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2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia: His Turn-Her Turn™ Expert Car Review
Automotive expert Lauren Fix, The Car Coach® and Paul Brian are so excited to review a car that is very near and dear to them, the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia.
2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia
Alfa Romeo: some make, we create.
Since its creation 105 years ago, the Alfa Romeo name has become legendary. It evokes passion for motoring like no other – a passion built on the championships, drivers and mechanics that have been the machine behind its success.
In every Alfa Romeo, technology and emotion converge to produce a true work of art – every detail essential, every design the perfect harmony between beauty and purpose.
This is Alfa Romeo. La Meccanica delle Emozioni.
2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia
For those who demand control, the new all-aluminum AlfaLink suspension greatly enhances road grip. In front, its new double wishbone system keeps wheels perfectly perpendicular to the road even on the most challenging corners. At the rear, the four-and-a-half-arm multilink system represents the best combination of lateral grip and comfort level, even on uneven road surfaces. The Alfa Active Suspension system adjusts the suspension response depending on driving conditions and modes selected using the Alfa DNA selector.
The available Alfa Q4 All-Wheel Drive adds even more all-season traction and performance capability, transferring up to 60 percent of the engine’s torque to the front wheels. It also handles up to a 2.5 percent mechanical over-slip – directing power to the outside rear wheel when cornering for even greater traction, turn-in and directional stability. What’s created with every turn behind the wheel is an intense and symbiotic bond between foot and throttle – Giulia and Giulia Ti take performance from merely responsive to telepathic.
The unforgettable lines and authoritative appearance of the all-new 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia and Giulia Ti project more than a refined style, they embody the driving experience to its core.
An all-new, all-aluminum 276 horsepower1 2.0L I4 Intercooled Turbo engine featuring MultiAir® technology helps achieve a top speed of 149 mph, and 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. Minimal turbo lag and the 8-speed automatic transmission serve to exhilarate.
The interior of the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia is striking for its combination of materials: surfaces in real wood, natural walnut or dark gray oak, brushed aluminum, carbon fiber and full-grain Italian leather. Materials are selected to be in full harmony with the personality of Giulia and the craft that only Italian style can provide.
Form, function and beauty are inseparable, creating an intense experience appealing to all the senses.
A Soundtrack for the Street
The perfection of the available sound theatre by Harman Kardon® exemplifies the sensations you feel behind the wheel of the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia. The 900 watts of powers channels to 14 speakers (including two surround sound speakers and one subwoofer), serving as proof that Alfa Romeo takes the notes from this system as seriously as the glorious one from its engine.
Light the Way
Start the ignition and see Giulia’s eyes shine with life. Every 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia illuminates the path it conquers with a pair of premium Bi-Xenon Headlamps. Marked with the Alfa Romeo name, no road, turn, or obstacle will be hidden as the driver masters them all with clear vision and style.
ORIGINS
Quadrifoglio is back
The all-new 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia marks the rebirth of the Quadrifoglio, the symbol of the most legendary winning race cars in the history of Alfa Romeo.
For the exterior, the stand-out features include 19” aluminum wheels, available carbon ceramic brakes, bi-xenon headlights, active aero front splitter, four rear chrome exhaust tailpipes, functional vents on the front hood and fenders, Alfa Romeo signature grille and aerodynamic carbon fiber appliques.
The interior is rich in details and made with exceptional materials. The dashboard of the Quadrifoglio is leather wrapped, enhanced by genuine carbon fiber inserts. The available lightweight Sparco® carbon fiber seats are upholstered in Alcantara® and leather, detailed with contrast stitching. The reduced-diameter performance steering wheel is leather-bound and features the Alfa Red start button.
A Symbol of High Performance & Good Luck
It began as a simple request for good luck and ended up becoming a symbol for something even more magical: track records and race victories from Alfa Romeo and the drivers who campaigned them. In 1923, legendary Alfa Romeo race car driver Ugo Sivocci wanted to break a string of secondplace finishes. So to prepare for the legendary Targa Florio race in Sicily, he painted a white square with a “Quadrifoglio”, or four-leaf clover, on the front of his Alfa Romeo RL Targa Florio. And, as luck would have it, he finished in first place. In the same year, Sivocci was track-testing a new car that didn’t yet bear his lucky symbol. Tragically, he crashed and lost his life. And a legend was born.
This marked the beginning of a tradition: all future Alfa Romeo race cars would bear the four-leaf clover on a white triangle — with the missing point symbolizing the loss of Sivocci. Post-World War II, the Quadrifoglio was also used to designate high-performance Alfa Romeo street vehicles like the 1963 Giulia TI Super, the 1965 Giulia Sprint GTA and now, the all-new Giulia Quadrifoglio. Today, Sivocci’s clover remains a symbol of race-worthy capabilities and, of course, a symbol of good luck.
TECHNOLOGY
Shifting the Balance of Power
The all-new 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is more than a showcase for the best power-to-weight ratio in its class with a near 7 lbs/hp — it’s a study in how to use that power.
Its near perfect 50/50 weight distribution creates optimal balance and highlights the advantage of a rear-wheel-drive system in a front-engined vehicle by pairing rear-wheel drive with the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s front-mounted, all-aluminum Bi-Turbo V6 engine.
A body in high-strength steel, fenders and doors in aluminum, a carbon fiber hood, roof and driveshaft, available front seat frames and aerodynamic appendices work in conjunction with the patented all-aluminum suspension to create a near perfect balance.
Intelligence in every move
This high performance sedan offers class-exclusive technologies for first-rate dynamic performance and driving pleasure.
