auto motor und sport /Guido ten Brink Geneva Motor Show 2020
08.03.2016
D he new Alfa Romeo Giulia should fit like an expensive tailor-made suit, is the Italian statement. However, there is already one well-dressed competitor: the BMW 3 Series. It has dominated the middle class for 41 years now and with the M3 and M4 is also made extremely satisfactory from a sporty perspective. No question about it, the Giulia has to measure itself against the 3 series.
It does look sharp, the Giulia. But does the Alfa also feel that good? We dare to get in close contact with two cars that work differently, but have the same target group.
Alfa Romeo Giulia with Italian looks
You can already see that in the design. The BMW looks cool out of its four eyes - and a bit harmless if it isn't wearing the M package with aggressively cut aprons and large rims. Advantage Alfa: The Giulia looks unusual even in the standard dress, no wonder, it is: Alfa's re-entry into the middle class after the 159 and the less successful 166.
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Striking: The Giulia's series look impresses with its sporty look.
The defining style element is the Scudetto, the large, shield-shaped radiator grille, which is what the double kidney grille is at BMW. Overall, the front of the new Giulia looks more massive than that of the 3 Series. The elongated front headlights reflect the Alfa designers at the rear, which was also quite expansive, but not a flaw. The Giulia should definitely score points in the middle class.
It has the necessary visual presence that the German competition has lost a little. No wonder: feltevery second car on the road is an Audi A4 or a BMW 3 Series.
Giulia with a neat, spacious interior
Although the cockpit has not yet come up with the final series finish, everything feels very good and the right seating position was quickly found. The optional sports seats offer good lateral support, only the leg rests are a bit short.
Particularly cool - literally: the aluminum shift paddles, which are particularly large compared to the BMW. Whether you need that with a two-liter diesel engine is another question. It always looks good - just like the non-slip sports steering wheel itself. Our blue test object also got the cream-colored 'Lusso' leather interior with wood inlays. Even the dashboard was covered in black leather. Chic!
In addition, Alfa does not skimp when it comes to space for fellow travelers in the rear. They sit at least as well as in the BMW - if not a tad better. The legroom in both cars should be about the same. As luck would have it, this time we didn't have a measuring tape with us. The Giulia scores with Italian flair, against which the BMW is really difficult to come. It has other advantages.
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Cool: Die large shift paddles are made of cold aluminum and feel better than their BMW counterparts.
BMW 3 Series with powerful infotainment system
For example thatInfotainment system against which the Alfa also has to measure itself. And although the Giulia offers the usual features such as Bluetooth for the mobile phone, navigation or digital radio, the BMW should have much greater functionality at the start.
In the Giulia, the 8.8 inch screen is completely integrated into the Giulia -Integrated dashboard, does not sit on top like the BMW. The system is operated exclusively by means of a rotary push button (yes, the 'iDrive' principle has meanwhile also arrived in Italy). Contrary to contrary press releases, a touchscreen is not available. BMW is likely to offer this option soon: It is already available in the 7 Series.
Between the rev counter and the speedometer, the Giulia also has an information display that provides information on data such as oil temperature or consumption. What exactly is displayed depends on which mode the Giulia is in. This is defined by the so-called D.N.A. controller, which essentially corresponds to BMW's 'driving experience switch'. New-fashioned words, simple principle: Chassis, steering and engine are set to the desired setting, for example 'Sport' or 'Save fuel'.
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Fits: The fund is spacious enough for people who are shorter than 1.90 meters.
Ultimately, the engine decides - and the customer
Fuel is saved by both manufacturers with the diesel models: Alfa Romeo is initially planning three variants, a 2.2-liter diesel with 150 hp, an expansion stage of which with 180 PS and a particularly potent, although not yet confirmed V6 version with around 300 PS. BMW puts the 318d, 320d and 335d against it.
When it comes to gasoline engines, Alfa Romeo is still largely covered. The only thing that is clear is that there will be a two-liter turbo with 200 hp, as well as the QV variant with a 2.9-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder and 510 hp. The 1.4-liter turbo from the Giulietta is traded as an entry-level petrol engine, making 150 hp. And because we show the hybrid BMW 330e in our pictures: Alfa Romeo is also allegedly planning a Giulia with hybrid technology.
But until the time comes,Giulia first has to prove itself: It definitely has what it takes to become a middle-class star. In contrast to previous models, it is not only a case for dreamy Alfa fans, but also for cool car analysts who could be taken by surprise by the grace of the Giulia.
Market launch for the Giulia should appear in the first half of 2016, according to Alfa Romeo. Prices are not yet fixed.
