Its visibility as an automotive logo is in fact discrete on Canadian roads, and is very unlikely to replace it in the near future. But if Italian automaker Alfa Romeo has not yet settled firmly on North American soil, the arrival of the Stelvio will certainly give more ammunition to the logo’s marketing strategists. For starters, it’s very likely that anything bearing the advertising vehicle designation will sell in those days.
For example, the Giulia, the luxury sports sedan recently introduced through the company. A few months after its arrival on the market, the Alfa Romeo Giulia remains, in the United States as in Canada, little more than a curiosity. Faced with the heavyweights of the segment, the Giulia and its Italian manufacturer will have to be by their side to attract more buyers to the showrooms.
While it is true that the brand’s reputation for dubious reliability has certainly created some nervousness among prospective buyers, Alfa Romeo may have a hidden asset up its sleeve. And it’s the thrill of driving that has been a widely identified point of the manufacturer’s cars. British TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson once said in an episode of Top Gear that any car enthusiast who deserves to have had at least one Alfa Romeo in his life.
The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia faces a multitude of models, most of which come in various flavors and enjoy a solid reputation in North America. Most people know what an Audi A4 looks like, for example; the same can be said of the Giulia. This, among other factors, means that Fiat Chrysler’s marketing executives have a daunting task ahead.
Unique contours The selection that is so abundant in this category is everything to gain advantages for the consumer. While the specifications of each are intended to be quite similar, each of the luxury sports sedans competing in the segment can at least claim a design that is quite exclusive to them. The same goes for the Alfa Romeo Giulia. In fact, I won several thanks for my week-old check. With its front finish finished through the inverted triangle grille, slimmed headlights and openings closer to the ground, the Giulia is a hallmark in urban traffic.
The sedan can also be decorated by adding the optional Sport Group ($2,500), which includes 19-inch wheels reminiscent of the high-performance Quadrifoglio, as well as a black window molding that adds to the car’s mystery air ratio.
An interior where it is smart to live Functionality is excellent, as is comfort. And since he claims to be a luxury sedan, the Giulia will have to offer the intelligence in this regard. The red leather seats are a quick sign of the character of the Italian sports sedan.
The board, on the other hand, is an addition of hobby (rounded air ducts) and capacity (main controls grouped around the gear lever).
Obviously, the seats were carved to keep the occupants in position when the road becomes winding. Initially, they probably wouldn’t be the most comfortable seats in the industry, but there are many worse, me! Both in the rear and in the trunk, the area to be taken into account is in the middle of the segment, neither worse nor greater nor greater.
If the board joint of some of the parts of the board may have simply been failed, I will have to emphasize the high quality of the fabrics used. Another notable feature is the perfect grip presented through the guide wheel. With the gearshift paddles placed on the guide column, this guide wheel reminds you of the driving force that is always conceivable to laugh on the road.
There is no need for True Twin-bo V6 fans, who feed on strong driving sensations, will be tempted by the Giulia Quadrifoglio, however, with almost 100,000 Canadian clams, this edition is not a realistic selection for many buyers. In fact, the sedan shown here is also unreasonable; Its value is $63,385, which includes transportation and nearly $8,000 in options.
Which brings me to my point, which is under the hood. Clearly, the 505-horsepower twin-turbo V6 is the active engine available, but the fact is that the 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder has no explanation for worrying other competitors in the category, or even the “big ones”. Alpha engine. The sound it produces when driving with your right foot on the throttle is frankly nice, especially when driving in dynamic mode.
With 280 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque at your disposal, the Giulia’s core engine is even the ultimate life in its class. The 8-speed automatic transmission – unfortunately, the only one available – works very well, the “adn” control button particularly adjusts the power of the gear settings. In dynamic mode, the Giulia becomes more surgical in its performance… and at the same time less comfortable! One merit to mention is all-wheel drive, which is effective in extending the point of stability and protection when road situations deteriorate.
Verdict: Despite the absence of a third pedal and a more muscular mechanical configuration, the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti is a perfect example of a sedan designed with the driving force in mind. I am not referring in particular to the ergonomics or shape of the guide wheel, but to the whole. This general concentration on driving force gives the Giulia a credit to his competitors. So while it’s true that a BMW 340i or a Lexus IS 350 F Sport has everything you need to satisfy the driving force, none of them reflect this damn quest to maximize the pleasure of driving. I guess Jeremy Clarkson is right …