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2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio NRING

STELVIO AND GIULIA NRING: SHOWCASES OF ALFA ROMEO EXCELLENCE

•Stelvio Quadrifoglio NRING and Giulia Quadrifoglio NRING Nürburgring Limited Editions celebrate the historic bond of supreme success linking Alfa Romeo to the legendary German circuit

•For the EMEA region there will be just 108 cars per model, one for each year of Alfa Romeo's history

•Performance, invincible DNA and Italian style, all completed by an exclusive customer experience

•Owners of the limited edition will receive a scale model of the chosen car, a specific welcome kit and an invitation to an Alfa Romeo experience at the Nürburgring

•FCA Heritage will provide exclusive certification, underlining these limited editions' collectors' value

•Stelvio Quadrifoglio NRING and Giulia Quadrifoglio NRING set to make UK debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio NRING and Giulia Quadrifoglio NRING Nürburgring Limited Editions have been created to celebrate this historic bond between Alfa Romeo and the legendary track, recently given new life by the Quadrifoglio models' thrilling performances.

The many pages in the Green Hell's history include exciting contributions from Alfa Romeo, which nurtured its myth through a wealth of victories and memorable records at the Nürburgring. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, the first SUV in the brand's history, holds the record for its segment, having completed the 20.832km of the Nordschleife in 7 minutes 51.7 seconds. This makes it the fastest amongst SUVs, equipped with an outstanding 2.9 V6 Bi-Turbo petrol engine with 510hp and torque of 600Nm powering a top speed of 176mph and acceleration from zero to 62mph in just 3.8 seconds. The Giulia Quadrifoglio has a lap time of 7 minutes 32 seconds, achieved thanks to its superlative handling, top speed of 191mph and acceleration from zero to 62mph in 3.9 seconds.

Limited edition collectors' models

108 editions of each model will be available for the EMEA region. Intended for collectors and the most loyal Alfa Romeo customers, the new limited editions have exclusive contents, including a numbered badge in the carbon fibre dashboard insert and the unique Circuito Grey livery, exclusively available on this limited edition.

In addition to the features that characterise all Quadrifoglio cars, standard equipment on the NRING models also includes carbon-ceramic brakes, Sparco® racing seats with red stitching and carbon shell structure, Mopar® automatic transmission knob with carbon inserts and leather and Alcantara steering wheel with carbon inserts. The front badge and the rearview mirror caps are made of carbon fibre, as are the side skirt inserts. Inside the NRING editions feature tinted windows, Adaptive Cruise Control, the Harman Kardon premium audio package, and AlfaTM Connect 3D Nav infotainment system with 8.8-inch' screen, Apple CarPlayTM, Android AutoTM and DAB . The Giulia model premieres the new bare carbon roof, while the Stelvio is equipped with electrically operated panoramic sunroof.

A total, unique experience

Alfa Romeo has created an exclusive experience for the 216 owners of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio NRING and Giulia Quadrifoglio NRING Nürburgring limited editions. Before their real car is delivered, owners will be given a numbered 1:18 scale model of it and upon collection they will receive a welcome kit comprising Sparco® racing gloves and customised soft shell jacket, sports bag in the Alfa Romeo pattern, Quadrifoglio cuff-links and original footwear created by Car Shoe. Part of the Alfa Romeo licensed 'Quadrifoglio' capsule collection, made from leather and technical fabric, the shoes are inspired by race boot design and carry the symbol that most effectively embodies the Alfa Romeo brand's highest performances. That's not all: Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio NRING and Giulia Quadrifoglio NRING owners will be offered the chance to attends a sports driving technique course on the Nürburgring circuit, in 2019. A specific concierge service will assist NRING customers throughout their Alfa Romeo experience.

Certification

To celebrate the birth of the new limited edition the NRING versions will have a specific 'Authenticity Certification' issued by FCA Heritage, the department that promotes the historic record of the FCA Group's Italian brands. The decision to provide these special editions with 'Authenticity Certification', normally only issued for historic cars, gives them genuine 'Instant Classic' status. This places them amongst the vehicles ranked as collectors' items as soon as they hit the market, due to their exclusiveness, performance and limited production runs.

