The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 7: Spring 2018 | Page 24

REVVED UP
Alfa Romeo Giulia: The Italian Alternative
Resurrecting famous car names from the past is a good thing.
There are too many motors known only by numbers. Where’s
the automotive romance in that? Remember the gloriously sexy
1967 Giulia Sprint GT Veloce? Well, it’s 21st Century namesake
doesn’t conjure quite that much boy’s-bedroom-wall-poster
lust but there’s no doubting it is a beautiful-looking car.
This is a ‘Super’ version and definitely a car
you would look back at across a car park even
in this rather unexciting shade of Silverstone
Grey. It looks fast standing still. The neat
integration of the front-to-back features –
headlights, tail lamps, exhaust – make for a
comprehensive design that pretty much beats
all-comers on the car catwalk. The test car
had optional run-flat tyres but they didn’t
spoil the ride as some can do.
On The Road
Beauty is power but looks alone don’t butter
those parsnips. There has to be some beef
under the bonnet and, although our featured
rear-wheel drive car is a diesel it accelerates
fast, is a spirited ride and, overall, a fine-
handling car.
Steering on the elegant wheel is ideal,
weighting up as the speed increases. This
is thanks to a new front suspension design
delivering an a responsive pin-sharp road
feel. Like Dr Strangelove your hand will
automatically reach for the rotary DNA
drive dial and turn it to Dynamic and there’s
nothing you can do to stop it. The Alfa
Romeo Giulia demands to be driven.
The 2.2L diesel (there’s a good range of
alternatives) delivers maximum torque from
1,750rpm which, when combined with the
perfectly mated ZF eight-speed automatic,
gives the Giulia the legs to press on and
overtake efficiently and safely. Obviously you
don’t get the aural treats that come with
overtly sporting motors; this car quietly gets
on with the job, the engine just a murmur.
You can get faster versions of this vehicle
but with this model payback comes in the
guise of very acceptable fuel consumption
which business users will appreciate. I
saw an average of 48mpg although Alfa’s
official figure is over 60mpg. Emissions
are very acceptable too at just 109g/km
which means a BIK rate at the time of
writing at 21%. With wearying inevitability,
expect that to change this April but at
least you get a lot of car. It’s well featured
as standard certainly but the snag is those
optional extras are just so desirable that
buyers might as well bite the bullet and
load up. This one costs £40k.
ITALIAN INTERIOR
Inside, there is no mistaking that Italian
influence. It’s very attractive. Leather seats that
have contrast stitching sit low in the cabin
hinting again at the performance heritage.
It’s a characterful dashboard with it’s driver-
focused swooping design and neat, efficient
layout.
Of course, this being an Alfa Romeo
there are a couple of quirks and
disappointments. For a car that has prestige
pretensions, the overall finish in the cabin
isn’t quite up there with the posh German
brands. Also, the door pockets (and it’s
surprising how important these can be) are
just too small. Although a big car externally,
it does feel a little confined inside, not
cramped, just more of a four than a five
seater. The boot is good and deep but
being a saloon not as handy as a hatch.
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24
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2018
SHOULD YOU BUY ONE?
This writer has owned two Alfa’s before
so what do you think? Of course, I would.
That’s the thing about Alfa Romeo; they
can give you grief but are so beautiful you
keep coming back for more, like a cuckolded
husband.
Anyway; what would you prefer?
A standard euro-box or some wilful
excitement? With all the technology
thrust at us in life, what do you want from
your car? If we just allow our automotive
passions to be usurped by driver-less
vehicles, ride sharing with kebab-munching
strangers and other ‘socially acceptable’
mundane transport what’s the point of cars
at all? Go for it.
Written by Geoff Maxted
www.drivewrite.co.uk