What to expect from the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Earlier this year, Graeme Fletcher was in Italy for the unveiling of the hotly-anticipated 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia, a car that is supposed to resurrect the brand to the greatness of yesteryear.
Correction: It's not the Giulia that will breathe new life into the Alfa brand, but, more specifically, the Giulia Quadrifoglio—and now we have all the dirty little details.
- Production of the Giulia Quadrifoglio for North America is set to begin "late in the second quarter of 2016," and will carry a sticker price of "around US$70,000" south of the border, around $93,500 based solely on current exchange rates
- The car will boast a best-in-class power-to-weight ratio of around seven lbs. per horsepower thanks to its all-aluminum, "Ferrari-derived" 2.9-litre V6 that makes 505 horsepower and 443 lb.-ft. of torque
- With a focus on lightweighting, the Giulia Quadrifoglio features a carbon fibre hood, roof, drive shaft, active aero front splitter and rear spoiler, and aluminum front and rear frames, front shock towers, brakes, suspension components, doors and fenders
- A twin-clutch rear differential helps the Giulia Quadrifoglio optimize torque delivery to each wheel separately for improved power delivery and traction without cutting power
- A segment-exclusive active aero front splitter adjusts the carbon fibre front lip instantaneously, helping the Giulia Quadrifoglio achieve a best-in-class 0.32 drag coefficient while generating as much as 220 lbs. of downforce
- The sedan features a so-called "Alfa DNA Pro drive mode selector," which modifies the dynamics of the Giulia Quadrifoglio, including braking, steering, transmission and throttle, traction control, and exhaust
"The all-new Giulia is not just a new car, but an entirely new benchmark that represents the next chapter in Alfa Romeo's rich 105-year heritage," Reid Bigland, head of Alfa Romeo in North America, said in a statement. "With an all-new lightweight platform and class-leading power and handling, the all-new Giulia delivers on the pedigree of incredible technology, race-inspired performance and Italian design and style."