Thursday 29th September 2016

Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce - Paris 2016

280hp four-wheel drive Giulia Veloce to bridge gap to QV plus restyled Giulietta and Mito

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Having plucked heartstrings and given the Germans something to think about with the blazing 510hp Quadrifoglio and enlivened company car lists with the regular four-cylinder petrol and diesel versions Alfa Romeo's Giulia range gains some mid-range muscle with a new Veloce version. Making its debut at Paris, the Veloce strengthens the Giulia range and broadens its reach with a 280hp 2.0-litre petrol and 210hp 2.2-litre diesel, both with Q4 four-wheel drive and eight-speed automatics. The Veloce's arrival also introduces a new signature colour - Blue Misano - worn here by the petrol version.

19-inch wheels, black exterior trim, leather sports seats and aluminium dash trim are all part of the Veloce package, that evocative name adding some essential Latin glamour to a market sector not noted for its romance.

Alfa Romeo says the 2.0-litre petrol engine is a new unit and boasts 280hp and 295lb ft, featuring MultiAir electro-hydraulic valves, direct injection and a 'two into one' turbocharger. Impressive stats, given BMW's 330i manages 252hp and 258lb ft from a comparable 2.0-litre four - near identical to the Audi A4's 2.0-litre TFSI petrol. The hybrid Mercedes C350e is the most powerful petrol C-Class at this level and Jaguar's XE 2.0 R-Sport has 240hp, the Veloce's on-paper advantage as tempting as its emotive image. For its part the Q4 all-wheel drive system claims to preserve the Giulia's rear-driven balance, 100 per cent of the drive torque going to the rear axle unless the sensors detect slip and then send up to 60 per cent to the front according to 'real time' assessment of grip, steering angle and other parameters. The system adds around 60kg to the weight of the car and pressure, as ever, is for Alfa Romeo to deliver on the promise.

If your fleet manager still insists on diesel the Veloce version gets Alfa Romeo's first all-aluminium unit with 210hp and 347lb ft, again competitive with the equivalent versions of the aforementioned rivals. And if that doesn't work the charm Alfa Romeo is also introducing a new Giulia Advanced Efficiency with a 180hp version of the 2.2-litre diesel, 16-inch wheels running eco tyres and 99g/km emissions. Pricing for all will, of course, be key in this sector and will be confirmed in due course.

Meanwhile the Giulietta and Mito also get a bit of Veloce fairy dust, gaining revised grilles and branding and a selection of new trims and finishes.

[mylesmcd]

ooooo - very nice.

Sat in one of the base ones a few weeks back, very nice indeed!

[Guvernator]

All nice and dandy except the Veloce is not coming to the UK, at least not yet, plus it's still auto only. Oh why do you tease us so Alfa?

[generationx]

Guvernator said:

All nice and dandy except the Veloce is not coming to the UK, at least not yet, plus it's still auto only. Oh why do you tease us so Alfa?

I don´t know why people have an issue with the auto - it´s the ZF 8-speed as used in everything else and is a really sharp-changing unit. One can still be a hero with F1-style, quick-response flappy paddles then waft about when feeling lazy.

(This is not personal Guv, just general comment with a handy quote)

Having driven a couple of different variants I can´t wait for mine.

[Vee12V]

Guvernator said:

All nice and dandy except the Veloce is not coming to the UK, at least not yet, plus it's still auto only. Oh why do you tease us so Alfa?

The auto (with those great Ferrari style alu paddles) is the one to go for. The 6 sp really isn't much to write home about. It's not particularly bad but the auto is just better.

[hornetrider]

If they make a Sportwagon I'd be all over that like a tramp on chips.

[Guvernator]

generationx said:

I don´t know why people have an issue with the auto - it´s the ZF 8-speed as used in everything else and is a really sharp-changing unit. One can still be a hero with F1-style, quick-response flappy paddles then waft about when feeling lazy.

(This is not personal Guv, just general comment with a handy quote)

Having driven a couple of different variants I can´t wait for mine.

Not sure about other people but personally for me over the last few years I've probably driven quite a few of the "best" ZF\DSG\DCT boxes of various descriptions and come to realise that they just bore me to tears. I'm not a car commuter so don't really need the convenience of an auto to do big miles. I've owned some decent powered cars but despite the impressive stats, the automated gearbox makes them feel like I'm just along for the ride rather than actually driving.

I get to drive my parents car quite frequently and even though it's a boggo Astra with about 130bhp, the manual gearbox actually makes it more fun to drive then my car, despite the huge power discrepancy.

Edited by Guvernator on Thursday 29th September 10:25

[FN2TypeR]

hornetrider said:

If they make a Sportwagon I'd be all over that like a tramp on chips.

Same, that would be a lovely thing indeed, the old 159 looked terrific as an estate in my opinion and this would too.

[Fire99]

I still think the rear is a touch 'safe' on the styling front (notably the lights) but I really like this.... Just different enough..

[mylesmcd]

Guvernator said:

All nice and dandy except the Veloce is not coming to the UK, at least not yet, plus it's still auto only. Oh why do you tease us so Alfa?

I live in Veneto, Italy.

..but still cant afford one....

