
Alfa Romeo Giulia (952)

The Alfa Romeo Giulia (Type 952) is a compact executive car produced by the Italian automobile manufacturer Alfa Romeo. It was unveiled in June 2015, with market launch scheduled for February 2016,<ref name="QR 08/15"></ref> and it is the first saloon offered by Alfa Romeo after the production of the 159 ended in 2011. The Giulia is also the first mass-market Alfa Romeo vehicle in over two decades to use a longitudinal rear-wheel drive platform, since the 75 which was discontinued in 1992. The Giulia was second in 2017 European Car of the Year voting and was named Motor Trend Car of the Year for 2018. In 2018, Giulia was awarded the Compasso d'Oro industrial design award.
History.
The car was designed at the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo, by a team headed by Marco Tencone and including Senior Exterior Designer, Andrea Loi. along with Interior Chief Designer, Inna Kondakova and Senior Interior Designer, Manuele Amprimo. The Giulia has been the subject of a long gestation and delayed launch dates, reportedly due to the design being sent back to the drawing board by Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), the parent company of Alfa Romeo at the time.
The new Giulia was unveiled to the press at the Museo Storico Alfa Romeo in Arese, on 24 June 2015, at an event which involved only the top-of-the-range Quadrifoglio variant and a rendition of "Nessun dorma" by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. The occasion coincided with the company's 105th anniversary, and also saw the company debut a restyled logo for all future Alfa Romeo models. The Giulia was also presented under the new "La meccanica delle emozioni" slogan ("the mechanics of emotions" in Italian).
The Giulia is the first model in the company's relaunch plan, which involves a €5 billion investment for an eight car line-up and a worldwide sales target of 400,000 by 2018 — up from 74,000 in 2013.<ref name="wsj 24/06/15"></ref> It is underpinned by an all-new, longitudinal-engine, rear-wheel drive platform developed for Alfa Romeo — codenamed "Giorgio".
Development of the Giulia, along with development of the entire "Giorgio" project, has been overseen by the technical director of Ferrari, Philippe Krief.
Overview.
The Giulia uses a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, featuring an even 50% front and 50% rear weight distribution.
Suspension is independent all-around, of the double wishbone type at the front and multilink at the rear.
All Giulia models employ a carbon-fibre drive shaft made by Hitachi Automotive Systems, as well as aluminium alloy shock towers, suspension components, front wings and doors. all-wheel drive models will also be offered.<ref name="C&D 24/06/15"></ref>
Depending on trim level it has a 6.5-inch or 8.8-inch colour display; optional Sport, Performance and Luxury Packs are also available. The sport package includes sports steering wheel with added grip, aluminium inserts on the dashboard, centre console and door panels, and Xenon headlights. The luxury package offers premium leather upholstery and wood trim. The performance package includes mechanical limited-slip differential along with electronic suspension and paddle shifters on the steering column in the cars equipped with an automatic transmission.
Models.
Giulia, Super and Speciale.
The base Giulia, mid-level Super, and fully loaded Speciale are powered by a 2 litre gasoline engine, or the choice of 136 PS, 150 PS or 180 PS 2.2 litre turbo diesel engine. The base model comes with 16 inch alloys, the Super can be distinguished with 17 inch alloys and dual chrome exhaust tip for the diesel model. The Speciale has 18 inch alloys, black brake calipers, and leather sports seats from the Veloce. The Giulia has a drag coefficient of .
Veloce and Veloce Ti.
The Giulia Veloce was presented at the 2016 Paris International Motor Show held in October. The Veloce offers the choice of two engines: the 2.0-litre turbo petrol and the 2.2-litre diesel inline-4 engines, both equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission and Alfa Q4 all-wheel drive system (rear-wheel-drive in the UK).
The Veloce has specific bumpers and a glossy black door trim; it has also various performance components like special rear extractor with double exhaust pipes and optional 5-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels (the 19-inch option is not available in the UK). On the interior, it has black, red or tan leather sport seats and a sports steering wheel with a suede grip, aluminium inserts on the dashboard, central tunnel, door panels and Xenon headlights.
The new four-cylinder petrol engine is rated at a maximum power output of at 5,250 rpm and a maximum torque of at 2,250 rpm. It has MultiAir electro-hydraulic valve activation system along with "2-in-1" " turbocharger system and direct injection with a 200-bar high pressure system. The diesel all aluminum straight-4 engine comes with MultiJet II technology and electrically operated variable geometry turbocharger.
