[BMW269]

[Daftasabrush]

The first video looks a bit cgi to me and there's clearly an auto gear shift when it goes over the hump on the track. Love the idea of a Ferrari tuned engine in a normal car though, and if that's the real sound, then

[Ali Shiralian]

Looks better than the 3series IMO

[BMW269]

Alfa Romeo Giulia QV vs. Audi RS4 vs. BMW M3 vs. Cadillac ATS-V vs. Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge vs. Lexus IS F vs. Mercedes C AMG, it just cannot get better than that. More choice, more competition, only better.


PS: Actually Audi should not be on that list, it is the only FWD-based non-RWD car.

[bahasad]

Looks and sounds amazing. Only the most diehard BMW nuthuggers are going to say this looks worse than the Bimmers.

[RoundelM3]

Originally Posted by Levi

If reliability is of concern, why do you drive BMW instead of Lexus?


Both of my Alfa Romeo never had any issues and never spent time being fixed.

Alfa Romeo unreliability is a myth.

Au contraire, mon frere! If that was true, why did Alfa quit selling cars here in the US back in the '90s and only recently returned with their latest 4C offering? The people I know who had Alfas back in the 80s and 90s had innumerable reliability problems with them and eventually got rid of them. Maybe their reputation in Europe, which has fewer Government regulations/requirements, is different, but not in the US. This one looks like it has the same chassis as the Dodge Dart with a "better" engine, but ask anyone who owns or has owned a Ferrari, Maserati, or Lambo about how high-maintenance those cars are. Lots of attention required, expensive parts, and not much of a dealership network unless you live in a large urban metro area.

[kevinlevrone]

I just can't find an angle that the Giulia looks bad from, unlike many recent BMW designs (and I do own an e90 335i sedan). Very balanced design and it exudes a lot of Italian style, despite a resemblance with some BMW designs from the side.

I see quite a bit of things that the M3 doesn't have:

- Proper power levels from the start
- Torque Vectoring
- Cylinder deactivation
- Carbon ceramic brakes as standard
- Great power to weight ratio
- Carbon fiber everywhere (roof, bonnet, seats, dash)
- (Hopefully) no stupid headache-provoking Active Sound

I were to buy a new sports sedan in the next 2 years, I would definitely look at the new Alfa.

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by roundel335

Au contraire, mon frere! If that was true, why did Alfa quit selling cars here in the US back in the '90s and only recently returned with their latest 4C offering? The people I know who had Alfas back in the 80s and 90s had innumerable reliability problems with them and eventually got rid of them. Maybe their reputation in Europe, which has fewer Government regulations/requirements, is different, but not in the US. This one looks like it has the same chassis as the Dodge Dart with a "better" engine, but ask anyone who owns or has owned a Ferrari, Maserati, or Lambo about how high-maintenance those cars are. Lots of attention required, expensive parts, and not much of a dealership network unless you live in a large urban metro area.

The Giulia has a Chassis developed from scratch. There were no Alfa in the US, but EU had 145, 147, 156, 166, 159, Mito and Giulietta. They are no worse than VW or Audi.

[KingOfJericho]

Judging solely on the copious amounts of carbon fiber combined with the active aero, I can't see this thing starting for less than $80k... if it comes stateside at all.

[RoundelM3]

Originally Posted by Levi

The Giulia has a Chassis developed from scratch. There were no Alfa in the US, but EU had 145, 147, 156, 166, 159, Mito and Giulietta. They are no worse than VW or Audi.

Correct, they were not in the US because their sales dwindled down to where it made no sense to continue selling them here. The US has a lot of requirements for emissions and safety features that the EU doesn't. Comparing how well they did in EU has no reflection on their status in the US. Alfa has a very long and uphill battle to regain respect as a competitive brand here. Mass-production of a car that meets US standards is a huge financial undertaking, and it remains to be seen whether the Alfa brand can succeed here. It may do extremely well in other countries, though, as it has for many years.

[kevinlevrone]

Here is a picture of the interior:

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Judging solely on the copious amounts of carbon fiber combined with the active aero, I can't see this thing starting for less than $80k... if it comes stateside at all.

It has as much CF as the M3, no more, no less. 4C has full CF chassis and starts at 55K.

[kevinlevrone]

Originally Posted by Levi

It has as much CF as the M3, no more, no less. 4C has full CF chassis and starts at 55K.

I think the M3 does not have a carbon fiber bonnet while the Giulia QV has it.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by Levi

It has as much CF as the M3, no more, no less. 4C has full CF chassis and starts at 55K.

Seats, dash, hood, etc... much more than the M3, actually. No point in arguing the point until pricing is released. I see they have the car listed on the US website so that's promising.

[BMW269]

Alfa Romeo Museum re-opens on 30 June.

[kevinlevrone]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Seats, dash, hood, etc... much more than the M3, actually. No point in arguing the point until pricing is released. I see they have the car listed on the US website so that's promising.

Where have you been in the past 5 years ? The Giulia was designed with the US market in mind and is the main bet of the Alfa in its return to the US market.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by kevinlevrone

Where have you been in the past 5 years ? The Giulia was designed with the US market in mind and is the main bet of the Alfa in its return to the US market.

Sure, it's the main bet but I'll believe it when I see it. I did a real double-take when I saw a 4C on the street for the first time a few weeks ago. I know the 8C is here and I see that fairly often (likely the same one) but I don't see any dealers popping up and the local Fiat dealer just closed its doors. I've been in the same place for the last five years that I've been for the previous 20, when Alfa also said they were coming back to the US market. Talk is cheap...

Yes, I know that things are a bit different now that they're under the same umbrella as Chrysler.

[Mavus]

The more I look at the exterior I am seeing E90 M3, only the exterior body lines and stance, not the design details. The interior looks great. The simpler the better for me.

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by Chris Harris

Of course the Alfa Giulia is about the best news this industry has received in years. I don't car if it isn't as good as an M3. I want one.

[Labeef]

My only concern is reliability. If it's on par with BMW, we are ok, anything worse, I will not even consider it.

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by Labeef

My only concern is reliability. If it's on par with BMW, we are ok, anything worse, I will not even consider it.

From my experience, Alfa is ok and the unreliability is not of concern for me. Range Rover is much worse than that, yet no. 1 SUV. If I want reliability I take Lexus, if I want safe value Mecedes, if I want a "jack of all trades master of none" BMW, if I want to show-off as "nouveau-riche" I take an Audi. I take an Alfa because it is love, it is irrational. Thing is the new Giulia makes sense even rationally now.

[swagon]

Having a normal discussion with an Alfista is nearly impossible. For them, Alfa is life and they're the best in the world.

That said, I do hope Alfa is not gonna screw it up this time. It does look awesome and it is a manual RWD sedan with five hundred horses. What's not to love?