2015 LA AUTO SHOW - Alpha Romeo Reveals 2017 Giulia Quadrifoglio +VIDEO
Alfa Romeo – the heart and soul of the automotive industry – is returning to the U.S. with an all-new lineup of vehicles, starting with the award-winning 4C Coupe and 4C Spider, inspired by the timeless 33 Stradale, and now the all-new Giulia premium mid-size sedan
LOS ANGELES - November 18,2015: As the first of a new generation of vehicles built on an all-new platform, the 2017 Giulia Quadrifoglio embodies Alfa Romeo’s La meccanica delle emozioni (the mechanics of emotion), delivering race-inspired performance, advanced technologies, seductive Italian style and an exhilarating driving experience to the premium mid-size sedan segment.
“The all-new Giulia is not just a new car, but an entirely new benchmark that represents the next chapter in Alfa Romeo’s rich 105-year heritage,” said Reid Bigland, Head of Alfa Romeo Brand, FCA - North America. “With an all-new lightweight platform and class-leading power and handling, the all-new Giulia delivers on the pedigree of incredible technology, race-inspired performance and Italian design and style.”
Crafted by Alfa Romeo artisans at the Cassino plant in Italy, the all-new 2017 Giulia Quadrifoglio is the ultra-high-performance model in the lineup and a testament to Alfa Romeo’s perfect balance of engineering and emotion, creating a premium sport sedan for driving enthusiasts that stands out in the segment.
Incorporating next-level technologies, the Giulia Quadrifoglio features a Ferrari-derived 505-horsepower bi-turbo V-6 engine, Alfa Romeo’s most powerful production car engine ever, cylinder deactivation and carbon fiber active aero front splitter for improved handling at high speeds. Race-inspired performance is achieved courtesy of the Giulia’s extensive use of ultralight, high-strength materials, which include a carbon fiber driveshaft, hood, roof and more – all for a best-in-class power-to-weight ratio and near perfectly balanced 50/50 weight distribution, resulting in a class-leading 0-60 miles per hour (mph) time of 3.8 seconds and a record-setting Nürburgring time. And similar to all great Alfa Romeo vehicles, the Giulia features stunning Italian design with impeccable proportions and attention to detail that enables a timeless Alfa Romeo style with world-class craftsmanship.
Following the launch of the all-new 2017 Giulia Quadrifoglio, Alfa Romeo
will introduce the full-line of Giulia models that further take on the
heart of the premium mid-size sedan segment. These Giulia models will
include an all-new Alfa Romeo-designed all-aluminum four-cylinder turbo
engine with direct injection, fuel-saving and emission-reducing MultiAir2
technology, and twin-scroll turbo technology for maximum responsiveness.
The result of this impressive technology is a class-leading 276 horsepower
on the entry-level Giulia. In addition to rear-wheel drive, Giulia will
also offer an advanced all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring for
customers who require maximum traction and handling on all road surface
conditions.
Styled with passion: High-performance, functional and seductive
Italian design
With its muscular proportions and a “pure” design ethos of
passion, lightness and simplistic elegance “clothing” its
class-leading technical layout with near perfect 50/50 weight balance, the
all-new 2017 Giulia Quadrifoglio exudes stunning and functional Italian
style with a finesse of Alfa Romeo heritage, athletically taut lines and
sculptural details.
Alfa Romeo designers styled the proportions of the all-new Giulia to have
commanding presence and a menacing face determined to take on the
world’s best roadways and road courses. A large signature
“shield” grille is elegantly sculpted within the front fascia
to form the signature “Trilobo,” a signature of Alfa Romeo
design. Flanking the signature grille with the all-new Alfa Romeo logo are
bi-xenon projector headlamps, which include an adaptive front-lighting
system (AFS) to better adjust to the curvature of the road, while LED
daytime running lights (DRL) provide a signature appearance. Below, a
segment-exclusive active aero front splitter helps the Alfa Romeo Giulia
Quadrifoglio achieve best-in-class aerodynamics (0.32 Cd) and actively
manages downforce via a front carbon fiber splitter for optimal stability
at any speed.
Alfa Romeo Giulia’s side profile proportion highlights the near
perfect 50/50 weight balance and seductive Italian design. To
“skin” the class-leading technical layout required for an
all-new benchmark-level performance sedan, Alfa Romeo designers provided
Giulia with extremely short overhangs, long hood and front fender
proportions, plus a passenger compartment straddled between muscular rear
fender forms to deliver a “settled” look over the drive wheels
– stylistically marking the point where power is unleashed onto the
road. Taut lines, including the elegantly sculpted character line along the
bodysides, mark the doors and envelope the handles while naturally leading
back to the legendary V-shaped nose. Rounded angles and enveloping pillars
draw from Alfa Romeo’s rich design heritage and recall the
“drop-shaped” profile reminiscent of the Giulietta Sprint, one
of the most beautiful cars ever made. Even from plan view, Alfa Romeo
designers gave the Giulia an organic, “ellipsis” design
appearance to add to the all-new sedan’s timeless character.