The Alfa Q4 all wheel drive system behaves like a rear-wheel drive vehicle: 100% of torque is distributed to the rear axle. As it reaches the wheel adherence limit, the system transfers up to 60% of the torque to the front axle. To ensure maximum speed of response in re-distributing torque, the system exploits a high mechanical over slippage (up to 2.5%) between the two axles, which translates into segment-beating vehicle control in terms of traction and directional stability on bends.
Quadrifoglio.
The top-of-the-line Giulia Quadrifoglio (Italian for "four-leaf clover") was the first model in the new Giulia range. It was unveiled at Italy in June 2015. It made its official international debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. The Quadrifoglio's main competitors are cars such as the Mercedes-AMG C63, BMW M3 and the Cadillac ATS-V.
The Quadrifoglio is powered by an all-aluminium alloy, twin-turbocharged gasoline direct injection 90° V6 engine, with a single-cylinder displacement of just under half a litre, for a total of . This engine was developed exclusively for the Quadrifoglio by Ferrari technicians and is related to Ferrari's own twin-turbocharged F154 CB V8 engine, sharing the California T's bore x stroke of . The engine has a maximum power output of at 6,500 rpm, and of torque between 2,500 and 5,000 rpm. The turbochargers are single-scroll compressor IHI units integrated into the manifold, with water-charge air coolers. It has side-mounted direct fuel injection and the peak (absolute) turbo boost pressure reaches up to .
Courtesy of cylinder deactivation (with the ability to switch off three of the six cylinders), this model achieves a fuel consumption of and emissions of 198 g/km, in the combined cycle.
The Quadrifoglio weighs (DIN) and has a power-to-weight ratio of /PS. This is achieved courtesy of the Quadrifoglio sharing the other models' composite and light alloy construction, as well as featuring a roof and bonnet made of carbon fibre.
 
From the front, the Quadrifoglio distinguishes itself from the rest of the range by a specific front bumper — with a carbon fibre splitter and enlarged air intakes for the twin intercoolers and for the brakes — and by a bonnet featuring two cooling outlets for the engine bay. On the sides, the front wings also have outlets to extract air from the wheel wells, and bear Quadrifoglio badges; the side skirts are specific to the model, as are the 19-inch alloy wheels. At the rear, a low-profile carbon fibre lip-spoiler is applied to the boot lid, and a rear diffuser makes up the lower half of the bumper, flanked by quadruple exhaust tips. Working in conjunction with the faired-in underside, the diffuser is fully functional in generating downforce — as at the front is the "Active Aero Splitter", which can vary its angle of attack by 10°, moved by electric motors. The manufacturer claims these active aero elements are the firsts in the Giulia's market segment and are able to generate up to of downforce at . The Giulia Quadrifoglio has a drag coefficient of .
Mechanically, this model is fitted with a torque vectoring rear differential able to send 100% of the torque to the left or right wheel,<ref name="carmagazine 10/07/15"></ref> and an 8-speed automatic transmission manufactured by ZF, with a six-speed manual transmission available as an option in European markets. The braking system uses carbon ceramic rotors, along with six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers and auxiliary rear calipers for the parking brake. The electronic stability control and the traditional brake booster are combined in a single electromechanical system.
On the interior, the dashboard is part-trimmed in leather and carbon fibre and the engine start button is located on the multi-function steering wheel. In addition, the driver is offered Alfa Romeo's "DNA" dynamic control selector, which is placed on the centre console. Driving modes include "Dynamic", "Natural" and "Advanced Efficiency" modes (the last one uses cylinder deactivation for increased fuel economy), and "Race" (for high performance — with louder exhaust note and all electronic stability control systems turned off).
Performance.
According to Alfa Romeo, the Giulia Quadrifoglio can accelerate from 0 to in 3.9 seconds and come to a standstill from that speed in 32 meters. The Quadrifoglio can attain a top speed of . This model also completed the Nürburgring's Nordschleife circuit in 7 minutes 39 seconds, a record for a saloon car. In September 2016 a new lap record for the automatic transmission version was published: 7 minutes, 32 seconds. "Car and Driver" magazine has recorded a standing quarter mile time of 11.9 seconds at and a 0 to acceleration time of 3.6 seconds. In "Motor Trend" Head 2 Head (Ep. 85) the Quadrifoglio won, over the BMW M3 Competition. In the same episode it was also rated better than Mercedes-AMG C63 and Cadillac ATS-V. The track test was performed at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. The Quadrifoglio was also previewed in The Grand Tour TV series in January 2017. It completed a lap of the show's test track only 1.1 seconds behind the new all-wheel-drive Honda NSX - both driven on a wet track - an excellent performance for a rear-wheel-drive car. The Quadrifoglio went around the Top Gear test track in 1:21.40.
