Alfa Giulia Reviews: a real threat to the 3 series...

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

With English subtitles...

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[M-terkait]

it has no lift shift feature

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

From the French "Auto-Moto" magazine.

Here you can see that the car (2.2 turbo diesel) looks nice and low, and much better than in the photos... Looks to drive pretty well too.

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[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

This French article brings more interesting information on the Giulia.

• The all aluminium diesel engine is 30kg (66lbs) lighter than the cast-iron engine it replaces
• The non QV version of the Giulia has an aluminium bonnet (hood), fenders and front doors.
• The QV 90 degrees V6 has a 90 and 150 degrees firing order, which gives it its distinct sound. It's the World's 1st turbo V6 to have one entire bank (right) of cylinders that can be deactivated to save petrol. All the engines in the lineup are longitudinal.
• The 6-speed manual gearbox is different for the QV (ZF) than for the lower versions (Getrag).
• The Giulia body structure is very rigid: 35,000 Nm/deg. For reference: BMW F30 3-Series 29,300. BMW F80 M3 40,000. Jaguar XF 22,000. Porsche 911 Carrera Type 997 33,000.
• The Giulia uses run flat tires (except QV and base version), yet has a very compliant ride, probably due to its very sophisticated suspension: double wishbone with virtual pivot for lower wishbone and multi link rear.
• The Giulia's steering is very direct: 11,7° steering imput for 1° at the wheel. The category standard is 15 for 1.
• The Giulia has "brake by wire". It centralises brake assis, ABS & ESP in the same hydraulic casing using an electric pump. It's more compact and is 3 to 4 kg lighter than a conventional system. It also reacts faster, yielding shorter braking distances.

A lot of good engineering in that car....

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Paul-Bracq-BMW

I was referring more to the industrial way BMW does their structural carbon fiber as per the below (I believe they still use woven carbon fiber for their visible parts such as the roof):

"BMW uses proprietary carbon fiber from SGL. They do not use an off-the-shelf product that SGL makes available for sale. And in addition, BMW uses a slightly unusual technique for building the carbon fiber cloth. It is not woven (as can be seen in the close-up of the carbon fiber cloth) but rather is composed of fiber bundles running in the same direction and sewn together. BMWBLOG believes that this is one of the keys to the quick cycle times in the CFRP press. By keeping the cloth strand oriented in a single direction per layer you decrease the time required to flow resin into the cloth."

Alfa uses hand laid woven carbon fiber, which result in a more high-end product

How does one "weave" cloth if all the fibers are in one direction?

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Damn it looks nice. Interior wise and exterior wise. If only there would be a 2 door version.

[cprx7]

I'd get a C63s any day can't stand that inverted triangle grill

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

How does one "weave" cloth if all the fibers are in one direction?

In these 2 videos from BMW, you can see how they do CFRP on an industrial scale...

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[ShocknAwe]

Do we have an official weight yet?

[Red Bread]

Brake by wire. Uh oh. Ask Nissan/Infiniti how well steering by wire has gone.

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Brake by wire. Uh oh. Ask Nissan/Infiniti how well steering by wire has gone.

Apparently every magazine is praising the braking system of the Giulia...

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Looks like they are in love with the new Giulia Quadrifoglio Verde!! Basically, they are saying the car is a 4-door Ferrari... Very high praise from IMO a very credible car magazine...

Enjoy the read.

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

I'm in love. In Rosso Competizione 3-layer paint, 19inch gunmetal Quadrifoglio wheels, CCB and yellow calipers... and MT of course! Images from the French configurator...

[AlexR6]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Brake by wire. Uh oh. Ask Nissan/Infiniti how well steering by wire has gone.

It's a brake by wire but with an hydraulic backup in case of problem... and it feels fantastic!

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

More colour options: Monte Carlo Blu, Grigio Vesuvio, Bianco Trofeo...

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Do we have an official weight yet?

To compare what's comparable:

EU Weight (Weight of Car with 90% fuel, 68 kg driver, 7 kg cargo) for Giula QV (as per the german brochure): 1655kg or 3649lbs

EU Weight for M3 (as per BMW Germany): 1610kg or 3549lbs. M3 is lighter by 100lbs.

But this needs to be taken with a grain of salt as manufacturers always put the weight of their cars WITHOUT optional equipment. For example the M3 in Germany comes with 18 inch wheels (19 for the Alfa), does not have sat nav, premium sound system, memory seats etc which add to the total weight of the vehicle. The Alfa does have them all as standard...

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Another glowing review 9 out of 10!

[ShocknAwe]

Damn. Was really hoping it would be ~3300

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Damn. Was really hoping it would be ~3300

I wish it was the case too. On the other hand the car seems to drive lighter than it is so...

[ShocknAwe]

That blue is AMAZING.

Green calipers should be available to match stitching and shamrock!

[Blackraven]

Now that's how you make a 6 cylinder turbo car have a nice exhaust sound.

P.S.
BMW, please take note......because your M3/M4 has a weak-sounding stock exhaust

[Mingwan]

The car looks sick. The side reminds me of a 3 series and the back a Kia Optima though. Still looks nice.