[SWoll]

Guvernator said:

generationx said:

I don´t know why people have an issue with the auto - it´s the ZF 8-speed as used in everything else and is a really sharp-changing unit. One can still be a hero with F1-style, quick-response flappy paddles then waft about when feeling lazy.

(This is not personal Guv, just general comment with a handy quote)

Having driven a couple of different variants I can´t wait for mine.

Not sure about other people but personally for me over the last few years I've probably driven quite a few of the "best" ZF\DSG\DCT boxes of various descriptions and come to realise that they just bore me to tears. I'm not a car commuter so don't really need the convenience of an auto to do big miles. I've owned some decent powered cars but despite the impressive stats, the automated gearbox makes them feel like I'm just along for the ride rather than actually driving.

I get to drive my parents car quite frequently and even though it's a boggo Astra with about 130bhp, the manual gearbox actually makes it more fun to drive then my car, despite the huge power discrepancy.

Edited by Guvernator on Thursday 29th September 10:25

I do find it strange that the only thing that seems to make some people feel connected to their cars is the gearbox. So much more to enjoying driving than just changing gear with a tick and pedal surely?

[SonicShadow]

SWoll said:

I do find it strange that the only thing that seems to make some people feel connected to their cars is the gearbox. So much more to enjoying driving than just changing gear with a tick and pedal surely?

It's the feeling of direct mechanical control I guess... I do wonder what OP's other car is if a stty Astra box is a better drive though!

[Motormatt]

I wonder if the Q4 awd is standard with the 280hp engine or if it will be optional like BMW's X Drive?.

I'm not sure why they would go to all the expense of developing a rwd platform and then only offer rwd in the least powerful eco versions which don't benefit from it or the 510hp Quadrifoglio which will be a small volume seller.

The 280hp version in 2wd would definitely be my pick.

[big_rob_sydney]

I'd like more specs info, eg weight for each model, and also performance information.

[SWoll]

SonicShadow said:

SWoll said:

I do find it strange that the only thing that seems to make some people feel connected to their cars is the gearbox. So much more to enjoying driving than just changing gear with a tick and pedal surely?

It's the feeling of direct mechanical control I guess... I do wonder what OP's other car is if a stty Astra box is a better drive though!

I wondered the same. Possibly the worst car I've ever driven was a 2014 Astra diesel with manual box. No redeeming features and the gearbox was dreadful.

[MichaelMM235i]

something about this that reminds me of the M235i obviously its a 5 door but has very similar lines

Lovely looking Car

[Guvernator]

SWoll said:

I wondered the same. Possibly the worst car I've ever driven was a 2014 Astra diesel with manual box. No redeeming features and the gearbox was dreadful.

I drive an S5 with a DSG. In terms of refinement, gadgets, interior, power and pace it's obviously in another world but it's just too clinical. OK you are probably going to bring out the cliche and say what do you expect, its and Audi but I've driven other recent powerful cars which have felt the same. The numb steering on the Audi obviously doesn't help but when I'm driving on the public road, opportunities to test out how good the handling\suspension setup is are few and far between so I look for other areas of interaction.

The Astra was just an example, of course it's rubbish but just having the ability to stir the gearbox and use the clutch pedal gives you a whole other level of interactivity that clicking a paddle just can't match, no matter how clever it is. I also drove a friends BMW 120 recently, again not a car that's going to set your world on fire but the fact it had a manual gearbox made the experience a lot more fun than it should be.

[Fire99]

Guvernator said:

I drive an S5 with a DSG. In terms of refinement, gadgets, interior, power and pace it's obviously in another world but it's just too clinical. OK you are probably going to bring out the cliche and say what do you expect, its and Audi but I've driven other recent powerful cars which have felt the same. The numb steering on the Audi obviously doesn't help but when I'm driving on the public road, opportunities to test out how good the handling\suspension setup is are few and far between so I look for other areas of interaction.

The Astra was just an example, of course it's rubbish but just having the ability to stir the gearbox and use the clutch pedal gives you a whole other level of interactivity that clicking a paddle just can't match, no matter how clever it is. I also drove a friends BMW 120 recently, again not a car that's going to set your world on fire but the fact it had a manual gearbox made the experience a lot more fun than it should be.

I totally get the manual gearbox thing.. For average driving on average roads I quite like a 'slush box' (said in jest!) and even off-roading I had no issue with auto shifts etc but........ If I really want to feel involved and really enjoy the drive, I like a manual. For me fun and involvement are very different from efficiency and ability. All personal choice but no car that I've had experience of has swayed me otherwise. It's not a right or wrong answer. It's a 'what I want' answer.

[bigmuzzie]

I like my Fiat coupe with it's manual box as it suits the car, I like my XFR with it's auto as it suits the car.
Not sure I'd like to be 'using' the clutch on 500+ hp and 450+ ft lbs gear changes, I'd be living in fear of busting something, the auto takes the stress away. The Turbo on the coupe makes the manual driving experience a pleasure.

So, on topic, I think the 280hp manual 2wd would be brilliant and the QV would suit me with an auto box.
They do make some pant arousingly pretty cars those darn Italians!

Great work and the Alfa brand appears to be on top form!

[Pooh]

I read on another site that the Veloce is only coming to the UK in RWD form and we will not get the 4wd version but I am not sure if this is true.

[DeltaEvo2]

Lovely.