Alfa Romeo unveil 2016 Giulia Quadrifoglio M3-Fighter

25 June, 2015

Alfa Romeo have revealed their latest entry to the four-door super-saloon battle — the Giulia Quadrifoglio. Expected to face off against the likes of the BMW M3 and Jaguar’s new XE, the Italian machine boasts an impressive Ferrari-tuned all-aluminium 510hp six-cylinder engine capable of projecting it from 0–100kph in a brisk 3.9 seconds.

Offered in either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the Guilia Quadrifoglio has the versatility to impress any driver, regardless of their skill set, behind the stitched-leather steering wheel. Torque vectoring, 50/50 weight distribution, lashings of weight-saving materials, and what Alfa Romeo themselves term as ‘the most direct steering on the market’, are characteristics that set it up to be a very competitive entry to the performance sedan market. 

The Quadrifoglio nameplate and ‘cloverleaf’ badge on the front fenders are a nod to Alfa Romeo’s extensive motorsport history — both better known for their association with the brand’s involvement in events like Targa Florio and championships like Formula 1. Recent times have seen Alfa Romeo revive the cloverleaf as a symbol for some of their range-topping cars.

While only images and video of the Quadrifoglio have been released, further information about the other models in the Giulia line-up should not be far away. 

If the images aren’t enough, check out Alfa Romeo’s release video below and listen to the exceptional noise the Giulia’s ‘Ferrari-inspired’ engine makes. What do you think; can this be a match for the best from Stuttgart and England? 

Blueprinting basics

You occasionally hear petrol heads tossing around the term ‘blueprinting’ when referring to an engine they have assembled, and have sometimes altered significantly. What they are probably trying to say is that their engine was carefully machined to optimum tolerances and balanced — probably for racing. But that isn’t what the term meant originally. You see, in the 1950s, when US stock car race cars really had to be stock, the racing teams would go to the factories and rummage through the parts bins until they found components that were closest in tolerance to the original blueprint developed by the engine’s designers.

Brothers in arms

When you think Porsche, you will often think of the 911 or 356 — both rear-engine, both air-cooled (or at least until more recent times for the 911), and both icons of the sports car world. The 356 is very desirable, in hardtop coupe or in one of the three topless derivatives — speedster, roadster or cabriolet. Similar to larger car firms, Porsche experimented with a cheaper entry-level car for the keen but more modest income prospective purchasers so they could obtain their first foray into the brand.
Reaching back to their roots, Porsche collaborated with Volkswagen and released the mid-engine 914 in 1969. It sold in significant numbers in the USA, and was a modest success.