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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2017 IV Motoring CHRIS MANGION CREATED by the Alfa Romeo Style Centre, the Giulia is a modern take on what could be better described as Ital- ian traditions spanning over 100 years, and encompassed in the Trefoil – Alfa's iconic emblem. Style veiled muscle The 'trilobe grille' within its 'V-shaped nose' give to the Giulia its legendary muscular enticement, cloaking the drive power under a veil of style. It is as Ital- ian as a shot of double espresso on the banks of the Tiber. Potential owners should not be fooled by the shy looks of the Giulia, which teases its muscular power through the front splitter and aggressive looking diffuser at the back. The use of carbon- fiber materials for the hood, roof, and driveshaft, and aluminum composite on other panels, further reduce the vehicle's weight, sharpening the Giulia's power to weight ratio. The Giulia's Quadrifoglio engine is inspired by Ferrari technology and technical skills. A six-cylinder sister to the Ferrari F154 twin-turbo V-8s and a cousin to the engine under the hood of the Maserati Quattroporte GTS, delivers its peak power at 6500 rpm. But the Giulia offers a choice of four engines. A 510bhp 2.9ltr twin-turbo- charged V-6 Quadrifoglio Verde engine; a 2.0ltr turbocharged engine using only one camshaft, with MultiAir variable- valve-lift system, delivering 200bhp; and two versions of a 2.2ltr diesel workhorse delivering 150bhp and 180bhp. The diesel variants tend to be a little rough around the edges and lack the growl of their petrol siblings. However, this is all forgotten in the middle of the rev range when the car accelerates nicely. The Giulia's engines are married to a six-speed manual or an eight-speed au- tomatic gearbox and a torque-vectoring rear differential. But the Quadrifoglio Verde gets its personal six-speed manual gearbox, giving a more driver oriented experience. That said, the eight-speed automatic can be easily slipped resulting in the torque converter running up the turbos and whipping up the horses through their paces. Precision and control A 11.8:1-ratio rack with 2.3 turns lock-to-lock, translates into a fast and accurate fast-ratio steering delivers precise feedback, handling, and the stability-control system together with the Giuila's chassis keeps everything well under control. As in all Alfas, the chassis is pre set with three modes - Dynamic, Natural, and Advanced Efficiency. In Dynamic throttle response is heightened and the adjustable dampers stiffen up yet does not allow for any rear-end slippage. Distinctly Italian interior The cockpit of the Alfa Giulia is distinctly Italian. Conventional design such as an analog tach and speedo sit adjacent to a multifunction screen, while a leather-clad steering wheel is flanked by two aluminum shift paddles looking like sentinels. The centre con- sole houses the DNA dial, suspension stiffness adjuster and multi media menu control wheel. The Giulia's driving position sits low, but comfortable thanks to the well- positioned pedals, adjustable steering wheel, and seat adjusters located on the seat's side. This also provides a clear view of the road. A rotary controller, rules the infotain- ment system through an 8.8in colour display behind a smoked screen. Entry versions come with leather seats, bixenon headlights, LED tail- lights, dual exhaust, two-zone auto- matic climate control, four-piston front calipers, a six-way power driver's seat, parking sensors, a rearview camera, and a proximity key with push-button start. The Ti trim adds heated front seats, wood dashboard trim, and 18-inch wheels. This trim also allows the ad- dition of the Lusso package, bringing softer leather seats, different wood trim, and Lusso-specific 18-inch wheels. The Sport package gives these two models the exterior semblance of the Quadrifoglio model, while on the Ti ver- sion Quadrifoglio-style upgrades include an optional limited-slip differential and three-mode adaptive dampers. The Alfa Giuila was awarded 5-star rating with 98% for adult occupant pro- tection – the highest score ever achieved by any vehicle. This is due to innovative safety systems and the efficiency of a light yet rigid bodyshell. Safety and Awards Award-wise, the Alfa Giulia does not disappoint having already secured the EuroCarBody 2016 and Auto Europa 2017 awards and been named "Most Beautiful Car" in the Golden Steering Wheel Competition in Germany. IT is also one of the finalists in the Car of the Year award 2017. The Alfa Romeo Giulia has been eagerly awaited for a while, and it did not disappoint, delivering a sport sedan set apart from the competition. Whilst looking the part of a sedan, Alfa's quick steering, surgical handling, and muscu- lar engines, break away from the norm resulting in a highly captivating big boys' toy for those looking for finesse veiled muscular grunt. The new Alfa Romeo Giulia is avail- able from Motors Inc with prices starting from €39,900. e veiled Italian tease Photography by Chris Mangion