2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is a compact sports sedan designed to take on comparable models from BMW M and Mercedes-AMG. It sits at the very top of the Giulia lineup, and it stands out as one of the most powerful street-legal cars ever to wear an Alfa emblem.

Technical specifications

The Giulia's heart is a 2.9-liter V6 engine designed with input from Ferrari. It relies on a pair of turbochargers to generate an impressive output of 505 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 443 pound-feet of torque from 2,500 to 5,500 rpm. That's enough for a zero-to-60-mph time of 3.8 seconds. It keeps accelerating until it reaches 191 mph if you give it enough tarmac. High-performance Brembo brakes bring the action to a stop.

The six-cylinder sends its power to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Alfa doesn't offer all-wheel drive or a manual transmission. Fuel economy checks in at 17 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 20 mpg in a combined cycle, respectable figures all things considered.

Spotter's guide

The Quadrifoglio stands out from the standard Giulia in several ways. Up front, you'll notice a model-specific front bumper with bigger air vents that direct cooling air to the brakes and a splitter at the very bottom. Its profile is characterized by vents chiseled into the front fenders, a Quadrifoglio emblem on each side, side skirts, and model-specific alloy wheels. Finally, the rear end receives a discreet spoiler and four exhaust tips integrated into a large diffuser. It's a relatively low-key sedan, especially considering the firepower under the hood.

The hood and the roof are both made out of carbon fiber instead of aluminum in order to keep weight in check, and the Quadrifoglio uses the same carbon fiber driveshaft as the base and Ti variants. It tips the scale at about 3,360 pounds, and it offers a 50/50 weight distribution.

Life aboard

Step inside and you'll find a three-spoke steering wheel, red contrast stitching for a sporty touch, sport seats for the front passenger, and loads of real carbon fiber trim. It's not all about performance, though; Alfa's newest sports sedan offers seating for five passengers and 12 cubic feet of trunk space, which is on the low side for the segment.

An 8.8-inch screen integrated into the dashboard runs Uconnect, which bundles the Giulia's connectivity, entertainment, and navigation functions into a single unit. It's not a touch screen; the passengers use a controller knob in the center console to navigate the various menus.

Standard and optional features

The Quadrifoglio is a mono-spec model, meaning it's only offered in a single trim level. It comes standard with bi-xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED rear lights, heated door mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, ambient lighting, automatic dual-zone A/C, leather upholstery on the dashboard and the upper parts of the door panels, luxury floor mats with accent stitching, an 8.8-inch touch screen, navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, aluminum pedals, heated 14-way power-adjustable front seats, a multi-function steering wheel, parking sensors on both ends, keyless entry and start, and a universal garage door opener.

The list of standalone options includes carbon ceramic brakes, black or yellow brake calipers, a different alloy wheel design, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Sparco racing seats for the front passengers, and an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel. Buyers can also select the driver assistance dynamic plus package, which includes adaptive cruise control with full stop, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and an infrared windshield.

Occupant safety

Every Quadrifoglio comes with front, side, curtain, and knee airbags, traction control, stability control, a forward collision warning system, a blind spot monitoring system, brake assist, and hill-start assist.

Key competitors

Alfa Romeo aimed the Giulia Quadrifoglio right at the BMW M3, the Mercedes-AMG C63, and the Audi RS 5 Sportback.