The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is the only sedan in the world to be equipped with an active aero front splitter. This adjustable carbon fiber spoiler is integrated into the front lower fascia. Sophisticated and electronically controlled, it dynamically balances and adjusts overall downforce. On straights, the splitter is closed to minimize resistance and drag. On corners — or when braking — it opens up to provide up to 220 pounds of downforce for optimum balance.
Torque vectoring technology further positions the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio at the top of the segment. This system controls wheel spin by optimizing the power distribution between wheels in traction. So there’s no loss of power— just better traction and control, no matter the speed or road surface.
Knowledge is power
Alfa Romeo’s fabled racing history was built on communication – between driver and crew, between car and driver. Today’s Giulia employs technology to communicate telemetry instantly. The interior of the Giulia takes into account every aspect of driver needs, putting innovative, vital controls within easy reach. Conveniently located in the center console are two simple rotary dials.
The first controls Alfa’s DNA Pro system, which consist of four different driver selectable modes: Dynamic, Natural, Advanced Efficiency or Race mode, all of which can be used to create a unique driving experience by adjusting the throttle response, turbo boost, suspension and signature exhaust note.
The second rotary dial controls the high resolution industry first hidden 8.8″ wide screen infotainment system with real-time vehicle performance pages and telemetry, plus 3D graphic navigation that recognizes hand-written gestures on the top of the rotary pad, allowing the driver to interact with the 3D Navigation system simply by moving fingers on the pad.
Alfa DNA Pro
The Giulia’s intuitive interior is fully committed to the driver’s every need, offering easy access to vital and next-level technologies. The knob for Alfa Romeo’s DNA Pro system is on the center console; it features four selectable modes that allow the driver to customize the experience by choosing from Race, Dynamic, Natural and Advanced Efficiency.
The Alfa DNA Pro, thanks to the interaction with the Chassis Domain Control, instantaneously adapts the car behavior to the selected driving mode.
PERFORMANCE
The heart of Alfa Romeo
An Alfa Romeo always stands out for the innovation of its engine. Throughout its rich 105 year history, Alfa Romeo has introduced many industry firsts with innovative technologies that contribute to class-leading performance.
The Giulia Quadrifoglio continues this tradition with an all-aluminum 90-degree 2.9 liter Bi-Turbo V6 engine that delivers class-leading 505 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque between 2,500 and 5,500 rpm; it launches from 0-60 in a class-leading 3.8 seconds and achieves top speeds of 191 miles per hour.
Amazingly, Alfa Romeo’s most powerful production car engine is also designed to deliver world-class levels of efficiency. An electronically-controlled cylinder deactivation system reduces fuel consumption by shutting down cylinders when extra power is not needed and a start/stop system stops fuel flow and shuts down the powertrain when the Giulia is at a full stop.
Class-Leading Performance
The Giulia Quadrifoglio’s use of ultralight, high-strength materials, class-exclusive technologies and supercar power and handling convert into priceless driving dynamics.
This all-aluminum direct injection 90-degree 2.9-liter Bi-Turbo V6 is Alfa Romeo’s new benchmark. It generates an incredible best-in-class 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, allowing it to launch from 0-60 in a class-leading 3.8 seconds and achieve a best-in-class top speed of 191 miles per hour.
These formidable stats lead to another impressive distinction: with a lap time of 7:39, the all-new Giulia Quadrifoglio is the fastest four-door production vehicle to take on the demanding Nürburgring track.
Alfa Active Suspension
An innovative active damping suspension dynamically adapts its response depending on driving conditions and the mode selected with Alfa DNA Pro.
Alfa Romeo’s exclusive double wishbone front suspension with semi-virtual steering axis guarantees rapid and accurate steering feel. Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio has the most direct steering in the segment, allowing the driver to tackle high lateral acceleration with a consistently perfect footprint.
Alfa-link rear axle design with vertical rod ensures top performance, driving pleasure and passenger comfort.
Iconic Italian Design
Alfa Romeo stirs the emotions with its rich history and captivating mix of state-of-the-art technology, race-inspired performance and seductive styling.
Born in Milan, Italy, Alfa Romeo has always sought the perfect balance of these elements, to fashion form on substance, without it becoming mere function.
The all-new Alfa Romeo Giulia provokes the senses and is quintessentially Italian and unmistakably Alfa Romeo.
STYLE
The Driver is the Center of the Universe
The Giulia interior was 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 Giulia features a bespoke look that could only be crafted in Italy.
And for your listening enjoyment, there’s an available 900-watt Harman Kardon® surround sound system with 14 speakers, including two surround sound speakers, one subwoofer, 12-channels, high-speed amplifier with DSP for 7.1 matrix surround sound.
Safety features
The all-new 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio offers innovative safety and security features and leverages state-of-the-art driver-assist features.
The latest 2017 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.
- Lane Departure Warning: alerts the driver of inadvertent lane departure. For a 360-degree perspective, Blind-spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path Detection and front- and rear-park assist sensors are standard on the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.
In addition, the 2017 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.
Integrated Brake System
No performance car is complete without a robust set of brakes to harness the power. The Giulia Quadrifoglio introduces Alfa Romeo’s new Integrated Braking System; it optimizes brake pedal feel and reduces braking distances – even at extreme temperatures.
While the standard Brembo brakes provide exceptional braking performance, the available ultra-high performance carbon ceramic brakes reduce weight and enhance performance even further. They guarantee instantaneous response, with a braking distance of 60 – 0 mph in 102 feet.
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Car Courtesy of Alpha Romeo
Destination: Marshall, California
Music: by AudionautiX.com
Disclosure: Free Royalty Music
His Turn-Her Turn™ is a production of Automotive Aspects Inc.
©Automotive Aspects, Inc., 2016. All Rights Reserved.