The Alfan Giulia Quadrifoglio makes the driver appreciate the car from the moment he sees it for the first time.

An Alfa Romeo with over 500 horsepower, an engine bearing Ferrari’s model name and a Ferrari-like red exterior, the Quadrifoglio creates an immediate emotional charge in the driver.

It is a fully rear-wheel-drive Italian beauty, with a sporting spirit, respectful of tradition and loaded with carbon fibre.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is effectively powered by the Ferrari California T engine, although Ferrari does not admit this is the case.

The V6 engine is a twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre aluminium unit, producing 510 horsepower and 600 Nm of maximum torque. Acceleration from zero to 60 km/h is 3.9 seconds.

Drivability ahead of the Germans

The Giulia Quadrifoglio was the worst surprise of the test drive, as the excellent handling of the German manufacturers is now put to the test. Even as a base model, the new Giulia offers a truly emotional and dynamic driving experience.

The Quadrifoglio is expected to be even more responsive than the base model and, of course, much sportier. One of the best features is definitely the steering feel.

Sensitive, precise and quick don’t usually go in the same sentence when it comes to steering. The Alfa Romeo and Giulia are the perfect exception to this, with a steering feel that is truly outstanding.

The steering is extremely precise, but also extremely quick. The steering is at its best on very twisty and fast-paced roads.

In addition to the steering, the Quadrifoglio’s manual gearbox and transmission deserve high praise. Combined with the car’s powerful engine, the manual gearbox is the crowning glory of the car’s character. The driver has a smile on his face when the powerful engine is combined with a manual gearbox.

The gearbox feels very stiff and requires a slightly firmer grip on the gear stick. Unlike the gearbox, the clutch is a little too soft compared to the stiffness of the gearbox. Also, the clutch is quite long and requires you to be firmly on the bottom before shifting gears.

The perfect 50:50 weight ratio can be felt in the car as a really stable ride. The car doesn’t push the driver into difficult situations, on the contrary, the driver is constantly provided with a precise knowledge of the limits of the car’s performance and grip.

The looks are not to be sniffed at

The Giulia Quadrifoglio’s appearance does not attempt to disguise the car’s edgy and sporty nature. While the standard Giulia is already sporty in its own right, the Quadrifoglio has a much wider and lower stance.

The front end is shaped with air intake and aerodynamics in mind. The lower part of the front bumper features an active carbon fibre spoiler that increases downforce depending on driving style and settings. The temperature must also be above 5 degrees Celsius.

The side profile draws attention to the optional ceramic brakes and large red brake calipers. Brake disc diameters are 360 mm at the front and 350 mm at the rear. The temperature of the brakes can be monitored via the cab’s media display.

The rear bumper diffuser and the carbon fibre spoiler on the tailgate have not been compromised on size.

All in all, the Giulia Quadrifoglio is a fantastic car to drive and will put its German rivals to the sword. The car’s character exudes a sense of getting out on the track and it’s wrong to buy a car just for everyday driving on Finnish roads. This car just begs to be commanded!

The base price for the manual model is EUR 114 500 and the automatic model EUR 117 500, with a test drive costing around EUR 140 000.

Click here to watch a video of the test drive.

The best bits

• Drivability
• Performance and character
• Stylish and beautiful exterior