Finishing off the Giulia’s athletic appearance are massive Brembo
brake calipers with available staggered-fitting 19-inch Dark Gray five-hole
design wheels that hark back to the brand’s stylistic heritage.
Short overhangs and deck lid further emphasize the all-new Alfa Romeo
Giulia Quadrifoglio’s muscular rear fender forms and road-holding
stance. Elegantly shaped tail lamp features are drawn horizontally to
highlight the performance sedan’s width, while LED rear light
clusters further highlight Giulia’s use of advanced technologies.
Like the front, the rear of the Giulia Quadrifoglio also manages airflow
with its integrated diffuser, which helps channel air and provides
additional stability at high speeds and downforce in corners. Finishing off
the rear is a sport, dual-mode exhaust system with quad tips that delivers
a signature Alfa Romeo exhaust note.
Crafted around the driver
Built around the driver, Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio designers focused
on simplistic elegance, with a focus on incorporating the essential
elements for performance. Inside, Giulia’s high level of
craftsmanship starts with an asymmetric-styled instrument panel, featuring
a driver-focused cockpit. Wrapped in ultra-premium leather and Alcantara,
and highlighted by authentic carbon fiber, aluminum and accent stitching,
the Alfa Romeo Giulia features a bespoke look that could only be crafted in
Italy. A Formula-1 inspired steering wheel features a thick-rim profile
that transmits the chassis’ direct-steering feel and neatly groups
the vehicle controls and the red engine start button. Behind the steering
wheel, the Giulia features a full-color 7-inch driver information display
(DID) cluster straddled by two large white-on-black face analog gauges.
At the center of the interior, Alfa Romeo Giulia’s all-new 3-D
Navigation offers an intuitive, yet sophisticated series of features,
including a high-resolution 8.8-inch widescreen display with real-time
vehicle performance pages and telemetry, plus 3-D graphic navigation. A
short-shift six-speed manual shifter elevates proudly in the center
console, while the all-new and ergonomically located Alfa Rotary Pad offers
a gesture recognition system, allowing the driver to interact with the 3-D
Navigation system simply by moving fingers on the pad.
Highlighting Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio’s best-in-class
power-to-weight ratio, ultra-lightweight carbon fiber shell, Sparco racing
seats are available and provide maximum lateral support during extreme
cornering on the track. With even more aggressive bolstering than Giulia
Quadrifoglio’s standard leather and Alcantara high-performance sport
seats, these race-inspired performance seats are the lightest in the
segment, yet provide comfort for long road trips.
State-of-the-art engines are the heart and soul of Alfa Romeo
technology and performance
A Ferrari-derived bi-turbo engine delivers best-in-class 505 horsepower,
making it the most powerful Alfa Romeo production car engine ever and the
quickest with 0-60 mph acceleration in 3.8 seconds.
With Enzo Ferrari’s racing history that dates back with Alfa Romeo to
the 1920s, it’s no surprise that the all-new Giulia Quadrifoglio
harks back to its pedigree of Ferrari engineering excellence, with a
Ferrari-derived bi-turbo V-6 as the “beating heart” bringing
this artisan-designed vehicle to life and further represents a return to
the “Great Alfa Romeos.”
The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio utilizes an all-aluminum 2.9-liter
six-cylinder engine with 90-degree layout that is lightweight and compact,
all for a lower position in the chassis and low center of gravity.
To deliver a best-in-class 505 horsepower and a flat torque curve with 443
lb.-ft. of peak torque between 2,500-5,000 rpm, the state-of-the-art engine
features a bi-turbo design with 35 psi peak boost. In addition, the
engine’s turbochargers are integrated into the exhaust manifold and
feature a low-inertia, single-scroll turbo design with variable-boost
management for ultra-responsive throttle reaction. A direct injection
system maximizes fuel combustion for improved engine output and efficiency.
Combined, these technologies – along with an enthusiast-desired
short-shifting six-speed manual transmission – enable real-world
performance numbers that include: 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds, 191 mph top
speed and a 7:39 Nürburgring lap time.
Ensuring that this high-performance engine delivers world-class levels of
efficiency, a cylinder deactivation system enables the Alfa Romeo Giulia
Quadrifoglio to run on three of its six cylinders. Furthermore, an
innovative engine start/stop (ESS) system stops fuel flow and shuts the
powertrain down when the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is at a full stop
– reducing fuel consumption and emissions. When the brake pedal is
released, the high-performance bi-turbo engine automatically restarts
thanks to the ESS system’s high-speed, high-durability starter, which
reduces crank time, culminating in quick restarts. Last, the engine
features a variable-pressure oil pump to reduce operational energy
draw.
