Alfa Romeo Giulia is a Top Safety Pick

Alfa Romeo Giulia is a Top Safety Pick

• Not content with unique Italian style and exhilarating performance, the Giulia adds safety to its long list of achievements with the award of the top USA safety rating to go with its Five Star Euro-NCAP safety rating.

• 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia achieves the highest possible rating in each of the five tests used by IIHS to evaluate crashworthiness

• Giulia’s Forward Collision Warning-Plus with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) technology earns “superior” rating from IIHS

The Alfa Romeo Giulia has been awarded a 2017 Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the USA following its achievement of highest possible rating in each of five tests used by the IIHS to evaluate crashworthiness.

“The Giulia represents the pinnacle of Alfa Romeo engineering and technology so no effort was spared when it came to the vehicle’s performance and safety features,” said Reid Bigland, Head of Alfa Romeo. “We’re honored to receive this award from IIHS as it shows our commitment to creating state-of-the-art vehicles.”

The TSP+ designation is contingent upon achieving ratings of “good” in five IIHS crashworthiness evaluations. The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia achieves “good” – the highest possible rating – in each.

To achieve the 2017 TSP+ designation, vehicles must also perform well in IIHS’ Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system and Headlamp evaluations. The Giulia achieved a rating of “superior,” the highest possible rating for AEB, as well as a “good” rating for headlamps, which is also the highest rating.

The all-new Alfa Romeo Giulia offers innovative safety and security features and leverages state-of-the-art driver-assist features. The latest Alfa Romeo premium mid-size sedan offers driver-assistance features that include:

• Full-speed Forward Collision Warning – Plus with Full Stop: provides autonomous braking and, under certain circumstances, slows or brings the vehicle to a full stop when a frontal collision is imminent

• Adaptive Cruise Control – Plus with Full Stop: helps to maintain distance from the vehicle ahead and, under certain traffic conditions, the system can bring the Giulia to a full stop without driver intervention and resume driving once the vehicle ahead has moved forward

• Lane Departure Warning: alerts the driver of an inadvertent lane departure

To assist the driver both on the road and in parking situations, Blind-spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path detection and front- and rear-park assist sensors are standard in the New Zealand speciation Giulia Veloce and Giulia Quadrifoglio.

In addition, the Alfa Romeo Giulia features advanced multistage driver and front-passenger air bags; driver and front-passenger seat-mounted side air bags (pelvic-thorax); front and rear side curtain air bags; and driver and front-passenger inflatable knee air bags.

The award-winning Alfa Romeo Giulia is available in New Zealand in two versions, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce, which is priced at $79,990 plus on road costs and the supercar performance offering Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio which, with its Ferrari inspired engine enabling it to blast to 100 kmh in 3.9 seconds. This, combined with a remarkably effective chassis, empowered the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio to smash the production sedan record lap at the Nurburgring with a stunning time of seven minutes 32 seconds.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce

• Price: $79,990 plus on road costs

• Drivetrain: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol, 8-speed automatic

• Power/torque: 206 kW/400 Nm

• 0-100 kmh: 5.7 sec

• Fuel cons: 6.1L/100 km

New Zealanders looking for sporting prowess combined with unique Italian style in a sports sedan will be naturally drawn to the Giulia Veloce, powered by higher-performance version of the Alfa Romeo turbocharged 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, tuned for 206 kW and 400 Nm. The Giulia Veloce accelerates to 100 kmh in 5.7 seconds, yet sips just 6.1L/100 km on the combined cycle.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is brand new and features a twin-scroll turbocharging system, where the turbo is driven through two pipes which gather exhaust gas from pairs of cylinders in alternating sequence.

Performance and fuel economy is improved by the MultiAir electro-hydraulic variable valve actuation technology and the direct injection system with 200 bar injection pressure.

A new eight-speed automatic transmission, linked to the Alfa DNA (DNA Pro in Quadrifoglio), makes its debut on the new Alfa Romeo Giulia and is specifically tuned to deliver a comfortable and efficiency-oriented drive when the car is in Natural and Advanced Efficiency mode while still providing exhilarating responsiveness and driver control when in Dynamic mode (and Race mode in the Quadrifoglio), regardless of whether it is used on automatic mode or if the driver choses to shift manually via the selector or steering column-mounted paddle shifters (standard on all models).

The Giulia Veloce boasts a range of performance orientated features to maximise that performance including Alfa SDC adjustable active suspension, limited-slip rear differential, 19-inch Veloce alloys and brake calipers distinctively finished in red.

The Alfa SDC adjustable active suspension uses a solenoid valve to modify the hydraulic flow inside the shock absorber, changing the damping characteristics of the suspension setup. The solenoids are wired to the controlling computer which sends commands depending on the control algorithm.

When the DNA is in the sport driving positions (Dynamic or Race), the active damping system is controlled by the CDC module, to maximise body control and stiffness. The stiffness is reduced with the Natural and Advanced Efficiency driving modes.

In Dynamic or Race modes, the driver can choose to deactivate the damping button in the centre of the DNA selector, to increase the damping level to have better comfort.

