For some reason, I found myself humming my favourite Italian songs while driving this press vehicle, probably due to the fact this beauty was built in that stunning country.
There’s no denying that the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio RWD (I just have to say that with an Italian accent) is a head turner, and this particular version also happens to be a potent on-road performer. But who knew it could inspire those behind the wheel to sing?
But all that does come with a hefty price tag. The Quadrifoglio as tested costs $98,080 (the starting price for this trim is $93,990), a significant increase from a base Sprint version of the Giulia, which starts around $53,000.
Our tester was fitted with the active driver assist package, which adds lane keep assist, automatic high-beams, adaptive cruise control with stop, intelligent speed assist, driver attention alert, active blind spot assist and more.
It also came with the $450 Premium Package that includes some niceties like a cargo net and tie-down loops in the trunk, heated rear seats, a premium alarm system, wireless charging pad, red seat stitching, active aero carbon fibre front splitter, and a Global Telematics Box Module. That’s quite a lot for that amount of money.
The wheels and brakes were also upgraded to 19-inch dark 5-hole aluminum wheels ($595) and bright yellow brake calipers ($350).
That’s on top of a lengthy list of standard equipment, including some notable safety features like blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-path detection, front and rear park assist system and forward collision warning.
Powertrain: The beating heart of this Giulia lies under the carbon fibre hood.
It’s enough to raise your heartrate thanks to the 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque put out by the 2.9-litre twin turbo V6 engine. It roars to life with the push of the red (aren’t we never supposed to press the red button?) start/stop switch located on the steering wheel and can be as docile as a kitten in the city, or as powerful as an agile cheetah when you mat the gas pedal.
The engine is paired to an eight-speed automatic, which also includes steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters which are quite large.
It also emits a sweet exhaust note when pushed hard, at least from the outside, because inside the cabin, the engine noise is very muted.
Alfa Romeo says that the Giulia Quadrifoglio will consume an average of 11.6 litres of premium fuel per 100 kilometres, while I achieved a figure of 13.0 L/100 km.
Exterior: From any angle, the Giulia has nice curves and lines that ensure it gets all your attention.
The four-leaf clover near each front wheel also clearly differentiates the Quadrifoglio from other Giulias. It even had my friend, who is half Italian and half Irish, joking this is the perfect car for him!
In the Alfa Rosso (red) colour, it’s even more of a looker and has plenty of extras that make the exterior stand out, starting with those bright yellow brake calipers.
Then there are some black carbon fibre trim pieces, notably the trunk-lid spoiler and under the rocker panel. Carbon fibre also makes up the hood and roof, although those are painted in red.
Those optional 19-inch dark 5-hole aluminum wheels are worth every penny in my opinion as they are an upgrade over the standard wheels and give the Giulia a more appealing exterior finish.
The rear look is capped off by quad exhausts, responsible for that sweet sound as you power away.
Interior: The cabin of the Giulia Quadrifoglio is also a thing of beauty, outfitted with leather and Alcantara seats, which are very comfortable and supportive when cornering, as well as genuine carbon fibre accent trims throughout.
The seats, and all other leather elements, feature red contrast stitching, and the Alfa Romeo logo is embossed in the head supports.
The cabin itself is a cozy and quiet environment considering the considerable power under the hood.
The layout of the controls is pretty compact, and they are easy to operate thanks to the mix of dials and buttons.
The electronic shifter in the centre console is flanked by a series of dials for the infotainment system, as well as the drive mode select.
Oh, and a touch I particularly appreciated was the Italian flag at the base of the shifter.
Infotainment: My first experience with the Alfa Romeo infotainment system was a good one. The 8.8-inch touchscreen display is neatly embedded in the dash and features large, clear menus for each section of the system. You can also opt to have the screen show technical gauges while driving around for those who are so inclined.
The system comes with satellite radio and embedded navigation, and is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
It also features a harman/kardon premium audio system to enjoy some sweet tunes that are clearly easier on the ears for my family than me humming songs!
Drive: For the Giulia Quadrifoglio, driving fun is in its DNA. By that, I mean the three drive mode settings via the pro-drive model selector, which also features Race mode. The DNA acronym stands for the Dynamic, Natural and Advanced Efficiency modes.
In Dynamic, the Quadrifoglio is certainly a lot more responsive and fun to drive, but the rear-wheel drive sedan is still a pretty fun ride.
Acceleration is excellent and the active suspension means the ride is always under control, even if the rear does get a little slippery if you try to get off the line a little too fast. The performance from the engine is so effortless for the Giulia that before you know it, you are cruising at 130 km/h on the highway and you wouldn’t know it unless you looked at the speedometer.
The steering feel is also very light and responsive, with your hands at three and nine, turns were effortless and smooth.
2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Conclusion: Alfa Romeo’s in general are a rare sight on our roads, rarer still is the Giulia Quadrifoglio, which could explain all the attention it received from young and old alike. Not to mention my friend Julia, who couldn’t resist the car based solely on its name.
There were very few issues to point out during the week with this vehicle, which delivers style and driving performance in spades, all the while coddling occupants in a stylish and quiet cabin.
As my ancestors would say: Ma che bella!
2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio RWD
Price as tested: $98,080.00
Freight: $2,595.00
Configuration: Front engine/Rear-wheel drive
Engine/transmission: 2.9-litre twin turbo V6/ 8-speed automatic
Power/torque: 505 horsepower/ 443 ft-lb of torque
Fuel (capacity): Premium (57 L)
Combined fuel economy ratings (L/100 km): 11.6 L/100 km
Observed fuel economy (L/100 km): 13.0 L/100 km
Warranties: 4-years/80,000 km (basic)
Competitors: Audi S4, BMW M3, Jaguar XF, Mercedes-AMG C63 S, Volvo S60 T6
Link: Alfa Romeo Canada