Every owner will receive a kit comprising the authenticity certificate issued by the constructor, a numbered certification plaque matching the car's chassis number, a book of photographs and the technical specification.

Massive power and state-of-the-art technology

The Quadrifoglio models are paragons of engineering quality and superior performance in themselves. On Stelvio, for the first time, the 2.9 V6 Bi-Turbo powerplant is combined with the innovative Q4 all-wheel drive system, with its guarantee of unbeatable performance, traction, driving pleasure and safety in all situations.

Both cars incorporate AlfaTM Chassis Domain Control, which coordinates all the on-board electronic systems, to deliver the best performance and the utmost driving pleasure at all times. Specifically, the system manages and simultaneously assigns specific tasks to the various active systems, such as Q4 all-wheel drive (on Stelvio Quadrifoglio), AlfaTM Active Torque Vectoring system, AlfaTM Active Suspension, ESC and AlfaTM DNA Pro selector with Race function. The Torque Vectoring technology optimises Stelvio and Giulia's drive distribution and accentuates their sporting character. The two electronically controlled clutches in the Torque Vectoring system make it possible to control torque delivery to each wheel separately. This ensures the optimal transfer of power to the ground in all driving situations, making the Stelvio safe and fun to drive at all times, without recourse to intrusive inputs from the stability control system.

The standard 8-speed ZF automatic transmission is specifically calibrated to shift in just 150 milliseconds in Race mode. The transmission has a lock-up clutch to give the driver a powerful, precise feeling of in-gear acceleration. Depending on the DNA mode set, new auto box optimises fluidity, comfort and ease of driving in all environments, including around town, and further improves fuel efficiency and cuts CO2 emissions. So the excellence on offer is not just in performance: both the Alfa Romeo sports SUV and the saloon are also incredibly efficient in terms of emissions and fuel efficiency, thanks also to their electronically controlled cylinder deactivation system and the sailing function, available in Advanced Efficiency driving mode. To further maximise the driving experience, they are both equipped with paddle shifters machined from solid aluminium which are integral with the steering column.

Alfa Romeo at the Nürburgring: living history

The new special limited editions consolidate the bond between a brand and a legendary circuit. The first of Alfa Romeo's many victories on the Green Hell was recorded in 1932 by Rudolf Caracciola, driving a Gran Premio Tipo B, who won ahead of two other Alfa Romeos with Nuvolari and Borzacchini at the wheel. Three years later it was the 'flying Mantovan' himself who starred in a breath-taking race: driving an Alfa Romeo Tipo B on the verge of retirement, he outclassed his adversaries even from the qualifying stages and achieved a crushing victory in the German Grand Prix.

It has not just been Formula 1: from the Fifties, Alfa Romeo became a key competitor in the Tourism class, with the Giulietta Sprint Veloce, and it consolidated this dominance in the next decade with the Giulia TZ, Giulia TZ2, Giulia Sprint GTA, GTA 1300 Junior and 1750-2000 GTAm, which recorded a long succession of overall and class victories in top races including the 1000km, the 500km and the 6 Hours. The Giulia Sprint GTA is also remembered for the record of 9 minutes 59.7 seconds set by Andrea De Adamich, the first time a GT car with an engine of less than 1,600cc broke the 10 minute barrier.

While the GTA models were unrivalled in their class, Alfa Romeo entered the World Championship for Makes with the new Tipo 33: two victories in 1968 and 1969, in the two litre class, and two world championship titles, in 1975 and 1977. In 1975, Merzario and Laffite won seven of the season's eight races, including victory at the Nürburgring. Another great Alfa Romeo win dates from 1993, when the 155 V6 TI driven by Nicola Larini came home victorious: without success at the Nürburgring, the DTM title would have been incomplete.

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio NRING and Giulia Quadrifoglio NRING Nürburgring Limited Editions are set to make their UK debut this summer at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where pricing and availability for the UK will be confirmed. For information on the Alfa Romeo range please visit www.alfaromeo.co.uk or to find your nearest dealer visit www.alfaromeo.co.uk/findadealer.

by Alfa Romeo

by Alfa Romeo

A delightfully charismatic car that proved a highly successful seller, the Alfa Romeo Giulia replaced the outgoing Giulietta beginning in 1962. Alfa Romeo produced the Giulia in myriad configurations, some drastically different from other models in the series but all with a unifying thread of polished driving fun.