Veloce sporting prowess is on display visually, too, with a deeper front spoiler not unlike Quadrifoglio’s, with mesh inserts. At the rear an aerodynamic diffuser aids airflow departure, and is flanked by twin exhausts

Inside, the Veloce’s cabin steps up the visual performance with aluminium dash inserts and pedals, a sports leather seats and steering wheel, and a premium 10-speaker, 400-watt sound system.

A high level of standard equipment includes including leather upholstery, alloy wheels, bi-Xenon headlamps, keyless go, stop/start technology, satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control, rain sensing wipers, 19-inch 5-hole dark alloy wheels, Gloss black DLO surround with privacy glass, Sports leather seats, 6-way adjustable, with power bolsters, 10-speaker plus subwoofer, 400-watt sound system, active cruise control, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

• $134,990

• Drivetrain: 2.9-litre Ferrari-inspired BiTurbo V6, 8-sp automatic, RWD

• Power/torque: 375 kW/600 Nm

• 0-100 kmh: 3.9sec

• Fuel cons: 8.2L/100km

The Quadrifoglio is the performance flagship of the Giulia range which will arrive in New Zealand with the Quadrifoglio in April. To achieve its outstanding blend of performance, handling and roadholding, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio introduces a range of new technology to its class.

It is powered by a Ferrari-inspired 375 kW 2.9-litre V6 BiTurbo engine that can accelerate to 100 kmh in just 3.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 307 kmh.

The Quadrifoglio amplifies the already sensuous and intense design of the Giulia with performance-enhancing elements to reach a new peak of style, sophistication and excellence that has Italy stamped all over it. The front fascia features an aggressive aero treatment including brake cooling ducts, bumper slits as well as a carbon fibre Active Aero Splitter. The bonnet also features heat extractors.

From the side the Quadrifoglio cloverleaf badge is immediately noticeable as well as the deep character-line that originates from the air extractor behind the front wheel arch. Carbon fibre side skirts are integrated into the body surface.

The rear of the vehicle is highlighted by a carbon fibre spoiler and a wider, more aggressive rear bumper with a diffuser that wraps around the quad tipped Monza dual mode exhaust system.

The Quadrifoglio rides on lightweight 19-inch forged alloys wrapped in specially developed Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres. It features a powerful Brembo brake system with 6-piston calipers at the front and 4-piston calipers at the rear. An ultra-high-performance Brembo carbon-ceramic brake system is optional.

Like the exterior, the interior of the Giulia Quadrifoglio is adorned with performance focused materials and design elements such as a red starter button, contrast stitching, leather and Alcantara finishes and carbon fibre trim. The standard sport design leather and Alcantara front seats feature eight-way electric adjustment with power bolsters while the deeply sculpted leather and Alcantara rear seats are designed to accommodate two occupants.

The New Zealand Giulia Quadrifoglio is equipped with a new eight-speed automatic gearbox. The transmission, which provides smooth shifts and initial engagement, yet fast, well-timed changes, is linked to the Alfa DNA Pro driver control system.

The transmission is specifically tuned to deliver a comfortable and efficiency-oriented drive when the car is in Natural and Advanced Efficiency mode while still providing exhilarating responsiveness and driver control when in Dynamic and Race modes. Manual shifting can be achieved via the selector or column mounted aluminium shift paddles.

The Quadrifoglio’s small diameter steering wheel with integrated red starter button is trimmed in leather with stitching in either red or black depending on choice of interior upholstery. A steering wheel trimmed with carbon fibre inserts and Alcantara fabric is also available.

Attention to detail continues beneath the skin with the new rear-drive architecture, which positions all major mechanical components between the front and rear axles to ensure minimal overhangs and a perfect 50/50 weight distribution.

Additional lightweight measures with the Quadrifoglio include a carbon fibre roof and bonnet, resulting in overall weight savings of 34.3 kg. The extensive use of lightweight materials contributes to a best-in-class weight-to-power ratio.

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio’s Chassis Domain Control and Active Suspension dynamically adapts the car’s setup in real time based on acceleration and rotation data detected by sensors. It prevents and manages the critical situations, informing in advance the specific ECUs involved in the chassis, powertrain, suspension, braking, steering, driving assistance systems and LSD to prioritise performance or comfort depending on the DNA mode selected.

The Giulia Quadrifoglio also has an advanced torque vectoring system with a computer controlled double clutch to allow the rear differential to control torque delivery to each wheel.

The Integrated Brake System – an innovative brake by wire electromechanical system which combines stability control and a traditional servo brake for instantaneous brake response and thus excellent stopping distances in addition to the all-important weight optimisation – is a first for the new Alfa Romeo Giulia.

The IBS makes record-breaking stopping distances possible: 100 kmh to a standstill in just 32 metres for the Giulia Quadrifoglio.

Thanks to this merciless attention to detail and peerless pursuit for optimal performance, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is the current production sedan lap record holder at the fearsome Nurburgring circuit with a remarkable time of 7 minutes and 32 seconds.

ENDS

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