All-new Alfa Romeo-specific turbocharged four-cylinder engine and
available all-wheel drive
Also arriving next summer, an all-new 2.0-liter direct-injection
all-aluminum turbo engine, designed specifically for Alfa Romeo, will
deliver a class-leading 276 horsepower and world-class levels of
performance, efficiency and refinement on other Giulia models. This
innovative engine will also feature a MultiAir2 system that simultaneously
controls both intake valve opening and closing events to more effectively
manage combustion quality. This electro-hydraulic fully variable-valve lift
technology ensures the appropriate and effective compression ratio, plus
efficient internal exhaust-gas recirculation (EGR) for improved fuel
economy.
All-wheel drive will also join the four-cylinder turbocharged Alfa Romeo
Giulia lineup in 2016, providing maximum traction on any road surface.
Best-in-class power-to-weight ratio thanks to an all-new
architecture with extensive use of lightweight materials
Lead by two senior engineers from Ferrari, Alfa Romeo Giulia
Quadrifoglio’s all-new rear-wheel-drive architecture extensively
integrates lightweight, state-of-the-art materials to achieve a
best-in-class power-to-weight ratio of nearly 7 lbs./hp, and delivers near
perfect 50/50 weight distribution, segment-leading torsional rigidity and
the most direct steering available.
As the first of the Alfa Romeo product renaissance to feature the all-new
“Giorgio” architecture, Alfa Romeo engineers designed a
lightweight rear-wheel-drive platform with a low center of gravity –
all to deliver the high-performance and precision expected from an Alfa
Romeo.
Helping to deliver Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio’s class-leading
power-to-weight ratio, the sedan features a carbon fiber hood, roof, drive
shaft, active aero front splitter and rear spoiler. Aluminum front and rear
vehicle frames, front shock towers, brakes, suspension components, doors
and fenders also help shed weight compared to conventional steel. In
addition, a composite rear-cross member is made from aluminum and
composite, while available carbon-ceramic brake rotors reduce weight by 50
percent compared to traditional cast iron rotors.
An Alfa Romeo exclusive double wishbone front suspension with semi-virtual
steering axis guarantees rapid and accurate steering feel. With the most
direct steering in the segment, Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio can tackle
high lateral accelerations as a result of the always perfect footprint. At
the rear, an Alfa-link rear axle design with vertical rod ensures top
performance, driving pleasure and passenger ride comfort. An innovative
active damping suspension adapts to driving conditions and can be adjusted
by the driver via the Alfa DNA Pro selector with four drive modes.
Staggered fitting 245/35ZR19 (front) and 285/30ZR19 (rear) Pirelli P Zero
Corsa three-season high-performance tires wrap lightweight 19 x 8.5-inch
and 19 x 10-inch forged alloy wheels, respectively.
Thanks to the available ultra-high-performance carbon-ceramic material
(CCM) brake system from Italian braking leader Brembo, the all-new Alfa
Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio delivers 60-0 mph stopping performance in 102
feet. At the front, this track-proven Brembo brake system features
six-piston aluminum monoblock brake calipers with 15.4-inch (390 mm) CCM
brake rotors. Similarly, the rear axle features four-piston calipers with
14.2-inch (360 mm) CCM rotors and calipers for the electric park brake.
Both front and rear rotors feature a two-piece design and deliver a
50-percent weight reduction compared to cast iron discs, helping to reduce
unsprung mass to further improve handling.
A Brembo high-performance brake system with large vented iron discs, plus
four-piston front and rear aluminum monoblock calipers are standard.
Next-level, state-of-the-art technologies add to the driving
experience to make the all-new Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio even more
exhilarating
A primary objective of the Alfa Romeo engineering team was to integrate
world-first and next-level vehicle technological solutions that would only
amplify the all-new Giulia Quadrifoglio’s exhilarating driving
experience.
Chassis Domain Control
The “brain” of Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio’s benchmark
level dynamics can be attributed to its innovative Chassis Domain Control
(CDC) system. The CDC system coordinates all of the vehicle’s active
systems (stability control, torque vectoring, adaptive damping suspension
and active aero front splitter), using predictive type dynamic models to
deliver balanced, safe and natural driving, thus optimizing performance and
drivability.
Integrated Braking System
The world’s first integrated braking system debuts on the Alfa Romeo
Giulia Quadrifoglio, replacing a traditional system of electronic stability
control (ESC) unit and brake booster for even more instantaneous braking
responsiveness. The innovative electromechanical system improves braking
performance through a faster increase in pressure and makes it possible to
vary brake feel jointly with the Alfa DNA Pro system. As a result, this
lightweight technological solution delivers new levels of brake response
and stopping distance.