The name 'Giulietta' means 'little Giulia' in Italian, so the Alfa Giulia title was a play on words identifying the new car as a grown-up version of the Giulietta. The wittiness of Alfa's naming strategy was representative of the Giulia's personality as a whole. The car bristled with clever touches, and was a superb example of world-leading engineering packed into a small and stylish automobile.

The first Giulia sedan, or Berlina, models were introduced in June of 1962 and belonged to the 105 series of Alfa cars. The Berlinas were boxy and fairly conservative in appearance, but their design was nevertheless attractive, modern, and, surprisingly, quite aerodynamic with a coefficient of drag of just 0.33.

Initially, Alfa Romeo offered only the Giulia TI (or Turismo Internationale) to buyers looking to purchase a new Berlina. This model used a 1,570cc version of Alfa's respected twin-cam four, which proved far more tractable than the 1,290cc unit used in the prior Giulietta. The Giulia TI had a 5-speed transmission, albeit with column-mounted shifter, and most were equipped with power disc brakes all around (though the earliest models still used Alfin drums). The TI was an entertaining car to drive with fine handling and a sophisticated demeanor, but details like its drab steering wheel, functional but mundane instruments, and column-mounted shifter did little to inspire owners to wring out the potential of the chassis. Alfa Romeo provided buyers with a Giulia Berlina of more obviously sporting intent by introducing the Giulia Super.

The Super, introduced in 1965, featured twin Weber carburetors to replace the TI's single Solex, and it had a lovely dash with big dials for the speedometer and tachometer. The column shift was replaced by a floor shift, and power was up slightly compared with the TI. Not to be confused with the Super, a truly racy Giulia Berlina derivative called the TI Super was offered for homologation purposes in 1963. With just 501 produced, it was substantially lighter and more powerful than the initial Berlinas.

The last Giulia Berlinas brought to the U.S. came over in 1967, but the charming sedans continued in production throughout other parts of the world. Though Americans were only offered the 1.6-liter engined TI and Super, other countries could also order Giulia Berlinas with 1.3-liter versions of the all-aluminum four. A minor restyling in 1974 saw a name change to Giulia Nuova (or new in English), and there was even a diesel version introduced to some markets for 1976. In the U.S., where the Giulia name disappeared from the market after just a few years, enthusiasts could still purchase what was essentially a Giulia Berlina with larger engine by buying a later 1750 Berlina or 2000 Berlina.

The Giulia Berlina proved that Alfa Romeo could follow up its successful Giulietta Berlina with a worthy replacement that continued to define the term sports sedan as it battled with BMW. The more famous automobiles of the Giulia series, though, were not sedans at all.

Like the Giulietta before it, the Giulia was offered in Sprint (coupe) and Spider (convertible) configurations in addition to the bread-and-butter Berlina models. While the 105-series Giulia sedans offered an all-new car for 1962, the transition from Giulietta Sprint and Spider to Giulia Sprint and Spider was gentler.

The later Giuliettas belonged to the 101-series of Alfa Romeos, and the earliest Giulia Sprints and Spiders also belonged to this series before the coupe and convertible versions of the 105 body were finalized. The transitional 101-series Giulias were essentially Giuliettas with 1,570cc engines installed. The 101 Giulia Sprint looked identical to the 101 Giulietta Sprint, while the 101 Giulia Spider could be distinguished by the raised area of its hood (disguised as a fake hood scoop) needed to clear the slightly taller engine.

In 1963, the 105-series Giulia coupe arrived, named Sprint GT and styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro during his time at Bertone. The primary features of the chassis, including its disc brakes, front A-arm suspension, and live rear axle, were all shared with the 105 Berlina models as well as the Spider models that were still a few years away. Much like the Berlina, Alfa Romeo sold the Sprint GT in many different trim levels, with both 1.3-liter and 1.6-liter engines, though all U.S. cars used the 1.6-liter engines. Also like the Berlina, production of what was essentially still the Giulia Sprint continued even after the Giulia title was dropped.

