The Alfa Romeo Giulia Thread

Revealed: How Volkswagen recently tried to buy Alfa Romeo

Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares has detailed moves by VW to acquire the Italian firm in 2018

Recent remarks by Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, suggesting that Alfa Romeo has often been the target of buyout offers from rivals, have brought to light moves by Volkswagen to seek control of the Italian firm in 2018.

Sources have told Autocar that contact was made between VW and Alfa’s then-parent FCA in 2018 “at the behest of Ferdinand Piëch”.

The former VW boss had often spoken about his admiration for Alfa – such as at the Paris motor show in 2011, when he suggested it could flourish under VW ownership, even going so far as to say it could be operated under the wing of Porsche.

By 2018, Piëch no longer had any day-to-day say in VW’s business, but sources say he was still determined to buy Alfa. His renewed interest came after investment firm ADW Capital Management, a long-time FCA shareholder, suggested that Alfa could be spun off in a similar manner to Ferrari.

On Piëch’s prompting, contact was made between VW and Alfa Romeo in June 2018, with VW boss Herbert Diess meeting with incoming FCA boss Mike Manley. Diess “considered it his duty to follow through on Piëch’s request,” said Autocar's source.

 
Alfa Romeo considering small hatch and electric GTV

Set to benefit from a 10-year investment plan alongside its sister brands within the newly formed Stellantis group, Alfa Romeo is looking forward to a brighter future that looks likely to bring a significantly expanded range of products, both at the lower and higher ends of the market.

Although Alfa Romeo has abandoned the hatchback market, with the recent discontinuation of the Giulietta and the earlier axing of the Mito, the company could eventually launch a spiritual successor to the latter. According to Autocar, which cited Alfa Romeo boss Jean-Philippe Imparato, the Italian carmaker is seriously considering a new five-door hatchback entry model that would attract younger buyers. The UK publication further states that this new hatch would be built around the Stellantis Group’s ‘STLA Small’ platform for compact cars. This architecture originates from Peugeot and currently underpins the Peugeot 208 and Opel Corsa, however an Alfa Romeo version would certainly have its own distinctive chassis tuning and styling.

 
Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA And GTAm Confirmed For South Africa With Pricing

Back in March 2020, Alfa Romeo brought the GTA moniker back with the introduction of the Giulia GTA and GTAm.

Fast forward to the middle of 2021 and we now have confirmation that these hotted up four-doors will be making their way to South Africa this year.

Just 500 units in total will be made worldwide and South Africa has been allocated just 8 of these. It is up to the client to choose if they want the regular GTA or the hardcore GTAm specification. The GTAm comes with just two seats, six-point harnesses, and a roll bar while remaining fully street legal.

We always knew it would be expensive and in April last year, we estimated the price to be above R3,5m and we were very correct.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA will set you back R3,999,999 while the stripped out GTAm variant will be a whopping R4,299,999.

Customers in South Africa will have the choice between three colours which we can assume will be GTA Red, Trofeo White and Montreal Green.

 
Shelby Mustang GT500 vs Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm

Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm meets Ford Mustang GT500 – does anyone actually need this much overkill? Earplugs in, let’s find out

But where a lot of modern cars are datavores, operating on a skein of input that’s only a short leap of processing from thought, these two cars are all heart, noise and expressive Big Feeling. And that’s what makes them great. Remove the emotional insulation that you get with a ‘normal’ car, and you get gale force experiences. With electric cars redefining the experience of performance, these cars are becoming increasingly anachronistic. But they’re the ones we’ll rue. The ones kids point at. They vibrate with the kind of purely petrol-powered energy that got us all into cars in the first place.

And yet, in a real sense, the future has already been mortgaged against the need for increased efficiency. There’s a sliver of hope in the shape of synthetic fuels but the fact remains that manufacturer’s focus will inevitably be shifted away from stuff that’s wantonly unnecessary. Which means when you’re talking about the high horsepower range-toppers in current product cycles, are we actually looking at the ultimate iterations? Possibly not, given that we have just under a decade left to go in the UK before legislation change, so there’s time for some last-gasp fireworks. But from what I’m looking at here, these two are giving it a good go already.

I hesitate to use the word ‘ultimate’, because it’s worn so thin these days that I’m not sure it even has much relevance any more. Everything seems to be an ultimate, from dog bowls to trousers. And that’s a bit sad, because in a world where everything is an ultimate, there is no future. It suggests we have peaked. Given these two, I don’t think we have to worry just yet.


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Local order books for Alfa Romeo's Giulia GTA and GTAm race-bred models now open

• Just 500 units will be built globally.

• The model's twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 engine makes 390kW.

• Pricing has yet to be officially announced for both versions.

Alfa Romeo is availing limited numbers of both its Giulia GTA and GTAm in South Africa, with local orders now officially open. Only 500 units will be built globally, but the exact allocation for the local market is yet to be announced.

