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The Giulia is ready for its close-up! Alfa Romeo is preparing a stunning new BMW 3-Series rival for next year – and our exclusive image shows how the storming 300bhp Cloverleaf version is shaping up.
The successor to the 159 follows the design language first introduced on the MiTo, and reinterpreted on the Giulietta, and will uphold the Italian company’s tradition of building beautiful cars. A shark-like nose, LED lights and clutter-free body panels give even more road presence than its key German rivals. And the hot Cloverleaf shown here is marked out by a road-hugging bodykit, 19-inch alloy wheels and the distinctive Quadrifoglio Verde badge on the flanks.
Many had hoped the Giulia would use a rear-wheel-drive layout, but our sources have revealed that won’t be the case until the next-generation car. For the time being, it will feature a stretched version of the Giulietta’s platform – underpinnings that will also grace Alfa’s forthcoming SUVs.
Bosses are aiming for a class-leading balance of ride and handling, and will introduce an Active Roll Control system. This tightens up the springs and dampers automatically through corners. What’s more, an optional two-mode Active Damping programme will enable the driver to tailor the trade-off between comfort and agility.
Completing the package will be the switchable DNA system already seen on the MiTo and Giulietta – this alters steering weight and throttle response.
The engine line-up taps into owner Fiat’s latest MultiAir technology, and will be among the most advanced in the class. As well as the 1.4-litre turbo unit from the Giulietta – with 118bhp or 168bhp – the Giulia will be offered with the Brera’s 200bhp 1750 TBi powerplant.
Biggest sellers in the UK, however, are expected to be models fitted with the latest JTDm diesel powerplants. These range in output from 104bhp to 200bhp.
The top-spec Cloverleaf will feature a modified version of Fiat subsidiary Chrysler’s Pentastar 3.3-litre petrol V6, complete with MultiAir technology and direct fuel injection, for more power and lower CO2 emissions.
Alfa is aiming for an output of 300bhp, delivered through Q2 front-wheel-drive or Q4 all-wheel-drive transmissions. That will make the hottest model a direct rival for Audi’s sizzling S5. To underline the importance of the new car, bosses say they hope to sell as many Giulias as they do MiTos and Giuliettas.
The US Penstar V6 is 3.6 l in displacement - the one mentioned here must be some other variant. The Penstar will be ChryCo's VQ-like engine and is already being whored out in many MY11 models.
I assume some derivative of this will eventually make it to the US.
Looks fawesome! So they will do that 300 horse V-6 and AWD? Hopefully it's like SH-AWD or others of that breed. Dual clutch? I don't know if Fiat's dual clutches can handle that much power, or maybe ZF 8spd?
Is that an actual picture or a rendering? So many questions!
The US Penstar V6 is 3.6 l in displacement - the one mentioned here must be some other variant. The Penstar will be ChryCo's VQ-like engine and is already being whored out in many MY11 models.
I assume some derivative of this will eventually make it to the US.
Chrysler has only debuted one version of the Pentastar family, the non-DI, non-Multi-air 3.6-liter. A whole range of 3.0L-4.0L versions are expected to follow for various uses, eventually probably moving to all DI and mostly all MA, and some FI performance versions.
It's likely as well that Alfa Romeo will specially tune Pentastars for their own use as is found here.
I own a 1994 164Q (and several other Alfa's). It is a 6 cylinder with 4 cams. The engine is a 3.0 with 240 hp. When Alfa/Fiat builds a product, it is usually over engineered in the engine dept. The original 2 liter 4 cylinder could be turbo charged up to 12 psi without any modifications other than reduced piston compression ratio. The clutch could handle 200 hp but safely 180. It wouldn't surprise me that the clutch could handle 300 hp.
When I read of the active suspension, I am not surprised as that was brought out in the 164Q4 (4 cams and 4 wheel drive). They only built a 1000 units and there are 3 in the US somewhere.
The 164Q was only introduced here in 1994 and 1995 with 130 units imported. If you take a 164Q and upgrade the intake cams, you can get close to 300 hp. Awesome car!
The suspension in our 2006 RL is awesome with the SH-AWD. If that was in the new Alfa or some variant, I would love it even more.
We have a Alfa BB where we discuss the coming FIAT cars and dealerships. We won't see an Alfa here until 2012. The word has it that there will be an entire new line of Alfa's brought over or built here. The new Fiat 500 with the Abarth kit will be a hot seller.
I am with you, I want a top of the line "get out of my way" Alfa. After owning a 164Q, it would be hard not to want the best they produce.
More info on the suspension:
According to Car, the new model, which will replace the aging 159 range, will utilize a modified form of Fiat’s C-Evo platform. Used in the smaller Giulietta (and a number of forthcoming midsize Chrysler models), the platform will grow in length and width to make the Giulia a true D-segment sedan. Expect the car to utilize the same suspension arrangement (i.e. MacPherson struts in front, two-link setup in back) as the Giulia.
Presently, C-Evo is a front-wheel-drive architecture, but the platform was designed to accommodate all-wheel-drive setups. Such a configuration may come in handy for a few high-performance variants reportedly under consideration. A Giulia GTA, which has reportedly been approved for production, mixes all-wheel-drive with a 300-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6, and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Not exciting enough? A 350-horsepower, two-wheel-drive model is also reportedly under development, and could serve as a homologation special for a new race series.
Like the 159, the Giulia will be offered as both a sedan and a wagon, and Alfa Romeo expects to move roughly 100,000 units annually. That’s a substantial figure, considering the brand sold only 103,000 cars last year, but there could be some extra volume in play -- a 159 successor was always mentioned as a main offering should Alfa actually return to the North American market.
Yumcha please move to the correct thread if needed
We’re still waiting on today’s full reveal of the Alfa Romeo Giulia sport sedan, but we now know that right away, it won’t be screwing around. Apparently the car will launch with a 510 horsepower, twin-turbo performance version designed to fight the BMW M3. Che bella!
Automotive News Europe reports the car will be called the Giulia Quadrifoglio, and it will get all that power from twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 “derived from the unit that Ferrari builds for the Maserati Quattroporte and Ghibli sedans.”
Other versions of the Giulia will get 2.0-liter four-cylinder and V6 power. It’s based on an all-new platform that will come in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions.
More on this as it comes in. Get excited, and learn to pronounce things in Italian.
12-17-2010, 06:02 AM
that they keep pushing the three lights design in the headlight housing.
