Beautiful

Alfa’s Guilia has the beauty, but finds out if it has the brawn to defeat the mighty Germans

It’s been a while since there’s been an Italian competitor in the premium saloon segment. Not, in fact, since the demise of the 159 and 166. Alfa is back in the running with what is, without doubt, another example of stunning automotive design but it has its work cut out if it is to make any headway against the German giants – Mercedes, BMW and Audi – as well as competitive offerings from Jaguar and Volvo.

It’s off to a promising start, having been steeped in Italian flair. The proportions are finely balanced, with taut, flowing lines, short overhangs, a long bonnet and muscular haunches. The Giulia’s lean body adorns the longest wheelbase in the segment.

It rides on Alfa Romeo’s trick new front suspension.

It’s a double wishbone arrangement, with “virtual” lower wishbones designed to optimise the amount of the tyre in contact with the road, improving grip, feel and feedback.

The rear suspension is a piece of Alfa Romeo trickery too, with a sophisticated fourarm set-up that is intended to maximise the Giulia’s dynamic abilities without sacrificing driving comfort.

It also boasts perfect 50:50 weight distribution.

As a result, the dry weight of the 180bhp 2.2-litre diesel reviewed here is just 1,374kg.

The engine sends its power to the rear wheels via an eightspeed automatic transmission. There’s healthy slug of torque available from 1,750rpm – 450Nm - and it means that progress is relaxed and refined, keeping enforced gear changes to a minimum.

Performance is swift and unflustered, with 62mph arriving in a none-too-shabby 7.1 seconds.

The cabin is a relative oasis of peace and tranquillity. The diesel unit is inaudible unless it’s worked hard.

The steering is very light and direct. The suspension is, perhaps surprisingly in a car this nimble, soft but complemented by expertly judged damping.

The driving position is flawless and all-round visibility excellent. The instruments reside in shrouded binnacles while the dashboard swoops from side to side, housing the beautifully integrated 8.8in Uconnect multimedia system.

Cabin quality is, for the most part, perfectly respectable. It’s only when you start to delve a little deeper that you discover a few corners have been cut.

Passenger space all round is more than adequate, and four taller people should have no trouble getting themselves comfortable while the boot matches the BMW 3 series with a healthy 480-litre capacity.

Alfas have always tended to be cars that you buy with your heart, rather than your head. They have rarely been anything short of seductively styled and dynamically capable but each model has been consistently hamstrung by poor build quality.

The Giulia changes all that and it’s certainly something that should have its rivals looking tentatively over their shoulders