Torque Vectoring
Torque Vectoring makes it possible for the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
to increase the limits imposed by the tires during lateral acceleration. By
using a twin-clutch rear differential, the Giulia Quadrifoglio optimizes
torque delivery to each wheel separately for improved power delivery,
traction and control on all types of road surfaces, without cutting power
like traditional systems.
Active Aero Front Splitter
A segment-exclusive active aero front splitter instantaneously adjusts the
carbon fiber front lip spoiler for optimal aerodynamics, downforce and
stability at any speed. In addition to helping the Alfa Romeo Giulia
Quadrifoglio achieve a best-in-class 0.32 Cd, the dynamic front splitter
with its two electric actuators can generate up to 220 pounds of
downforce.
Alfa DNA Pro drive mode selector
Innovative Alfa DNA Pro drive mode selector modifies the dynamic behavior
of the Giulia Quadrifoglio, according to the driver’s selection:
- Dynamic: delivers sharper brake and steering feel with more aggressive engine, transmission and throttle tip-in calibrations
- Natural: comfort setting for balanced daily driving
- Advanced Efficiency: enables cylinder deactivation to reduce fuel consumption
- Race: this mode activates the over-boost function, opens up the two-mode exhaust, turns ESC off and delivers sharper brake and steering feel with more aggressive engine, transmission and throttle tip-in calibrations
Safety and security
The all-new Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio offers innovative safety and security features and leverages state-of-the-art driver-assist features. The latest Alfa Romeo sedan offers safety and security features that include:
- Full-speed Forward Collision Warning – Plus: provides autonomous braking and, under certain circumstances, slows or brings the vehicle to a full stop when frontal collision appears imminent
- Adaptive Cruise Control – Plus with Full Stop: helps maintain distance from the vehicle ahead and, under certain traffic conditions, the system can bring the Giulia to a full stop without driver intervention
- Lane Departure Warning: alerts the driver of inadvertent lane departure and assists with corrective action
For a 360-degree perspective, Blind-spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path Detection and front- and rear-park assist sensors are standard on Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.
In addition, the Alfa Romeo Giulia features advanced multistage driver and front-passenger air bags; driver and front-passenger seat-mounted side air bags (pelvic-thorax); front and rear side curtain air bags; and driver and front-passenger inflatable knee air bags.
A vivid array of colors, materials and design details
Adding to the excitement of owning an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio are the personalization options that each enthusiast can select.
Up to seven exterior colors are available and include: Rosso Alfa (Red), Vulcano Black Metallic, Silverstone Gray Metallic, Montecarlo Blue Metallic, Vesuvio Gray Metallic, Trofeo White Tri-Coat, and Rosso Competizione Tri-Coat (Red).
An array of five premium leather and Alcantara interior combinations are available on Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. First, an all-Black interior with a choice of Black, White and Green or Red accent stitching. A two-tone Black with Red interior with Red accent stitching further highlights the brand’s Italian design. For a bespoke look, Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio also offers a two-tone Black with Ice interior combination with signature Green and White Quadrifoglio accent stitching that pulls from Alfa Romeo’s historic and high-performance logo.
Four wheel designs are available for the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, including staggered fitting 19 x 8.5-inch (front) and 19 x 10-inch (rear) lightweight forged aluminum “Technico” wheels in Bright Silver, or optional Dark Gray. In addition, Alfa Romeo’s signature five-hole design alloy wheels in Bright Silver or Dark Gray are also available.
Quadrifoglio: Superstition becomes super performance
The history of the Quadrifoglio dates back to the 1923 Targa Florio, one of the oldest and most famous racing events of all time – a dangerous and thrilling open road endurance race held in the Mountains of Sicily.
Leading up to the 1923 racing season, Ugo Sivocci – an incredibly superstitious driver – was a perennial second-place finisher, more often than not behind one of his Alfa teammates. So going into the Targa Florio race, and in an effort to banish his bad luck, the superstitious Sivocci decided to paint a four-leaf clover on the side of his 1923 Targa Florio RL. Sure enough, in his first race with the green four-leaf clover, or Quadrifoglio, on his car Sivocci won.
However, a few weeks after the Targa Florio victory, Sivocci was testing a new Alfa car at the legendary Monza race track. There had been no time to paint Ugo’s good luck symbol on the car and tragically he crashed and lost his life – and a legend was born.
The four leaf clover on Sivocci’s car was encased in a square box, while all future clovers were encased in a triangle, with the missing point symbolizing the loss of Ugo Sivocci.
From that day forward, the four-leaf clover became the symbol of all Alfa Romeo race cars and later the mark of Alfa’s high performance street vehicles.