Alfa Giulia to share Maserati Ghibli components
False dawns have plagued Alfa over the last decade with promises that the Italian brand would release several new models by 2020, seeming highly unlikely at this stage. The Alfa Giulia however stands the best chance of coming good on at least some of that promise. Later this month, the Alfa Giulia will be shown to the public at an expo in Milan while development continues at a ‘secret location’ near Modena.
Alfa claim the new Giulia will be sold on character and emotion. It will embody the same spirit and DNA as the 4C and be an alternative to the ‘boring and clinical German cars.’ Worn-out marketing fluff we’ve heard before and in the past has come to very little fruition.
The Alfa Giulia has been in the works for over six years with much of the delay coming from a late minute decision to switch to rear-wheel drive. Further to this, some believe styling indifferences were also ironed out over the same period. Expect only minor changes to the rendered image above.
Working at a nearby factory to Modena, it comes as no surprise that the Alfa Giulia will share several components with the recently launched Maserati Ghibli. Another slice of cross sharing comes in the form of a new V6 engine of Ferrari origin. Sources believe it could be the same engine that will eventually power the upcoming Ferrari Dino. No estimates of capacity or power output have been leaked at this stage. An evolution of the current 4-cylinder 1750 engine, as used in the Giulietta and 4C, will make up the majority of sales.
Very little else is known about the Alfa Giulia, although people close to the project have hinted that it won’t feature any form of autonomous driving – an area of rampant development by German carmakers. Alfa believe such features detract from the brand’s emotional appeal.
The Alfa Giulia will be followed by a Sportwagon (unlikely for SA) with an SUV tipped to be the next new model, followed by a sportscar with broader appeal than the 4C. The Alfa Giulia is expected to go on sale in 2016, but we won’t be holding our breath on that.
