Alfa’s Giulia has lapped the ‘Ring 13 seconds quicker than the BMW M4

Thirteen seconds. That, according to Alfa Romeo, is how much faster its new Giulia QV has lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife than the not-at-all-slow BMW M4.

Let that just sink in. Thirteen seconds. One. Three. In racing terms – even on a circuit the length of the ‘Ring – that’s a lifetime.

Alfa says the 503bhp Giulia’s lap of 7m39s lap makes it the fastest-ever saloon to pound round the Green Hell. To put that time in perspective, that’s a second faster than a Lamborghini Murcialago, and sees the Giulia rub shoulders with legends like the Lexus LFA.

And don’t forget the Giulia isn’t a limited run supercar, but a four-door that can comfortably carry four adults, or ferry the kids to school. Quickly.

Of course, with no agreed set of conditions, or governing body to check if you’re cheating, Nürburgring lap times are far from a perfect benchmark of performance.

But surely even the butteriest of butter-fingered Italian stopwatch technicians couldn’t have cocked it up that badly, could they?

After all, underneath the Alfa’s bonnet is a ‘Ferrari-inspired’ twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 good for the smiley side of 500 horsepower, and capable of propelling the car to 62mph in 3.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 191mph.

There’s also quick steering, and an all-aluminium suspension setup with an extremely sophisticated double-wishbone configuration at the front.

The top-spec QV is adorned with other useful go-faster fabrications including active aero in the front splitter, a big suck-it-to-the-floor rear diffuser, carbon ceramic stoppers, a handy 50:50 weight distribution and a healthy stockpile of carbon bits (propshaft, roof, bonnet and lots of the interior).

With the help of a handy driver, it all apparently adds up to a killer King of the ‘Ring lap time, and a clear message to the Germans and Brits that Italy means business.

The Giulia, don’t forget, is the spearhead of Alfa’s ambitious plan to sell 400,000 cars by the end of 2018. And as spearheads go, a quick bout of Nurburgring destruction isn’t a bad place to start…