The GTA benefits from a 1 580kg chassis. Other notable features that help keep the weight down is the use carbon fibre for the driveshaft, bonnet, roof, front bumper, front wheel arches and rear wheel arch inserts. Further weight-shedding comes in the form of aluminium that is used in the engine, doors and suspension.

That, coupled with the model's twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 engine that makes 390kW, allows an acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in 3.6 seconds thanks to the Launch Control system.

https://www.news24.com/wheels/newmo...a-and-gtam-race-bred-models-now-open-20210712
 
SA pricing: order books open for Giulia GTA, the most extreme Alfa Romeo ever

The most extreme road car that Alfa Romeo has ever created is officially on its way to South Africa, albeit in very limited numbers. Stellantis has confirmed that the local order books are now open for the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA and GTAm models. According to Stellantis, you can expect to part with R3 999 900 for the GTA and R4 299 900 for the more track-focused GTAm.

Alfa Romeo will build just 500 of these special models, of which only eight have been allocated to South Africa and while the indicative price tag that we mentioned might seem rather steep, considering that a Giulia Quadrifoglio can be had for R1,45 million, these ultra-exclusive models have been substantially re-engineered.

For starters the Giulia GTA is an entire 100 kg lighter than the Quadrifoglio, thanks to the extensive use of carbon fibre and aluminium. The bonnet, front bumper, wheel arch inserts, roof, diffuser as well as the drive shaft and seat shells, for instance, are made from carbon fibre, while aluminium is used in the doors, engine and suspension. Even the window frames make use of a unique polycarbonate resin that you’ll usually only find in motorsport applications.

The end result is a kerb weight of around 1 580 kg, and to make the most of that is an uprated version of the 2,9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine found in the Quadrifoglio. Featuring a model-specific Akrapovič exhaust, the GTA’s engine produces 390 kW and 600 N.m. With Launch Control activated, 0-100 km/h comes up in 3,6 seconds, Alfa Romeo claims, which is a 0,3 second improvement over the Quadrifoglio.

https://www.carmag.co.za/news/sa-order-books-open-extreme-alfa-romeo-ever-giulia-gta/
 
How far we've come: Ferrari 328 meets Alfa Romeo Giulia

Makers have kept on improving cars through the hard times and the good. We praise two classics like we should

There’s no better illustration of the unstinting progress made by the car industry in the past 30 years than driving both of these cars back to back. The Giulia is objectively in another league to the Ferrari at almost every level, and that should be applauded. But these are both performance cars and, as such, they should each exist to engage drivers at a level beyond the norm. And they do, in different ways. In the Alfa, that engagement starts at speeds that approach the boundaries of social acceptability; in the Ferrari, the thrill – and that’s really what it is – can be found at any speed.


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NEW MODEL: Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA is coming, but will you pay “Ferrari” money?

Alfa Romeo South Africa (now part of Stellantis) has issued a word of advice for performance car enthusiasts: “Get your cheque books out!” The limited production Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA and GTAm is headed to South African shores.

Only 500 numbered cars are being built by Alfa Romeo for the world and the local branch says South Africa’s proud Alfa Romeo legacy and competition association with the nameplate has secured a very limited allocation of just eight units for Mzansi. The order book is officially open and Alfa says owners will not only acquire a legendary performance car, but an equally tasty experience and package of accessories with it.

 
Full 5/5

Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm 2021 UK review

Should I buy one?

There’s usually something divisive about cars like these extreme performance models. The Project 8 was hyper-responsive, and its drivetrain calibration whacky. Some of my colleagues still get very excited with their hate for the M4 GTS, mystifyingly. But I don’t think that’ll be the case here.

Everything that was good about the Giulia Quadrifoglio you’ll still find here. The GTAm removes nothing but weight, and adds fever, specialness and involvement.

And, yes, price. But honestly, it is everything.


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Updated Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio land in SA. We have pricing!

The updated Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio range have finally arrived in SA with both models getting two derivatives as was seen with the pre-facelifted models. Included in these updates is a series of revised styling cues and new equipment inside and out.

Starting with the updated Alfa Romeo Giulia, the South African distributor has introduced the aluminium turbocharged 2,0-litre four-cylinder Veloce model at a price of R989 900. This model now boasts a power output of 206 kW and 400 N.m of torque to the rear wheels via an eight-speed torque converter. Included in this package is leather upholstery for the sports seats, dual-zone climate control, a sunroof, an 8,8-inch infotainment system with navigation, steering mounted paddle shifters, a cooling box and USB ports for the rear bench. Tyre pressure monitoring, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control with stopping capabilities and autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection is included in this price.

