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? 

Merry Christmas from NZ Classic Car magazine

The Classic Car magazine team is taking a few weeks’ holiday from the work computer and heading to the beach for some kickback time.
Merry Christmas, and have a wonderful summer holiday to all our readers, followers, and fans. Enjoy this special extra time with the family. We will be posting archive articles again in mid to late January.
Have fun, be good and be careful out there.

Two engines instead of one?

Popping two motors into a car is not only complicated, it doesn’t always end well. Donn Anderson recalls early attempts, including John Cooper’s ill-fated original Twini Mini built 58 years ago

For a boost in performance, better traction, and perhaps improved handling to some, two motors seems an obvious solution. It would also eliminate the need to develop a larger engine replacement from scratch, but would that outweigh the not inconsiderable technical difficulties?
The idea of using a pair of engines dates back at least 86 years to the Alfa Romeo Bimotor single seater racing car that was officially timed at 335km/h, or 208mph. Taking a lengthened Alfa P3 chassis, the Italians fitted two supercharged straight eight 2.9-litre and 3.2-litre engines, one in front of the cockpit, and the other behind the cockpit.