Wednesday 2nd March 2016

Alfa Romeo Giulia - Geneva 2016

Fresh details on the Giulia models customers are actually going to buy!

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Now 510hp Alfa super saloons are all well and good but, rather like M3s and C63s, the QV is not the Giulia many customers are actually going to buy. Those models will be the - shudder - diesels and the lower powered petrols, initial details of which have been released at Geneva.

Please be good, please be good, please be good...

The non-QV Giulia range will comprise a 200hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo as well as a pair of 2.2-litre diesels, either with 150 or 180hp. Customers will be able to choose from a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearbox. You'll notice already a big gap between that petrol engine and the flagship in terms of power, plus the lack of a larger diesel engine to compete with cars like the 330d, 3.0 TDI A4 and C350d. They will likely follow in due course.

The petrol engine is a new aluminium MultiAir unit promising "outstanding efficiency and low emissions". Along with 200hp it makes 243lb ft at 1,750rpm; full tech details are due ahead of the summer launch.

But of course in the UK it's the diesels that will matter to the Giulia's success. The 2.2-litre engine is Alfa's first aluminium diesel and boasts a variable geometry turbo, while a balancing countershaft should keep it smooth. The stats so far are 150hp at 4,000rpm with 280lb ft at 1,500rpm and 180hp at 3,750rpm with 332lb ft at 1,750rpm for the more powerful diesel. Perhaps more than those it will be the fuel consumption and CO2 figures that will matter, which are expected soon.

Dark blue only offered with tan leather. Maybe

Alfa has divulged some weights already though, claiming that a 180hp diesel weighs 1,374kg dry thanks in part to aluminium doors, aluminium wings and a carbon driveshaft. But then the 4C has never matched its claimed kerbweight so we will maintain a little cynicism for a while yet.

Underneath, there are double wishbones up front and an Alfa Link rear suspension set up. Alfa claims the most direct steering ratio in the segment (11.8) as well as "top performance, driving pleasure and comfort for all versions of the new Giulia."

Technology like torque vectoring, the active aero splitter and chassis domain control are held back for the QV. That being said, all Giulias will come with Alfa's DNA mode selection switch, an electromechanical braking system and the usual roster of active safety features.

New eight-speed auto offered with BIG paddles

Now we were fortunate enough to have a quick poke around the Giulia's interior at Geneva, albeit after a long and politely British wait in a queue. And it looks pretty good! It's clearly very driver focused, with a canted dash, a low driving position, a steering wheel that's nice to hold and plenty of info between the dials. Even now though it would be hard to say it's as pleasant inside as an A4 - quelle surprise - and the manual didn't feel brilliant in that invaluable motor show test of shifting it around when stationary. The first impression was mainly positive though, and the materials seemed decent.

Alfa will offer the Giulia in three specifications: a Giulia, er, Giulia, a Giulia Super and the Giulia Quadrifoglio. Again, the full breakdown of those and prices will follow at a later date.

The international launch for the Giulia is scheduled for the summer, so presumably we can't be too far off the full range information. So what do you think? Can it take on the compact executive establishment? Would you buy one over an XE, 3 Series or A4? And can a new Alfa ever meet the expectations placed on it? Answers to a few of those to follow as soon as possible!

 

[Ali_T]

It's well known that the Maserati diesel V6s will also follow. Another 2.0 variant with 330bhp is due in the near future as well. That's already been round the 'ring in 8 minutes dead!

Regardless of believing the weight (the Germans constantly quote dry weight so let's not just pick Alfa out for that), the 180bhp diesel does 0-62 in 6.9 secs and, yet, has emissions of 99g/km. That's pretty extraordinary!

[V8Bart]

"New eight-speed auto offered with BIG paddles"
lets hope the Selespeed aka "Sallafield" days are long gone!

[Krikkit]

V8Bart said:

"New eight-speed auto offered with BIG paddles"
lets hope the Selespeed aka "Sallafield" days are long gone!

It'll inevitably be an off-the-shelf ZF torque converter auto much the same as all the other manufacturers offer. The selespeed is long dead.

[M1C]

I'm liking these......

Seems ages since we were looking at the QV.

[LankyLegoHead]

Not sure if it looks as good as the 159 did, but still looks fantastic! Can't wait to see one in the flesh...

[5harp3y]

Thats my next company car sorted then!

[Guvernator]

Ali_T said:

It's well known that the Maserati diesel V6s will also follow. Another 2.0 variant with 330bhp is due in the near future as well. That's already been round the 'ring in 8 minutes dead!

Where have you seen this? As the article suggests there is a massive gap in the range and I was hoping for something to compete with the S\M-Sport\AMG sub brands of the German's so was a quiet disappointed in the announced engine line-up. A 330bhp petrol would be just the ticket although I've heard the petrol engines would all be auto baring the QV which again would make me loose interest in this car.

