Giulia (Type 952) 2015 - Current

In 2013, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne requested a clean-sheet design for the next Alfa Romeo—a rear-wheel drive sports saloon to help return the company to its roots. He appointed former technical director at Ferrari and chassis engineer for the 458 Speciale Philippe Krief as chief engineer for the Giulia and asked him to assemble a team of ten to create the Giulia, to be designed and built in two and a half years. Krief oversaw the development of the Giulia, along with the platform that underpins it—Giorgio. This was an all-new, longitudinal-engine, rear-wheel drive platform developed by Alfa Romeo.

The top-of-the-line Giulia Quadrifoglio (Italian for "four-leaf clover") was the first model in the new Giulia range. It was unveiled in Italy in June 2015 and made its official international debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.  Cars did not arrive in the UK until late 2016.

The Quadrifoglio is powered by an all-aluminium alloy, twin-turbocharged gasoline direct injection 90° V6 engine, with a single-cylinder displacement of just under half a litre, for a total of 2,891 cc (176.4 cu in; 2.9 L). This engine was developed for the Quadrifoglio by engineers with Ferrari background and is derived from Ferrari's own twin-turbocharged F154 CB V8 engine, sharing the Ferrari California T's bore & stroke of 86.5 mm × 82 mm.  The engine has a maximum power output of 510 PS at 6,500 rpm, and 600 Nm (443 lb⋅ft) of torque between 2,500 and 5,000 rpm. The turbochargers are single-scroll compressor IHI units integrated into the manifold, with water-charge air coolers. It has side-mounted direct fuel injection and peak turbo boost reaches up to 35 psi (2.4 bar) absolute pressure.   With the inclusion of cylinder deactivation (that can switch off a bank of three cylinders) the QF can achieve some remarkable economy relative to its stupendous performance;  over 35mpg can be achieved on gentle motorway running.   

From the front, the Quadrifoglio distinguishes itself from the rest of the Giulia range by a specific front bumper with a carbon fibre splitter and enlarged air intakes for the twin intercoolers and for the brakes and by a carbon fibre bonnet featuring two cooling outlets for the engine bay. On the sides, the front wings also have outlets to extract air from the wheel wells, and bear Quadrifoglio badges in its model-specific front wings; the side skirts are specific to the model too with carbon fibre spoiler inserts, as are the 19-inch alloy wheels. At the rear, a low-profile carbon fibre lip-spoiler is applied to the boot lid, and a huge rear diffuser makes up the lower half of the bumper flanked by quadruple exhaust tips. Working in conjunction with the faired-in underside, the diffuser is fully functional in generating downforce also incorporating turning vanes,  and at the front is the "Active Aero Splitter", which can vary its angle of attack by 10°, moved by electric motors automatically at speed.  These were firsts in the Giulia's market segment and able to generate significant downforce. The Giulia Quadrifoglio has a drag coefficient of Cd=0.32, remarkable given the 10-inch wide rear wheels, though up from the normal car’s 0.26. Mechanically, this QF is fitted with a torque-vectoring rear differential able to send 100% of the torque to the left or right wheel in an instant.

On the interior, the dashboard is part-trimmed in leather and carbon fibre and the red engine start button is located on the multi-function steering wheel.  There are long solid aluminium shift paddles attached to the steering column.  In addition, the driver is offered Alfa Romeo's "DNA" dynamic control selector, which is placed on the centre console.  Driving modes include "Dynamic", "Natural" and "Advanced Efficiency" modes (the last one uses cylinder deactivation for increased fuel economy), and "Race" for high performance with louder exhaust note and electronic stability control systems turned off.