And they always will be. Alfa planned yearly production is 400,000 units (IIRC) of all models. Mercedes production is ~2million units, BMW ~1.5 million units. They compete in the same section but Alfa are not trying to match the sales figures of the Germans.
I wouldn't mind driving this daily Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yes it is a very sharp looking car, not having the 6 speed kinda kills it for me though. Maybe a used one in 3 yrs or so. Just realized thats not even the Q.
They have a manual. But the QFs (at least the first ones) aren't coming in that way. What's interesting is the British press likes the paddle better.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has announced it will bring the Alfa Romeo brand to China. Imports are set to start next year with local production planned for the near future. Alfa Romeo has been in China before. In the early 00’s some models were sold via Fiat dealers but sales were slow and Alfa Romeo pulled out in 2006. It went silent until 2011 when the brand had a big booth at the Guangzhou Auto Show and announced its imminent return. But that never happened and Alfa stayed away - in typical FCA style, just like when they announced and postponed the arrival of Alfa Romeo into the United States many times over. Some of the high end models like the 8C and 4C were and are available in China via the gray market, mostly imported from the United States, but that amounts for at most a dozen units a year. This time it's going to be different; Alfa Romeo will come and stay. The plan however is rather complicated and bound to create some confusion among buyers. FCA will start with importing the Giulia Sedan and Stelvio SUV. They will be sold via Maserati dealers. In the meantime Alfa Romeo will set up its own dealer network; their plan is to have 50 dealers ready at the end of next year. When that is done the cooperation with Maserati will end and Alfa Romeo will sell just via its own network. Further in the future but with no specific date announced, Alfa Romeo will start local production of the Giulia and Stelvio at the Guangzhou Fiat-Chrysler joint venture. This company currently makes the Fiat Viaggio, Fiat Ottimo, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Liberty, and will soon add the Jeep Compass.
What happened to Italian made......SM is such a liar...... And that dealer network sounds like a joke, just like in North America... FIAT needs to stop screwing the dealers daily! The Giulia will have to sell itself at this rate as so few good dealers exist in new markets they are trying to push into.
This is the way the Ghibli/Quattroporte family should have looked, but without the Ferrari grill!!! Sort of Ferrari/Maserati/Tesla. Instead it looks more like an Infiniti, wich is not bad but not great either. I am a customer who will never buy a Ghibli because it does not stand out enough and I think it is to long. I will most likely buy a Giulia because it is sportier and handles better. Scratch 1 Ghibli sale to the Giulia. Image Unavailable, Please Login
If you know anything about the Chinese market, you know that to compete you have to build cars there. The Chinese have a 110% importation tax on all vehicles imported there. So, Euro, Japanese and American makers have plants there to make cars for the Chinese market. None are exported. I'm no fan of Mr. Sweater but this is the only way they can compete in this market. It's a good move as the stronger the brand world-wide, the more new products we will see to support it.
Not just the British press...everyone who has ever driven one including some top line racing drivers...
Correct. e.g. Chinese sales of GM's Buick are 5:1 over USA sales. 2016 Jan-Oct: China: 984 022# - USA: 189 813# Chinese made Alfa Romeos will help boost FCA's profits, which will help A/R research and development for improved models.
Doesn't matter which is better. A true, now getting older, Alfisti wants to change his/her own gears, therefore wants the 6 speed manual. We don't give a stuff about how fast the change is, etc. Pete
I would buy a 6 speed for this car if I could. But not all manuals are better. I had a Corvette C7 with a 7 speed manual box. I really disliked it. There are good manuals and bad manuals.
How is it possible to make a bad manual nowadays? Alfa, FIAT, Ferrari, Lancia and Maserati have been making manual gearboxes for flippin years. Note I assume when you say bad manuals, you mean bad gear change? Triumphs had horrid gear changes, but no car since 2000 has had a horrid gear change, none. Unexciting but not horrid. Pete
@PSK Alfa Romeo Australia this morning confirmed the Giulia will be available from February in four variants – Giulia, Super, Veloce and range-topping Quadrifoglio. However, we are still awaiting final Australian pricing details. 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Key Specifications: ◾Entry-level model powered by 147kW/330Nm 2.0 litre four-cylinder petrol engine. ◾Eight-speed automatic transmission standard across range. ◾Giulia standard features include Forward Collision Warning and autonomous emergency braking, leather upholstery, 18” alloy wheels, bi-Xenon headlamps, sat-nav, rear parking sensors and reverse camera. ◾Giulia Super available with 2.0 litre petrol, or 132kW/450Nm 2.2 litre turbo-diesel. ◾Added spec in Giulia Super includes a higher grade of leather, powered driver’s seat, active cruise control, heated steering wheel, and blind spot monitoring. ◾Giulia Veloce powered by 206kW/400Nm 2.0 litre turbo-petrol engine ◾Added spec in Giulia Veloce includes Alfa SDC adjustable suspension, limited-slip rear differential, 19” alloy wheels, uprated brakes, aluminium dash inserts and pedals, sports leather seats/steering wheel, and premium sound system. ◾Range-topping Giulia Quadrifoglio powered by 375kW/600Nm twin-turbo V6 engine. ◾Added spec in QV model includes sports body-kit, 19” alloy wheels, upgraded leather interior, aluminium and carbon-fibre cabin highlights, electric front seats, Harmon Kardon 14-speaker sound system, larger 8.8” multimedia. Looks like no Manual / Stick-shift models!
Manual is not available in any RHD market on the Giulia, so no surprises there. The launch stock for Australia is already in production, over 180 cars made. USA and Canada vehicle production keeps progressing at a pretty good pace, too.
Drive the C7 and you'll find out. It has 7 speeds so the pattern is confusing. You try to go into 5th and you end up with 7th. You try to downshift from 7th to 6th and you end up in 4th. Stuff like that. Also the have this idiotic fuel saving mechanism that literally locks you out of going from 1 -2 and instead goes 1st to 4th under certain circumstances. You are actually fighting with the damn thing to go into 2nd. Today's fuel mileage and emission requirements are screwing up manual boxes.
Sounds absolutely terrible. My 156v6 6 speed box has a logical preference for the 3rd and 4th plane, so a light force in ever direction is required for 1-2 or 5-6. Lovely box. Nail hit. But what happened to buyers choice? Anyway, I'll never buy one as too many automatic electronic BS devices, like auto braking, etc. I purchase cars not computers that happen to have 4 wheels. I guess I will stick to my rule and not go anymore modern than my 156. Pete
Which will over a 3 year period will depreciate harder? The Alfa guilia or the jaguar XE ? Race to the bottom? Sorry but this segment is all about lease costs over 36 months...and BMW has that locked up .... Service on the Alfa could be an issue with limited dealerships for those outside metropolitan areas...
