The new Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio: the best just got better

For almost 100 years, the Quadrifoglio, or four-leaf clover badge has been the embodiment of speed, elegance, performance and full-hearted Italian emotion. The story goes that in 1923, Alfa Romeo racing team driver Ugo Sivocci painted a good luck symbol on his car in the hunt for a maiden victory, and remarkably succeeded. Tragically, he didn’t have time to paint it on before a test at Monza a few months later, and lost his life in an accident. Since then, all Alfa Romeo performance cars have carried this unique emblem as a tribute.

Cars bearing this iconic symbol evoke a certain level of expectation among petrolheads, but few wear it with quite such ease as the new Giulia Quadrifoglio. It’s a testament to the power of confidence, and possibly the most exhilarating yet accessible saloon Alfa Romeo has ever produced. A simple fact, but no less impressive for it: the Giulia Quadrifoglio is the most powerful sports car that Alfa Romeo has ever put on the road. It boasts a muscular 510bhp 2.9 V6 Bi-Turbo engine, laying down a punchy 369lb ft of torque. That’ll get you from 0-62mph in a zippy 3.9secs. Made entirely out of aluminium, the engine is a perfect distillation of the Giulia’s concept: immensely powerful yet lightweight.

And the prospect of all that power becomes even more irresistible when combined with the 8-speed automatic transmission that allows you to change gears in just 150 milliseconds with the exciting Race mode. What’s more, the gearbox can be controlled with sleek aluminium paddle shifters on the steering wheel, as well as with the leather-wrapped shifter in the newly updated centre console, a fitting launchpad for adventure. Additional storage space and a wireless charger add functionality to a supremely crafted tunnel that extends seamlessly into the rest of the interior.

Balance runs through every fibre of this super saloon’s DNA. The innovative torque vectoring system adjusts the distribution of torque in real time, sending as much as 50 per cent to the front if it detects wheelspin. Perfect 50/50 weight distribution also contributes to its dreamy handling, with the material for each component selected specifically to maintain equilibrium throughout the chassis.

That unmistakably Alfa Romeo sensation of being totally at one with the road continues with the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s Active Aero Splitter, unique among every saloon out there. It consists of a carbon appendix positioned under the front bumper. When the Giulia passes 60mph, two actuators controlled by the Chassis Domain Control system open the Active Aero Splitter, which ensures increased stability especially when taking higher-speed corners.

And there are plenty of other assorted gizmos to make the car even safer and easier for you to drive. As part of Alfa Romeo’s new Advanced Safety and Driver Assistance system, you’ll get Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Traffic Jam and Highway Assist, Intelligent Speed Control and Traffic Sign Recognition with Intelligent Speed Control. Plus, that’s not all: Driver Attention Assist, Forward Collision Warning with Autonomous Emergency Brake, Park Assist, Automatic High Beam and Active Cruise Control all make any type of journey – long or short, urban or rural – a cinch.

Whether you’re testing out some invitingly twisty B roads or making your way round an unfamiliar city, you can easily stay in control with the new 8.8” multitouch display. The easy-to-navigate system allows the driver to use both the touch screen and rotary dial to organise, zoom or change apps. Thanks to the Alfa™ Connect system with Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay, the generous display can become a mirror of your smartphone to help you stay connected easily. The system also features new Performance Pages, which give the driver direct access to unique performance data and information such as torque management and temperatures.

Naturally, Alfa Romeo’s timeless design signatures are apparent everywhere you look. Real carbon fibre and reassuringly luxurious leather surround you as you put the new Giulia Quadrifoglio through its paces, its perfect fusion of muscular power and elegant balance making you feel like you’re driving on top of the world.

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