New Alfa Romeo faster than Mercedes-AMG C63, BMW M3

[Express]

New Alfa Romeo faster than Mercedes-AMG C63, BMW M3


Giulia claims record Nurburgring time, 307km/h top speed.

David McCowen
September 16 2015


Alfa Romeo pulled no punches at the 2015 Frankfurt motor show.

The Italian marque let rip at its German hosts with claims that the new Giulia QV performance car is faster than rivals from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-AMG.


Alfa Romeo has revealed the performance potential of the new Giulia QV. Photo: Supplied

Alfa chief Harald Wester put a stake in the ground by claiming the new model can lap Germany's Nurburgring circuit (the performance car benchmark) in just 7 minutes and 39 seconds – around 13 seconds faster than its next-best rival, BMW's M4 Coupe, and comfortably the best in the four-door class.

That's an impressive statistic, one driven home by the Alfa Romeo's turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 engine that pumps 375kW of power and 600Nm of torque through a six-speed manual transmission. Expect to see a similar motor under the bonnet of future Ferrari models.

The 375kW, 700Nm V8 in Mercedes-AMG's C63 S is the only car in the European compact sedan motor that exceeds Alfa's output, though a weight disparity of more than 100 kilograms means the Italian machine should prove its equal in a drag race and on track.

The brand says its machine can crack 100km/h in 3.9 seconds before reaching a top speed of 307km/h.

But it's not all about straight-line grunt.

Optional carbon fibre panels in the roof and bonnet help create a 50-50 weight distribution between the front and rear axles, while active torque vectoring, active suspension and optional ceramic brakes help drivers stay in control.

The catch is that the top end Alfa Romeo Giulia is not cheap.

Priced from around €79,000 to €95,000 in Italy – and around €5000 less in Germany, the Alfa Romeo costs more than key rivals and more than the similar-sized Maserati Ghibli.

But it's not short on gear. Active aerodynamics, an 8.8-inch integrated dashboard display, 14-speaker Harmon Kardon stereo and sports interior are available with the car.

The most important feature, according to Wester, is how it makes drivers feel.

"Alfa Romeos have become again a perfect fusion of man and machine," he says.

"We have created emotions and experiences that go well beyond owning a car.

"We believe something great is about to happen."


How the new Alfa Romeo compares:

Car:...........................Giulia QV...............BMW M3...............Mercedes-AMG C63 S

German price:...........€90,000*...............€71,800......... ......€84,371

Engine: .....................2.9L V6T................3.0L I6T...............4.0L V8T

Power:......................375kW...................317k W.................375kW

Torque:.....................600Nm..................550Nm. ................700Nm

0-100km/h:...............3.9s......................4.1s..... ................4.0s

Top speed:.................307km/h................250km/h**..........250km/h**

Weight: .....................1524kg..................1595k g................1655kg


*Approx. price with performance options

**Electronically limited

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/n...15-gjniuv.html

[Burnout]

Faster to the nearest bowser or its first blown up engine....

[bangm001]

Sounds nice but $$$$

[LG17]

It may be faster than those cars but being an Alfa I'll bet it's also faster to the breakdown truck!

[Fordman1]

Parrot car ....

[CSV_LS1]

Should be a great package considering the head dynamics engineer did the 458 speciale.

[CSV_LS1]

As close as anyone will get to a four door ferrari. The 2.9 litre is a ferrari 488 v8 cut down 2 cylinders. Not even maserati have this engine yet.

[blueoval]

[MethodX]

Stick it to them Fiat group.

[sexyxe]

I don't like the triangle grill. But that is not a problem, I can't afford one anyway.

[FG50T]

I wish Top Gear were around to review this thing. Love it.

[Polyal]

That is absolutely sensational! The price is a bit of a catch as I thought Alfa generally come in a fraction cheaper than ze Germans.

Still...what a weapon.

[PHawk]

Nice, apart from the Pubic Triangle in front.

