Alfa Romeo Giulia QV 2017 Track Review

We've written plenty about the importance of the Giulia to Alfa, which has ploughed billions into its all-new Giorgio platform that will not only underpin eight new models by 2020 (including coupe and convertible versions of the Giulia), but a host of Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and even Maserati models too.

We've also driven the mainstream models – which will be the volume sellers within not only the Giulia range but the entire Alfa family – enough to expect them to attract not only Alfa die-hards but a whole new audience of premium sports sedan buyers who mostly opt for German cars.

But there's no better measure of success than at the top-end, where the Giulia QV comes to a party hitherto dominated by generations of C 63 and M3 with rear-wheel drive and a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 packing 375Nm and 600Nm.

On paper, that's enough to match AMG's horsepower hero and, even if it doesn't make as much torque, it's lighter at just 1585kg and its 600 Newtons are available over a broad 2500-5000rpm.

The result is a benchmark 0-100km/h acceleration claim of just 3.9sec, 307km/h top speed and a new Nurburgring production sedan record of just 7:32, outgunning the new Porsche Panamera Turbo at its own game.

Alas our first Australian drive of the QV consisted of a couple of four-lap squirts at Sydney Motorsport Park (we'll have a longer, on-road drive when mainstream Giulias arrive later this month), but it was enough to confirm the QV is, in fact, the real deal.

Some have criticised Alfa for not being more adventurous with the Giulia's design, but styling is subjective and there's no doubt it packs plenty of presence both close up and from a distance – especially in QV form.

That premium Italian theme continues inside, where even the standard Alcantara/leather sports seats are generous but supportive, outward vision is on par with anything in its class, and the quality of stitched leather and soft-touch materials is undoubted.

The only thing that felt cheap in the QVs we drove were the centre console controls – including the large rotary drive mode adjuster, which is a shame – and we're not fans of the Fiat group's steering column-mounted shift paddles, which aren't as easy to find in corners as traditional spoke-mounted paddles.

If you think we're clutching at straws here you're almost right, because there's very little else to complain about, except perhaps for the underwhelming engine note inside, even at full noise, which helps prevent the QV ever feeling as quick as it really is.

But there was no doubt about its pace at Eastern Creek, where it absolutely looked the part barrelling into turn one at near 250km/h with its raspy V6 turbo engine crackling on the overrun.

In short, despite its Monza dual-mode exhaust, the QV engine note is far more entertaining on the outside, but it's still not in the same league as Jaguar's blown V6, even if it likes an expensive diet of 98 RON premium unleaded.

That's where the complaints end, however, because the QV is a blast to drive at all speeds but especially quickly, delivering all of its astounding performance numbers without ever feeling ragged or, unlike Alfas of old, fragile.

There's plenty of power for the taking at any revs, but it's delivered without much lag and none of the M3/M4's peakiness. Instead there's responsive, linear power delivery right across the V6 turbo engine's 6500rpm rev range.

When cornering traction limits are exceeded its perfect 50:50 weight balance – aided by a carbon-fibre prop shaft, bonnet, roof, rear spoiler and side skirts – clever rear-wheel torque vectoring and limited-slip diff lend themselves to progressive, predictable oversteer.

Offering all the sure-footedness an M3 lacks when entering and exiting corners at the limit, the Giulia QV is agile without feeling unstable, enormously adjustable mid-corner and a doddle to drive fast, but never scary.

No doubt this is also aided by the active front splitter, which moves to alter air-flow and downforce at speeds beyond 120km/h, and vice-like grip of the bespoke 19-inch Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres (measuring 245/35 up front and a huge 285/30 out back).

Steering is light at parking speeds but firms up nicely at driving speeds, and even on the racetrack there was a noticeable reduction in roll steer in the performance damper setting.

Pedal feel from the massive 360/350mm six/four-piston (front/rear) Brembo brakes is another highlight, allowing you to dive into corners hard under brakes with plenty of steering lock on, even in 'Race' mode with the stability control off (it's never fully off, but even in Sport mode allows plenty of sideways action).

Safety is no longer a dirty word at Alfa either, with the Giulia boasting a five-star EuroNCAP crash rating (including a record 98 per cent rating for adult occupants) and all models coming standard with eight airbags, autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning (but not assist), blind-spot monitoring, active cruise control, auto high-beam bi-xenon headlights and a reversing camera.

Further boosting the value equation, other standard equipment includes keyless ignition, navigation, dual-zone climate-control, auto wipers, 7.0-inch TFT colour cluster instrument panel, 8.8-inch infotainment display with DAB+ and Bluetooth connectivity, eight-way power driver’s seat and 14-speaker Harmon Kardon sound.

Accompanying all these engine, chassis and equipment advances are a number of reassuring aftersales enticements clearly aimed at those for whom reliability and cost of ownership are key questions when it comes to Alfa ownership.

Chief among them are an above-par three-year/150,000km warranty, one-year/15,000km service intervals for petrol models (20,000km for diesels) and capped-price servicing which at $1380 for the base petrol model and $2300 for the QV over three years is very competitive.

Throw in a sub-$144,000 sticker price that makes it almost $12K cheaper than the top-selling C 63 and it's no surprise the Giulia QV is already a sell-out success Down Under.

Now for a longer drive on a good road, and to see if the cheaper Giulias are good enough to pose any serious threat to the German domination in this class.

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia QV pricing and specifications:
Price: $143,900 (plus on-roadcosts
Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Output: 375kW/600Nm
Fuel: 8.2L/100km
CO2: 189g/km
Safety rating: Five-star (Euro NCAP)