Well, having had the privilege to dance and often, than not, gyrate with the Giulia (it sounds romantic) one can easily attest: this sedan is not for the faint-hearted. Stru!
It ticks all the right boxes, with high-revving engines claiming big performance numbers, perfect weight distribution, ultra-direct 11.8:1 steering, sophisticated running gear, an impressive power-to-weight ratio and, most important of all, rear-wheel drive.
It wields a Ferrari inspired 2.9-litre all-aluminium twin-turbo petrol V6, for which Alfa claims some very impressive numbers, such as 375kW and 600Nm, 0-100kmh in 3.9 seconds and 307km/h flat out. After- all it’s an Italian made.
The interior as expected is leather-filled, boast an eight-speed automatic transmission, 22cm 3D navigation system – developed in collaboration with Magneti Marelli – is controlled by a rotary pad, and has advanced voice recognition for complete connectivity with smartphones and tablets using Apple iOS and Android operating systems.
Its navigation function, with high-resolution 3D maps, can even be used without the GPS signal via dead reckoning technology, allows TomTom map updates via USB and displays analyses of your driving style and drive mode.
An optional 14 speaker, 12 channel 900W Harman Kardon sound theatre system – a first for Alfa Romeo – uses Logic 7 technology to produce a surround sound effect.
It spots a sports steering wheel, aluminium inserts on the dashboard, central console and door panels, as well as Uconnect 8.4 CD/DVD/MP3/Nav, xenon headlights, electrically adjustable heated front seats, and genuine oak or walnut inserts on the dashboard, central tunnel and door panels.
The one we tested comes fitted with an active front splitter to manage downforce for higher performance and better grip at high speed, as it indicated when one tried to move to another lane ( integrated braking system that combines electronic stability control with a traditional servo for impressive initial bite and reduced pedal vibration).
The only gripe: it has no reverse parking camera as accustomed with other big brands. I hope FCA will seriously look into this matter as a major concern.
The exterior features 18 inch rims, carbon-fibre bonnet, roof, front splitter and rear body inserts, aluminium doors and wheel arches, and optional carbon ceramic discs, all of which bring its dry weight down to 1524kg for a power-to-weight ratio of 216kW per ton.
Others have raved praise “There’s always one thing you’ll never have to worry about with any Alfa Romeo, and that’s its styling. The Giulia looks absolutely fantastic, even with the relatively small wheels in its base model trim, and is likely to age well.”
When selecting between the different drive modes, ‘D’ for Dynamic, ‘N’ for Normal and ‘A’ for Advanced Efficiency, you really get a broad spectrum of responses. Most of the time was spent in Normal mode where the combination of low-down torque and that wonderful gearbox made commuting an absolute breeze. Fuel consumption came to 9.0-litres/100km.
However, the question still remains: has it re-written the dynamic handling book for D segment sedans in SA for FCA?
Yes, Giulia can and will race off, against German brands BMW and Benz, respectively.
Prices include a three-year or 100 000km warranty and a six-year or 100 000km maintenance plan.
Giulia – R555 000
Giulia Super – R625 000
Giulia Super with Stile Pack – R695 000
Giulia Quadrafolio Verde – R1 400 000
Verdict
Performance 1-10 (7)
Fuel 1-10 (5)