Quadrifoglio NRING Edition.
At the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, the Giulia Quadrifoglio NRING Edition was introduced. The NRING edition has carbon-ceramic brakes, Sparco carbon fibre seats, carbon fibre interior trim, a Mopar-branded gear shifter and Mopar floor mats. The car is differentiated on the exterior by 'NRING' badges as well as carbon fibre mirror caps and side skirts and an exposed carbon fibre roof. The equipment was upgraded to include adaptive cruise control and a premium sound system.
Quadrifoglio Racing Edition.
At the 2019 Geneva Motor Show the Alfa Romeo Racing limited edition was introduced, which celebrates Alfa Romeo's legendary racing history and the entry of a new Italian driver in Formula 1 competition: Antonio Giovinazzi joining the "Alfa Romeo Racing" team together with the 2007 F1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen. This special edition has exclusive paintwork, as a tribute to the Alfa Romeo Racing C38 Formula 1 car. It has also some stylistic details like some carbon fibre aerodynamic parts and an Akrapovič titanium exhaust system. The weight was reduced by about from the standard Quadrifoglio, followed by a technical tune-up by Alfa Romeo engineers that has resulted more torque and power, which now amounts to .
Giulia Advanced Efficiency.
At the 2016 Paris Motor Show the Giulia's economic version called "AE" - Advanced Efficiency was unveiled. The AE was available with the Giulia and Giulia Super trim levels, it has diesel engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission. The fuel consumption combines to and just 99 g/km of CO2 emissions in the combined cycle. It has some specific technical solutions to achieve these values like implementation of a low-pressure EGR valve that improves engine efficiency, an air-water intercooler, a secondary engine cooling circuit in addition to the primary circuit, and specific gearbox ratios. The height of the car's body is lowered by , it has specifically designed alloy wheels and the drag coefficient has been reduced to 0.23 for less drag force. The Giulia "AE" Advanced Efficiency is fitted with specific 205/60 R16 tyres for reducing rolling resistance. It was discontinued beginning with 2019 model year.
B-Tech Special Edition.
In September 2018, the B-Tech Special Edition for Europe was announced which similar as Nero Edizione edition unveiled earlier for North American markets. The package adds a selection of visual and technological features to Giulia. Front grille, mirror caps and exhaust are finished in gloss black. Adaptive Cruise Control, an 8.8-inch infotainment system with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as Bi-xenon headlights with washers are also the part of the package.
GTA and GTAm.
On 2 March 2020, Alfa Romeo introduced two new GTA and GTAm models which would have a limited production run of 500 units. The GTA and GTAm versions are developed to celebrate the marque's 110th anniversary in 2020, and pay tribute to one of the most emblematic automobile of Alfa Romeo: Giulia GTA. The GTA and GTAm use the same engine, rated at and are lighter than the Quadrifoglio, allowing for a power to weight ratio of 2.82 kg/PS. The GTA and GTAm can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, with launch control. The GTAm is a track focused model and as a result has two seats, racing harnesses, and Lexan side and rear windows. The GTA's handling was improved by widening the front and rear track by . The car is fitted with single nut wheels for weight reduction measures. Broader fenders cover the additional width. New springs, shocks, and bushings update the suspension as further means to improve the handling. Buyers will also receive a “personalized experience package” which includes a Bell racing helmet in special GTA livery, a full racing suit by Alpinestars, a personalized Goodwool car cover, and a specific driving course devised by the Alfa Romeo Driving Academy.
Modifications to the engine include higher boost pressure from the turbochargers, an Akrapovič exhaust system and redesigned pistons to ensure constant power and reliability: the cooling system now uses four quarts oil instead of two as is the case on Quadrifoglio model.
North American models.
The Giulia is offered as Giulia and Giulia TI (for Turismo internazionale) trims in the United States, some models are available with Alfa's Q4 all-wheel-drive system and with the eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters mounted on the steering column (providing a shift time less than 100 milliseconds). The eight-speed automatic transmission is co-developed with ZF.
