Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce - Paris 2016

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

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.