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RPM TV Website | March 29, 2024

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Alfa Romeo Giulia is a skunkworks-powered 3-Series competitor

2015 Alfa Romeo Giulia
Adam Schoeman

Alfa Romeo will be adding a new mass-market model to its dwindling range for the first time since the 4C, bringing the model total up to four. But even this number is misleading when you consider that the 4C is being produced in such limited numbers that it can hardly be considered a seller, which leaves two older hatchbacks, the Mito and the Giulietta.

Just as well, then, that Alfa Romeo is introducing a car it believes will revitalise the brand, while also appealing to more buyers. It’s called the Giulia.

Facing off against other executive saloons such as the BMW 3-Series and Audi’s A4 means the Giulia will have its work cut out for it from day one. Between the three German brands and contenders from Lexus and Infiniti, there isn’t much segment room in that segment for another challenger. But Alfa Romeo is adamant that its take on the saloon will be enticing.

How enticing? Well enough to take its annual sales from 70 000 to 400 000 units in three years, if you ask the higher-ups. Lofty targets indeed – but then Alfa Romeo has always been one for stretching goals.

The Italian marque plans to achieve that sales target by focusing on what its customers want and building that car, instead of what it thinks will slot into the market. So serious is Alfa about this that the Giulia is being developed at a specialised skunkworks facility away from Alfa Romeo HQ.

The Giulia, Alfa believes, must have advanced innovative engines, a perfect 50/50 weight distribution, unique technical solutions, and class-exclusive power-to-weight ratios – all married to distinctive Italian design.

Some of those objectives are easier to achieve than others, but that Alfa Romeo understands the art of sculpting something beautiful is beyond doubt. And considering that the Giulia will use the Maserati Ghibli’s platform, it will likely have an excellent set-up.

Powering the Alfa Romeo Giulia will be a series of four and six-cylinder engines. Alfa Romeo was one of the first manufacturers to produce a powerful but small-capacity turbocharged engine (a 177 kW 1,75-litre unit at a time when the 2,0-litre Golf GTI was kicking out 147 kW) so we are confident that it has the engineering strength to get the power delivery right.

Alfa Romeo is aiming to launch the Giulia this year (the Frankfurt Motor Show would be an opportune occasion), and it will be available in either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. Don’t expect right-hand drive models to arrive in South Africa much before mid-2016, though.

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