end and play with the Giulia’s balance on the throttle.
The Giulia even boasts active aerodynamics, with the front splitter automatically extending downwards by up to 60mm to improve grip over the front wheels. While we’d be lying if we said we could feel that, the ‘Advanced Economy’, ‘Normal’, ‘Dynamic’ and QF-only ‘Race’ driving modes do have a very palpable effect.
The first allows half of the engine’s six cylinders to shut down, resulting in economy of around 33mpg and the lowest CO2 emissions in its class. ‘Dynamic’ brings far sharper responses from the steering and throttle, but still keeps things mostly in check if you get too carried away. Select ‘Race’ and the anti-skid electronics will allow for some more lurid cornering and wheel spin.
Away from the track, the Giulia still impresses. This is the best Alfa interior we’ve seen, with an attractive but logical dashboard layout, beautiful steering wheel and hugging sports seats. We love the way the 8.8-inch infotainment system is hidden behind a swathe of glass, even if we’ll need to test it more thoroughly in the UK to make sure it’s good to use. At least the MMI-style controller looks promising, and Alfa told us they purposefully chose not to include a touch-screen.
Space in the rear is perfectly fine for two adults, feeling similar to the rear of a Jaguar XE, while the boot is practical at 480 litres.
Halo
While the Alfa Romeo 4C certainly got the motoring world’s attention, such a limited-volume sports car was never going to turn around Alfa’s fortunes by itself. Okay, a 503bhp super-saloon might not exactly be mainstream either, but it works beautifully well as a halo product for the standard Giulia.
Both the QF and standard model share the same intrinsic balance, but with a prodigious engine, trick chassis and slick gearbox, the hottest Giulia can really exploit the potential of Alfa’s fantastic new platform.