In the United States, the Sprint GT became the Sprint GTV in 1967. Alfa Romeo did not import cars to the U.S. for 1968, but in 1969 the importation of a lightly restyled Giulia coupe continued as the 1750 GTV and later 2000 GTV.

In addition to the regular production versions of the Giulia Sprint, several specialty models were produced. About 1,000 examples of a Sprint-based cabriolet with four seats, called the Giulia GTC, were produced by Touring beginning in 1965 before the two-seat 105 Spider was introduced. For the track, Zagato created highly successful racing cars with the 105-series platform by building the tube-framed TZ (Tubolare Zagato) and later TZ2 with its fiberglass body.

The TZ and TZ2 were excellent racers with stunning and low-slung bodies, but perhaps even more remarkable than these purpose-built racing machines was the GTA, which was almost identical in appearance to the Sprint GT yet proved itself as one of the most successful sports cars raced during its time. The GTA used lightweight aluminum body panels, twin sparkplugs per cylinder, a higher compression ratio, and bigger Weber carburetors to create a supremely capable vehicle. The Giulia GTA won the European Touring Car Championship in 1966, 1967, and 1968. Variations of the GTA included a smaller-engined 1300 GTA and the later GTAm, which had a downright frightening appearance thanks to its menacing fender flares and fat tires.

The Spider version of the 105-chassis finally arrived in 1966, with somewhat controversial styling by Pininfarina. Never officially labeled a Giulia, the Spider was the longest-running model of the 105-series despite its late start. Incredibly, Spider production didn't end until 1993.

It can be difficult to keep track of all of the different Giulia models and 105-series derivations. Open and closed cars, two-doors and four-doors, bodies made of steel, aluminum, and even fiberglass, designs from Bertone, Pininfarina, Touring, Zagato, and Alfa Romeo itself—clearly, the Giulia's history was rich and complicated, full of superb family sedans and successful racing cars. All of these disparate models had something in common, though: they were pure, honest, unfettered Alfa Romeos. And they were some of the finest and most successful postwar cars, both on track and in the showroom, that the company ever produced.

Sources:

'Alfa Romeo models.' CarsfromItaly.net n. pag. Web. 21 Dec 2010. http://carsfromitaly.net/fiat/index.html.

Benson, Joe. Illustrated Alfa Romeo Buyer's Guide . 2nd. Osceola, WI: MBI Publishing Company, 1992. Print.

Braden, Pat. Alfa Romeo Owner's Bible. Cambridge, MA: Bentley Publishers, 1994. Print.

by Evan Acuña

The first generation of the Giulia, also known as the 105 series, was introduced at the Monaz Autodrome in the early 1960s. The vehicles shared the same bodies as the vehicles they were replacing, the Giulietta. Power came from 1570 cc 4-cylinder engines using hemispheric combustion chambers and producing over 90 horsepower. The five-speed manual gearbox was operated by a column-mounted shift. The suspension was modified in the rear to improve handling but remained the same in the front.

Just like the Giulietta series, the Giulia came in multiple body-styles including the four-door Berlina, spider, TZ, sprint, and Sprint Speciale.

With racing in mind, Alfa Romeo designed and built the TZ series. The TZ, meaning Tubolare Zagato, was outfitted with a light alloy body, tubular frame, disc brakes, and independent suspension. The performance of the vehicle was amplified by its light body and responsive and effective handling. The large disc brakes provided excellent stopping power.

In 1963 the Giulia TI Super was introduced as a low production specialty model. With only 500 examples produced, its exclusivity is secure. Outfitted with a 112 horsepower engine, large disc brakes, and floor-mounted shift, this vehicle was a performance machine.

In 1963 all models received disc brakes standard on all four wheels. Power was increased in 1965 with the introduction of the 98 horsepower Giulia Super. Externally and internally, the design was slightly modified throughout the years.

The Giulia is credited with expanding international sales of the Alfa Romeo product. Like its predecessor the Giulietta, the vehicle was available in multiple body styles and configurations. Part of its success was the economical aspects, versatility, and styling.

by Dan Vaughan