Giulia Quadrifoglio in Low Light
For American car enthusiasts, the arrival of the Alfa Romeo Giulia marked more than just a new model; it signaled the return of Alfa Romeo sedans to the US market after a long absence. Historically, Alfa Romeo’s presence in America was limited to coupes and convertibles, often seen as rare and exotic machines. The Giulia, alongside its SUV sibling the Stelvio, represents Alfa Romeo’s ambitious endeavor to not just re-enter, but to truly recapture the hearts of American drivers.
Having the opportunity to spend a week behind the wheel of a 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio was an insightful experience, thanks to a colleague in the automotive industry. While the process of obtaining a press car is a story in itself, the focus here is squarely on the car – a vehicle that challenges perceptions and delivers a thrilling driving experience.
Exploring the Essence of the Giulia Quadrifoglio
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Exterior Wide Shot
In many respects, the Alfa Romeo Giulia steps into the ring as a direct competitor to established players like the BMW 3-Series. While possessing a slightly larger feel than a BMW E90, the Giulia firmly occupies the same competitive segment. Interestingly, much like the 3-Series, the Giulia boasts a broad model range, starting with a base model priced around $38,000, making it an aspirational yet attainable option for many. At the pinnacle of the lineup sits the Quadrifoglio, the model under scrutiny, with a starting price point near $75,000.
The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is undeniably aimed at challenging the BMW M3. It arrives armed with a potent 500+ horsepower twin-turbo V6 engine, rumored to have roots in the Ferrari California. The Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t shy away from its ambition to not only compete with the M3 but potentially surpass it in terms of driving excitement and visceral appeal.
Inside the Quadrifoglio: A Blend of Familiarity and Italian Style
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Interior View
Stepping inside the Giulia Quadrifoglio, a sense of familiarity emerges, particularly for those acquainted with German automotive interiors. Drawing inspiration, perhaps liberally, from BMW, the interior design presents a layout that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. While the infotainment system echoes BMW’s iDrive, it doesn’t quite reach the same level of polish or intuitiveness. However, it remains user-friendly enough to avoid significant frustration. A minor annoyance was the need to manually re-establish Bluetooth audio connection with an iPhone upon each restart.
Beyond this, the interior exudes quality. The build quality feels robust, comparable to its German rivals. The switchgear operates with a satisfying tactile feedback and is logically positioned. Italian design flair is evident in details like the flat-bottomed steering wheel and the placement of the start/stop button directly on the steering wheel itself, a departure from the typical console location. The turn signals, while self-canceling like BMW’s, operate with a less intuitive cancellation method, requiring a push in the opposite direction, which proved slightly irritating over time.
However, the true essence of the Quadrifoglio transcends its interior appointments. This car is engineered and built for the open road and the thrill of driving.
Unleashing the Drive: DNA Modes and Race Mode
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Wheel Close Up
The driving experience of the Giulia Quadrifoglio is multifaceted, offering distinct personalities through its DNA drive mode selector. These modes, with their engaging labels, tailor the car’s behavior to suit various driving preferences:
- Dynamic: A sporty and responsive mode that remains accessible for everyday driving.
- Natural: The default, balanced mode intended for normal, comfortable driving conditions.
- Advanced Efficiency: Prioritizes fuel economy, even within the context of a high-performance twin-turbo V6.
Beyond these, lies the most extreme setting:
- Race: This mode is a full commitment to performance. Engaging Race mode unleashes a more aggressive exhaust note and alters its pitch. Crucially, it disables both stability control and traction control systems, presenting the Giulia Quadrifoglio in its rawest, most unadulterated form, demanding respect and skill from the driver. Once in Race mode, there is no reverting back to electronic assistance.
The desire for a customizable Race mode, one that retains the aggressive engine and exhaust settings while allowing for the re-engagement of traction and stability control, was a notable wish. The sheer power and immediacy of the Quadrifoglio in full attack mode are truly exhilarating. Gear shifts are executed with near-instantaneous speed, and the engine response is remarkably sharp for a turbocharged unit, except perhaps at the very lowest end of the rev range. The engine’s eagerness to rev and pull even at redline suggests untapped potential, a car constantly urging for more.
The Giulia Quadrifoglio’s electric power steering system, often a point of criticism in modern performance cars, proved surprisingly transparent. During the test drive, the type of power steering system in use was imperceptible through feel alone, a testament to its well-engineered implementation. This lack of artificial feel is high praise for an electric system.
However, the description of “near-instant shifts” raises a critical question for purists: Is this high-performance machine only available with an automatic transmission?
The ZF 8-Speed Transmission: A Revelation
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Rear View
The Achilles heel, or so it might seem to manual transmission devotees, of the Giulia Quadrifoglio is indeed its transmission. It exclusively employs the ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. This is not a dual-clutch system, but a conventional automatic transmission complete with a torque converter.
For a lifelong advocate of manual transmissions, the notion of a performance car without a clutch pedal might seem like a deal-breaker. The desire for complete driver control over gear selection, the engagement with the mechanics of shifting, and the challenge of mastering smooth and rapid gear changes are deeply ingrained preferences for many driving enthusiasts.
However, the ZF 8-speed automatic in the Giulia Quadrifoglio warrants a re-evaluation of these preconceptions. The ZF 8-speed, widely utilized in various modern BMW models and other vehicles, has garnered significant praise for its performance. Despite initial skepticism, a week with the Giulia Quadrifoglio challenged long-held beliefs about automatic transmissions.
The Giulia Quadrifoglio proves to be an exceptionally engaging and enjoyable car to drive. While the occasional longing for a manual gearbox surfaces, the responsiveness of the paddle shifters, delivering rapid and precise gear changes, often provides a similar level of driver engagement. While a perfectly executed heel-toe downshift remains a uniquely satisfying driving maneuver, the sheer exhilaration of experiencing the Giulia Quadrifoglio rip through its gears, responding instantly to paddle inputs, is undeniably captivating.
Rethinking Performance and Driving Engagement
The experience with the Giulia Quadrifoglio prompted a significant shift in perspective. For many driving enthusiasts, the preference for manual transmissions is intertwined with their self-identity and understanding of performance driving. Automatic transmissions were often viewed with disdain, associated with a less engaging, perhaps even diluted, driving experience. The assumption was that true performance demanded a manual gearbox.
However, the sheer enjoyment derived from driving the Giulia Quadrifoglio challenged these ingrained notions. It revealed that a meticulously engineered automatic transmission, particularly one that prioritizes lock-up for direct power delivery, can deliver 80% or 90% of the engagement of a manual, and in certain situations, even surpass it. In heavy traffic, for instance, the convenience and smoothness of an automatic become undeniable assets.
The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio served as a catalyst for rethinking fundamental assumptions about transmissions, about performance cars, and even about personal preferences and self-conceptions within the realm of automotive enthusiasm. This week-long encounter with this Italian performance sedan offered far more than just a car review; it provided a profound re-evaluation of driving ideals.