Those looking for a more thrilling experience can opt for the updated Alfa Romeo Giulia QV which starts at R1 599 900. Under the bonnet of this remains the brand’s twin-turbocharged 2,9-litre V6 which sends 375 kW and 600 N.m of torque to the rear with the same transmission as seen in the Veloce. Above the entry level model, the QV boasts active torque vectoring and suspension for enhanced dynamic prowess. The cabin also benefits from leather and Alcantara Sparco sport seats and an Alcantara steering wheel with carbon inserts and heating functionalities.

The QV benefits from further features such as front and rear parking sensors with a rear facing camera, blind spot monitoring and aluminium anodised brake callipers with the brand’s “monster brake system”.

Those looking for a bit more space can opt for the updated Alfa Romeo Stelvio range which kicks off with the Super trim at R1 159 900. With this, the turbocharged 2,0-litre four-pot mill and eight-speed torque converter is included with the same power output as the Giulia Veloce but with the brand’s Q4 all-wheel drive system. Furthermore, the front seats are heated and two USB ports are added to the rear. Front and rear parking sensors with a rear facing camera and hill descent control further adds appeal to the offering.

The flagship of the updated range is the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Q with a price tag of R1 749 900. This uses the same drivetrain as the Giulia QV but again, with an all-wheel drive system. Key standard features consist of the brand’s premium 15 speaker and subwoofer sound system and eight-way power adjustment for the driver and passenger seats.


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Updated Alfa Romeo Giulia & Stelvio (2021) Specs & Price

The updated iterations of the Alfa Romeo Giulia sports sedan and Stelvio SUV have arrived in South Africa. See what’s changed as well as what you can expect to pay for the latest models below…

Key features and changes

This update excludes any changes to the familiar engine offerings which means that the Giulia retains its 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine with 147 kW and 330 Nm in the Giulia Veloce as well as the 375 kW / 600 Nm 2.9-litre turbocharged V6 engine in the range-topping Giulia Quadrifoglio, the latter of which claims an admirable zero to 100 kph sprint time of 3.9 seconds.

Similarly, the Stelvio retains its turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine with 206 kW and 400 Nm as well as the aforementioned thumping 2.9-litre turbocharged V6 with 375 kW and 600 Nm. An 8-speed automatic transmission is standard for both models.

While exterior styling has remained mostly unchanged, the interior of Giulia and Stelvio gain an 8.8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. Tactile quality has also improved with a material mix of carbon fibre, leather and Alcantara.

The update also includes rear USB ports, cargo net, passive entry, wireless smartphone charging pad, 8-way electrically-adjustable seats with driver memory and 4-way lumbar support.

In terms of driver assistance features, both models gain a Driver Assistance Pack which includes automatic high-beam assist, active blind spot assist, lane-keeping assist, driver attention alert and interior/exterior electrochromic mirrors with automatic dimming.

How much does the Alfa Romeo Giulia Cost in South Africa?

Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce: R989 900

Alfa Romeo Giulia QV: R1 599 900

https://www.cars.co.za/motoring-news/updated-alfa-romeo-giulia-stelvio-2021-specs-price/99065/
 
So is it 206kw or 147kw in the 2.0l Giulia Veloce?
Giulia retains its 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine with 147 kW and 330 Nm in the Giulia Veloce

https://www.cars.co.za/motoring-news/updated-alfa-romeo-giulia-stelvio-2021-specs-price/99065/
Starting with the updated Alfa Romeo Giulia, the South African distributor has introduced the aluminium turbocharged 2,0-litre four-cylinder Veloce model at a price of R989 900. This model now boasts a power output of 206 kW and 400 N.m of torque

 
Updated Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio arrive: SA pricing

The facelifted Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV have finally touched down in South Africa, sporting minor styling enhancements, updated cabin tech as well as chassis tweaks and a more powerful base engine for the four-door.

Alfa Romeo is offering the same model range as before, with each vehicle coming in two flavours. Giulia buyers can opt for a 2.0T Veloce, priced at R989 900, or the QV performance model, at R1 599 900. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is once again offered in 2.0T Super guise (R1 159 900) and there’s a Quadrifoglio performance model priced at R1 749 900.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0T Veloce now has the more powerful version of the firm’s 2-litre turbopetrol unit, which was already fitted to the all-wheel drive Stelvio Super. The engine produces 206kW at 2550rpm and 400Nm at 2250rpm, up from the previous Veloce model’s 147kW and 330Nm.

Power goes to the back wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the Giulia also features a new four-and-a-half link rear suspension set-up, designed to be rigid but also longitudinally flexible when cornering.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio QV performance models soldier on with their Ferrari-built 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6, which produces 375kW at 6500rpm and 600Nm from 2000 revs. This is paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, with power going to the back wheels in the Giulia and to all four paws in the higher-riding Stelvio.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio models are sold with a five-year/100 000km full warranty and maintenance plan.

PRICING

Giulia Veloce - R989 900

Giulia QV - R1 599 900


Stelvio Super - R1 159 900

Stelvio Q - R1 749 900

 
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