[GTEYE]

5harp3y said:

Thats my next company car sorted then!

Wait till you see the lease rates, that's where Alfa's have not fared to well in the past!

It had better be good, this has been an epic wait!

[The Wookie]

Disappointed with the beemeralike interior, can't help but think they could have shoved in a few round air vents to make it look a bit more Italian!

More than interested to see how it drives

[galro]

The Wookie said:

Disappointed with the beemeralike interior, can't help but think they could have shoved in a few round air vents to make it look a bit more Italian!

They did:

[Ali_T]

Guvernator said:

Where have you seen this? As the article suggests there is a massive gap in the range and I was hoping for something to compete with the S\M-Sport\AMG sub brands of the German's so was a quiet disappointed in the announced engine line-up. A 330bhp petrol would be just the ticket although I've heard the petrol engines would all be auto baring the QV which again would make me loose interest in this car.

The leaked memo from Alfa US listed all the engines as auto but the speech at Geneva said all the normal models have option of both in Europe. Top model for now, that isn't the QV, is the 280bhp petrol but there's definitely a 330bhp variant in testing. Rumour is it's already set an 8 minute time, as I said, but Alfa haven't confirmed that yet. That, the V6 diesels and the AWD versions will follow later, probably into next year. The standard spec is seriously good, even on base models, and all models come with an LSD, just not the torque vectoring from the QV.

[Ali_T]

GTEYE said:

Wait till you see the lease rates, that's where Alfa's have not fared to well in the past!

It had better be good, this has been an epic wait!

F**k it, life's too short. I want a 330bhp Veloce version until I can afford a used QV.

BTW, PH, the range announced is Standard, Business, Super or Sport versions. Veloce will come later.

Edited by Ali_T on Tuesday 1st March 18:03

[swisstoni]

Anything to bring variety to the desperately dull roadscape.

[chrispmartha]

Lets be honest the standard ones look like every other mid sized saloon, if it didnt have an alfa badge on the front it wouldnt be getting the praise for its looks, the interior even looks boring in these models.

[Axionknight]

chrispmartha said:

Lets be honest the standard ones look like every other mid sized saloon, if it didnt have an alfa badge on the front it wouldnt be getting the praise for its looks, the interior even looks boring in these models.

Inclined to agree - it looks alright, but it's no stunner, but in this day and age no mid sized family saloon is.

It's by no means ugly though and far from the worst in segment, take the current C Class saloon for example, it looks like it has started melting, truly laughable.

[chrispmartha]

Axionknight said:

Inclined to agree - it looks alright, but it's no stunner, but in this day and age no mid sized family saloon is.

It's by no means ugly though and far from the worst in segment, take the current C Class saloon for example, it looks like it has started melting, truly laughable.

Agreed on the c class saloon although the interior on them is far far nicer than what this alfa looks like.

The c class coupe is a great looking thing though IMO

[The Wookie]

galro said:

The Wookie said:

Disappointed with the beemeralike interior, can't help but think they could have shoved in a few round air vents to make it look a bit more Italian!

They did:

Cunningly hidden in the article shot above! I stand by my original comment for the main part of the dash though, just looks like a BMW dash!

[robemcdonald]

It's all very much like a BMW. Swap out the shield for a kidney grille and it's an homage to Munich.
Where this will succeed or fail is with the dealer network. In order to get drivers out of the Teutonic big three you are going to need something better than a corner of a fiat or jeep garage. I love Alfas more than most, but recognise that the ownership proposition is an order of magnitude away from Mercedes, Audi, BMW etc..The investment should have been made years ago. Regardless of how great the car could be its will still be a niche product.
As for a company car option. I asked about a n Alfa as a company car a few years ago. The fleet manager laughed at me.

[Bakazan]

"Alfa has divulged some weights already though, claiming that a 180hp diesel weighs 1,374kg dry thanks in part to aluminium doors, aluminium wings and a carbon driveshaft. But then the 4C has never matched its claimed kerbweight so will maintain a little cynicism for a while yet."

How do manufacturers get away with quoting incorrect weights? Is this one area the EU hasn't legislated to level the playing field?

[kambites]

Bakazan said:

How do manufacturers get away with quoting incorrect weights? Is this one area the EU hasn't legislated to level the playing field?

There is a standard way to measure cars in the EU (standard spec with 90% fuel and 75kg of driver/luggage) but the Italians seem not to use it. With Alfa quoting 1,374kg dry, I suspect when people actually get a typically specced production car on weigh bridge it'll be easily on the hefty side of 1500kg - nothing to write home about but not terrible either.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 1st March 20:33