The Evolution of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
In 1962, Alfa Romeo introduced the Giulia model for the first time at the Monza race.
The new Alfa Romeo sedan featured an aerodynamic design with a curved windshield and round headlights. It was powered by a 1.6-liter engine producing 92 horsepower, reaching a top speed of 102 mph. The Giulia Berlina had both front and rear seats, accommodating up to six passengers with spacious legroom and a rear armrest.
The car was available in two versions: TI and TI Super, and it started receiving updates in 1970, with larger engines and revised gear ratios. Production of the Giulia Berlina gradually ended in 1978.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Coupe 1300 GTA Junior (1965-1972)
After the great success of the Giulia model, with about 180,000 units sold, Alfa Romeo decided to introduce a new version under the Giulia name.
Originally intended to be a sporty sedan, Alfa Romeo’s motorsport division, Autodelta, realized it could also be a great race car. This led to the transformation of the Giulia into a coupe. The Burten factory began adapting the Giulia platform and completely redesigning the chassis to make it distinct from the sedan model.
Only the headlights remained similar to the sedan version, as most cars at the time featured round headlights. The Giulia Coupe, with its sleek lines and boxy three-box design, was the perfect base for Autodelta to create a race car. They replaced the body panels with aluminum, reduced the thickness of the metal parts inside, and added a large speedometer and tachometer.
Instead of using the regular 1.3-liter engine, Alfa Romeo equipped the car with a 1.3-liter engine developed by Autodelta, based on a larger 1.6-liter unit. Italian engineers shortened the stroke of the pistons, improving the engine’s ability to rev quickly.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio 2016
The 2016 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio marked the return of rear-wheel-drive sedans for the Italian carmaker.
It was a complex program that brought a major shift to the company’s entire lineup, posing a real challenge to the dominance of German premium sedans.
It was all about looks with Italian cars. With a few exceptions, most were well-designed. Unfortunately, the shift to front-wheel-drive was a good idea for mass-market cars but not ideal for the premium sector. With the launch of the 2016 Giulia, Alfa Romeo revolutionized its lineup.
One of its standout features was the exterior design, highlighted by a large triangular grille at the front flanked by two lower mesh sections in the bumper. The “angry” narrow headlights, which sloped backward over the front fenders, gave it a dynamic look. The long, short rear end and narrow front inspired the design of a sports sedan from the side view.
Inside, the Giulia’s design was among the best in its class, integrating the infotainment screen with the instrument cluster. Unlike a tablet mounted on the center stack, it felt more seamlessly integrated. The front seats, with excellent support, performed well during high-speed cornering.
There was enough room in the rear for two adults to sit comfortably, or three close friends if needed. However, the large transmission tunnel was somewhat distracting inside the cabin.
Alfa Romeo equipped the Giulia with either a 2.0-liter gasoline engine or a 2.2-liter diesel engine, both turbocharged and available with rear or all-wheel drive. The car came with either a 6-speed manual transmission or an 8-speed automatic.
The Badge and Strong Ties to Milan
The close relationship between Alfa Romeo and the city of Milan is an essential element of the brand’s global identity. The emblem was inspired by an idea from the young artist Romano Catanio, a close friend of Giuseppe Merosi. While waiting for tram number 14 in Piazza Castello, Catanio was struck by the dragon sculpture “Biscione Visconteo,” which adorns the top of the main tower at Sforza Castle. He was immediately taken with the idea but felt something was missing.
Catanio and Merosi worked together to develop various versions of the logo, eventually choosing the most impactful design. The final emblem featured the Biscione dragon on one side and Milan’s red cross on a white background on the other.
Choosing Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio as the Best Performance Car
The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio continues its legendary history by standing the test of time. For the second year in a row, the car, which embodies the best aspects of the brand’s sporty style, was awarded the “Best Performance Car” title by the leading British automotive magazine What Car?
Since its debut in 2015, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio has set a remarkable standard in the sports sedan category with its perfect blend of power and technology. This car is equipped with a 2.9-liter V6 engine producing 510 horsepower and 600 Nm of torque, with a range between 2500 and 5000 rpm.
The timing of Alfa Romeo’s victory coincided with the centenary of the Quadrifoglio badge in 2023, marking a perfect moment to celebrate the legacy of the emblem, which revives the history of Alfa Romeo’s racing cars.
