Alfa Romeo has revealed details of the expanded family of its new Giulia sedan that it will officially unsheathe at the 2016 Paris Motor Show.
The most interesting of which is the mention of what they’re calling the Giulia Veloce, a performance model that will sit below the fire breathing Quadrifogolio Verde version that recently set the record for the fastest four-door saloon to lap the fearsome Nurburgring.
The Veloce won’t be inheriting the Ferrari co-developed 2.9-litre V6 turbocharged engine, but will be fitted with a pair of engines that won’t necessarily make it a slow car either. Crucially, though, they are both tuned versions of the existing Giulia engines that transmit power through a four-wheel drive system called ‘Q4’.
Under normal driving conditions, Alfa says that 100 percent of the available torque will be directed to the rear wheels but will only distribute power to the front wheels (up to 60 percent) when the conditions call for it, thereby doing as little as possible to dilute the Giulia’s sporty character.
Its 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine chucks out 206kW and 400Nm while the 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel generates 154kW and 470Nm of torque. It’s not known yet whether Alfa Romeo will be offering these cars as rear-wheel drive versions or it that all-wheel drive will be standard.
In Germany, though, where the Giulia Veloce will be making its first market appearance, it will be sold with that sole drive configuration, with both engine choices being mated exclusively to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
To match its respectable performance credentials, the Giulia Veloce will also gain a specific and more aggressive front bumper, gloss black exterior trim, a as a new rear diffuser and dual exhaust pipes as well as the option to choose the Giulia QV’s 19-inch 5-hole alloy wheels.
As it is, this fast midrange Giulia would be a match for such cars as the Audi S4, Mercedes-Benz C 300 4Matic, and by a smaller overlap, the Subaru WRX despite its clear chasm in premium stature.
What’s more interesting is that Alfa Romeo may elect to make the new four-wheel drive system debuting in the Giulia Veloce available as an option for the QV version as well, endowing it with even more grip and could lead to it extending its lead around the Green Hell.
For more on Alfa Romeo vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
