The new Alfa Romeo Giulia hasn't even made it to showrooms yet, but already the usual spread of efficient and warmed-over variants is starting to pop up. Alongside the regular car and the ballistic Quadrifoglio, the Paris Motor Show will play host to two new versions of the Giulia. At one end of the spectrum is the miserly Advanced Efficiency, at the other sits the new Veloce.
Giulia Veloce
Think of the Veloce as a halfway house to full on Giulia Quadrifoglio madness, like the Mercedes-AMG C43 or BMW 340i. Under the hood is a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine, pumping out 280 hp (209 kW) and 400 Nm of torque. Alfa says the two-stage turbo, along with a sophisticated high-pressure fuel injection system, help cut down on lag.
Although diesel power isn't usually associated with outright performance, there will also be an oil-burning Veloce. With 210 hp (157 kW) and 470 Nm of torque from its aluminum 2.2-liter motor, the diesel isn't exactly a firecracker, but it should still offer a bit of extra shove compared to the regular model.
Both petrol and diesel models will be fitted with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and power will be channeled to the road through a new Q4 all-wheel drive system. In regular driving it operates like a regular rear-wheel drive car, but 60 percent of the engine's torque can be sent to the front axle when slip is detected.
Beside the powertrain changes, you'll be able to tell the Veloce apart from regular Giulias thanks to bigger wheels, a sportier bodykit and xenon headlamps.
Advanced Efficiency
At the other end of the scale is the new Advanced Efficiency, aimed at miserly commuters. Powered by a 2.2 l, 4-cylinder diesel, it has a more efficient engine cooling system, revised gearbox ratios, a lower ride height and model-specific low-rolling resistance tires that combine for a fuel efficiency figure of 4.2 l/100 km (67 mpg).
That's compares well with the Audi A4 TDI which, with its special flat underfloor and aerodynamic shutters, drinks just 4.0 l/100 km (71 mpg) on the combined cycle.
Both variants of the Giulia will make their debuts at the Paris Motor Show, where New Atlas will be on the ground to cover all the action.
Source: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
