The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Alfa Romeo dare and flair are back
2017 Giulia Ti is an affordable entry that’s true to marque’s DNA.
The biggest hurdle the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia faces is proving it’s not just a pretty face and not just a rethinking of the legendary nameplate. It must show it has the guts to wear the badge.
In search of Alfa DNA, one need only look as far as the dial on the center console. It clearly says DNA. All right, that’s actually the drivemode selector displaying three distinct driving styles: Dynamic (sport), Natural (touring), and Advanced Efficiency for the ecominded.
But there will be little disappointment for those testing for real signs of DNA and the dare and flair that is reminiscent of this historic Italian marque.
Alfa Romeo has built an impressive reputation since its founding in 1910, winning fans with exotic styling and motorsports heritage — it was an Alfa that won the inaugural Grand Prix world championship in 1925. And it won hearts in a series of Hollywood films, including “The Graduate” (the now-famous red sports car was a Duetto Spider), and multiple James Bond and Pink Panther movies.
For 2017, Alfa’s marquee star is the high-performance Giulia Quadrifoglio, featuring a 505-horsepower biturbo V-6 and a lightningfast zero-to-60 mph time of 3.8 seconds. But our focus will be the Giulia Ti because it will be the farbigger seller and more affordable choice at around $42,000.
And here’s the good news: It gets
the same styling, crisp and raceresponsive steering, and gutsy handling aided by a 50-50 frontto-rear weight distribution.
The Giulia is a driver’s car and you’ll know it as soon as you sit down: A red push-button start sits right on the race-inspired flat-bottom steering wheel, awaiting an eager thumb.
Hit the button and crank up a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that makes 280 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque. While Alfa’s parent is Fiat Chrysler, this engine is an allnew, lightweight aluminum-block engine designed and built in Italy.
A twin-scroll turbo keeps down the turbo lag and helps propel the Giulia to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds with standard rear-wheeldrive. It feels even faster once that turbo kicks in. Top speed is listed at 149 mph.
All Giulias come with an eightspeed automatic transmission, and while that’s what most buyers are
looking for, it’s disappointing that a manual tranny is not available. Your may find your right hand reaching for a shifter that’s not there. In fairness, the automatic is quick and accurate and so are the paddles.
Ride comfort and road grip are enhanced by a double-wishbone suspension setup in the front and what Alfa describes as a four-anda-half arm multilink in the rear. An optional Active Suspension system makes additional adjustments based on road conditions. And, standard on all-wheel-drive versions is a torque vectoring system that sends more grip to the front wheels when needed.
The three drive modes (the Quadrifoglio gets a fourth Race mode) make changes to throttle response, turbo boost and even the tone from the exhausts (which is sweet). Hefty Brembo 4-wheel disc brakes are standard on all Giulias.
Electrically enhanced steering is razor-sharp, enabling race-like maneuvers with the slightest turn of the steering wheel. At slower speeds, it is more comfortable and offers good road feedback.
EPA-estimated duel economy rates the Giulia Ti at a decent 24 mpg around town and a really decent 33 highway for a combined 27 mpg.
Inside, the base Giulia comes well equipped, but the Ti adds oak wood trim, bigger 8.8-inch navigation screen, heated seats and steering wheel.
Rear seaters will find the space more confining when compared to foes like the BMW-3 Series and Audi A4. Trunk space is rather tight, too, but at least the rear seats fold down (though not on the Quadrifoglio) for more space.
A rotary dial controls the multimedia and works like a joystick; there is no touchscreen here. But it’s intuitive and easy to use. The Giulia’s growl may be music to some ears, but it’s worthwhile to upgrade to a 10-speaker Harman Kardon system with 400-watt amp.
Many of the typical safety features in this segment are here, too, like adaptive cruise blindspot and lane-departure warnings, and rear camera with sensors and cross-traffic alert.
How the Giulia Ti fares in the marketplace against the German and Japanese giants will be determined later. But for those who still dream of legendary Italian sports cars and rank performance as priority one, a Giulia Ti start button awaits.