Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio updated

A facelifted Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio has been revealed in an attempt to head-off new competition in the shape of the all-new BMW M3 due in 2021.

The subtle updates for 2020, which follow the facelift for mainstream Giulia models and mirror those seen on the MY20 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio SUV also revealed overnight, include a pair of revised and darkened LED tail-lights and the new option of a carbon-fibre radiator grille, mirror caps and rear spoiler.

Inside, the most powerful Giulia gets a new dash and centre console that have been re-trimmed. A new premium leather steering wheel, gear lever and perforated leather seat trim are also introduced to the cabin.

Perhaps the most welcome addition is an updated version of the standard car's 8.8-inch touch-screen infotainment system.

Other new tech for the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio includes the introduction of semi-autonomous driving aids like lane-keep assist, active blind-spot assist, active cruise control and traffic sign recognition.

The updates mean the Giulia Q now has Level 2 autonomous driving capability, enabling the Italian sports sedan to auto-steer, brake and accelerate on the highway.New performance options for the fast Alfa four-door include a titanium quad-pipe Akrapovic exhaust that features carbon-fibre outlets.

As well as being significantly lighter, the new pipes are said to feature a valve in the rear silencers that offer the choice of a quiet mode, if required.

New paint colours also come online with the updates, including the fetching metallic green you can see here, which is said to pay tribute to the 1970s Alfa Romeo Montreal.

Under the bonnet, engineers have left the twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 well alone. That means the 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio still produces a big 375kW of power and 600Nm of torque, fed to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic.

That's enough for a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 3.9 seconds and a 307km/h top speed.

In Europe, first deliveries of the updated Giulia Quadrifoglio begin towards the end of this year, but Alfa Romeo Australia is yet to confirm the local release of any MY20 Giulia or Stelvio models.