The upcoming B9 Audi A4 has a long road ahead if it wants to take the crown as the best entry-level sports sedan in the segment. It already has to deal with the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C Class, Cadillac ATS and Lexus IS. This is a monumental task as it is, as all of those are great cars. But it seems as if life is getting a bit harder for the folks in Ingolstadt, as Alfa Romeo seems to mean serious business with its upcoming Giulia sedan.
The upcoming Alfa Romeo Giulia is its latest and greatest sports sedan, meant to challenge the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 for top trumps in the segment. Alfa has always been an enthusiast favorite, so you can imagine that everyone is pretty excited to see what the Giulia brings to the table. Everyone except the Germans, that is. The Giulia is also meant to lead a global comeback for Alfa Romeo, so it needs to be great, and Alfa knows this, so it probably will be great.
The Giulia will be rear-wheel drive as standard, but will most likely have an all-wheel drive option. The Giulia will also have a perfect 50/50 weight distribution. A couple of turbocharged four-cylinder engines will be available, both gas and diesel. Horsepower should range between 180 and 330, depending on the engine, so the Giulia should stay competitive. A 6-speed manual will be standard and a 7-speed dual-cloth auto will be an option. For those who want insane performance to rival an Audi RS4 or BMW M3, the 503 hp Giulia Quadrifoglio will be available as well, using a 3.0 liter twin-turbo V6 developed by Ferrari.
Alfas have always been good performance cars, but that was never their real attraction. The real attraction is the way they look and feel. Alfas have always had a distinct Italian character to them that could not be matched by any other brand. Alfa Romeos haves soul, more so than other cars. The Giulia seems to be no different, with gorgeous good looks and a beautiful interior. Audi’s electronics and MMI system will almost certainly be superior to the stuff found in the Alfa, but that doesn’t necessarily matter if the Giulia’s interior is more beautiful to behold.
The Giulia should be a serious player in the segment, as Alfa needs something to get it back in the game. So the folks in Turin are taking this very seriously. The Audi A4 will most likely be a very good car, with superb build quality, solid chassis dynamics and good engines. But will it be enough to overcome the passion and style that is the Alfa Romeo Giulia?