[Polyal]

The triangle is to Alfa what the oval badge is to Ford peeps!

Oh and while I am going with praise, a big to the Germans for Alfa using a traditional manual and RWD to get 3.9.

So I guess this also means that the normal version of the car will be RWD instead of FWD like the 159 and 156????

[CSV_LS1]

That's right. And rumor is a 2 litre petrol with 300hp will be available.
That's the model i'm hoping to get myself into within the next couple years. Manual of course.

The QV apparently will have a 7 speed double clutch option as well. But it looks like it may be introduced at a later date since the show cars are manual only.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by CSV_LS1

That's right. And rumor is a 2 litre petrol with 300hp will be available.
That's the model i'm hoping to get myself into within the next couple years. Manual of course.

The QV apparently will have a 7 speed double clutch option as well. But it looks like it may be introduced at a later date since the show cars are manual only.

Thats great news, would be a really nice car, I love the 159 shape but FWD has killed Alfa. Good to see they are giving it a fighting chance.

I would be beside myself if they build a GT86/MX5-like modern 105. Curvy and gorgeous with a bit of poke, I thought i read they are actually sharing the MX5 platform.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Polyal

I would be beside myself if they build a GT86/MX5-like modern 105. Curvy and gorgeous with a bit of poke, I thought i read they are actually sharing the MX5 platform.

Correct, they are bringing out their own "MX5." Platform was developed alongside Mazda. However engine will be possibly sourced from Abarth.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Sorry but you can't outperform ugly, if given the pick of one of these three to park in my driveway I would rather take the 'slow' AMG any day.

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

Sorry but you can't outperform ugly, if given the pick of one of these three to park in my driveway I would rather take the 'slow' AMG any day.

The Alfa is low and very wide. Aggressive unique look, huge rear diffusers leave no doubt what this machine is about. To me is aggressive and screams engineering intent. Agree is not pretty/elegant in the ilk of Jaguar F Type, but that is not what this machine is about.

If this thing has a sorted road usable engine (ie not massive lag), and a reasonable spread of torque across the range, it will be a weapon given it is 131 kgs less in weight than the AMG.

[CSV_LS1]

Originally Posted by Wretched

Correct, they are bringing out their own "MX5." Platform was developed alongside Mazda. However engine will be possibly sourced from Abarth.

Plans have changed. No Alfa Romeo will be built outside Italy now so the MX5 based convertible will be a Fiat model. Alfa Romeo will be using the Giulia platform i think to produce a spider further up the food chain to compete with the germans.

[GTP534]

I think Alfa's are like Fiat's - everyone has owned one - once!

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by GTP534

I think Alfa's are like Fiat's - everyone has owned one - once!

Or like Falcons...everyone has done a head gasket or diff bush once?

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Or like Falcons...everyone has done a head gasket or diff bush once?

Been driving Falcons since 1985 and have clocked up hundreds of thousands of Km's, never done either.

[Express]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

Been driving Falcons since 1985 and have clocked up hundreds of thousands of Km's, never done either.

Nana

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

Been driving Falcons since 1985 and have clocked up hundreds of thousands of Km's, never done either.

I dont particularly care for the actual statistics I was making a point that people make silly remarks based on no evidence other than generalized opinion.

If you dont like it click the back button?

[Sabantien]

Originally Posted by Polyal

I dont particularly care for the actual statistics I was making a point that people make silly remarks based on no evidence other than generalized opinion.

If you dont like it click the back button?

Every car ever has people telling you how crap they are.

I personally like the design, can't do much about the front grill, but the rest looks great.

A lot of cars have almost feminine design (for lack of a better description) these days, this one looks a bit mean.

[MITCHAY]

I'd take the M3 or C63 over that anyday. The added bonus is they are cheaper too

Probably the best looking Alfa I have seen though.

[jpblue1000]

I prefer the angry budgie look than the dopey guppy face we have on the new falcon

JP