Powered by the 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine with of torque, the North American Giulia and Giulia TI are roughly the equivalent of European Veloce. The TI has more features than the so-called base model although both models have the same engine. The AWD system is optional and the only transmission option is an eight-speed automatic. The Quadrifoglio is also in the Giulia lineup for the United States. According to FCA parts catalogue EPER, the higher performance Veloce TI version is also available for the North American market.
The first US deliveries of the Giulia took place in September 2016, making it the first Alfa Romeo saloon sold in North America since 1995.
Giulia Nero Edizione’ Package.
At the 2018 New York International Auto Show, the Nero Edizione’ Package for the Giulia was announced. The package includes a new exterior appearance through special blacked-out wheels, badging, and other touches. The Nero Edizione package is available only for the 2.0-litre base model of the Giulia in the North American market.
Police car.
The Polizia di Stato took delivery of two Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce police patrol cars finished in a light blue paint with white stripes on the sides of the car with the words "POLIZIA" in block letters underneath together with the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta and the Jeep Renegade police cars.
The Carabinieri took delivery of two Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglios wrapped in navy blue paint, that appear virtually black. They sport red stripes over the car and have flashing lights over the chin spoilers with a white roof. Carabinieri cars are equipped with defibrillator, special portable cooling units, special radio system, additional emergency devices, a long weapon holder and rechargeable LED torches placed in the passenger compartment.
Engines and performance.
Besides the high-performance Quadrifoglio's twin-turbocharged 90° V6, the engine line-up will consist of four-cylinder petrol engines, as well as four-cylinder turbo diesel engines.
The petrol four-cylinder are built in FCA Italy's Termoli plant. Diesel engines are built in Pratola Serra plant.
The first models went on sale from February 2016 were the 2.2 L Multijet II turbodiesel and the 2.9 L V6 Quadrifoglio. A 2.0 L MultiAir2 turbo petrol engine was announced at the time of the Giulia Quadrifoglio's debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2015. The 2.0 litre gasoline engines are part of the all new FCA Global Medium Engine (GME) family. The Alfa version will share up to 70% parts with the GME family for other FCA brands.
Model year changes.
2019 model year.
For the 2019 model year, the Giulia diesel engine was updated to meet the Euro 6d emission standards, with AdBlue technology introduced to tackle nitrogen oxides in the exhaust. and versions got a power increase by . All models now come with an 8.8-inch infotainment system with Apple Car Play and Android Auto as standard.
2020 model year.
The Giulia's 2020 model year version was first introduced in China. It has an updated interior with a new 8.8-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, which now offers a Wi-Fi hotspot, over-the-air software upgrades, an integrated emergency call function, and a call assistant function. The interior now has a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel and a leather-wrapped gear lever.
Equipment and safety.
All Giulia models have active safety systems as standard, including the Forward Collision Warning (FCW) with Autonomous Emergency Brake (AEB) and pedestrian detection, IBS (Integrated Brake System) based on Continental MK C1 electronic brake control system, Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and cruise control with speed limiter. The Giulia is the first car in the world to use Continental MK C1 electronic brake system. Stopping distance from to 0 are for the Giulia and for the Quadrifoglio.
Chassis Domain Control (CDC), developed with Magneti Marelli, coordinates and controls all the on-board electronics: Torque Vectoring, Active Aero Splitter, active suspension, brakes, steering and ESC system — according to the mode selected by the driver using the new Alfa DNA Pro.
The Giulia was crash tested in June 2016 by EuroNCAP, with a score of 98% for the adult occupant protection — at the time the highest score ever achieved by any car, even with the introduction of a more stringent rating system in 2015. Overall the Giulia achieved five star results.
The Giulia was awarded on October 3, 2017 the Top Safety Pick+ award by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Giulia achieved the highest possible rating in each of the five tests. The TSP+ designation applies to any 2017 model-year Alfa Romeo Giulia produced after May 2017 equipped with Forward Collision Warning-Plus – an option at only $500 MSRP – and bi-xenon projector headlamps (35W) featuring adaptive forward lighting and auto-leveling.
Production.
The car is assembled at FCA Italy's Cassino Plant in the province of Frosinone, Central Italy. Pre-series production emerged in late August 2015, with full production and sales originally scheduled for November 2015 and February 2016, respectively. The official production of the Giulia started on 19 April 2016. The Alfa Romeo's Cassino plant manufactures the Giulia saloon, Stelvio SUV and Giulietta compact car. On 6 December 2018 Giulia reached the milestone of 100,000 units produced.
Awards.
The highly awarded production car, has received many awards from automotive industry groups and media publishers, including following: