Revitalised Alfa Romeo offerings to reignite the soul

It's easy to forget what motoring used to be like. In the fast-paced times that we find ourselves in, fewer are embracing the art of driving and the joy that can be derived from connecting with a machine with a thousand moving parts. We've become so accustomed to travelling in comfort, silence, and at speed, that the novelty of such interactions with complex machinery has been lost along the way.

If you're reading this, I hope that you have even a slight interest in driving. Driving less for the destination and more for the experience of motion, mobility and freedom. Cars provide us with all of that, but the drudgery of daily commutes with a purpose in mind has watered down the passion. Alfa Romeo hasn't forgotten about those of us that still catch ourselves wondering who allowed us to climb behind the wheel and commandeer this chunk of metal, rubber and glass at a pace that the human body was not designed for.

Related: Is the Alfa Romeo Giulia good for families? Here’s our verdict.

Alfa Romeo charged head-first into the D-segment sedan category with the Giulia in 2017 and this was followed by the firm's first SUV, the Stelvio. Four years have passed and now, in the company's 111th year of existence, the duo have received a mid-lifecycle refresh, receiving contemporary tech and a raft of cosmetic enhancements to further bolster the brand's presence in South Africa, now under the Stellantis group's control.

 

Giulia

When I first drove the Giulia in 2017 I revelled in the design, engineering and execution of the model. At this launch, I sampled the 2.0-litre Super as well as the fire-breathing Giulia QV with its Ferrari-derived 2.9-litre twin-turbo powerplant. While the QV was a mind-altering experience, it was the Super that really left a mark. Here was a car that had so many of the handling characteristics and dynamics of the QV, in a package that makes sense to the layman. The new Giulia Veloce is no different for 2021.

 

Exterior

The Giulia Veloce is the replacement for the Super grade and will be the only derivative offered alongside the Quadrifoglio Verde. This model has been tweaked ever so slightly to keep it looking fresh and attractive - not that that is very hard as the lines of the Giulia remain achingly beautiful with stunning proportions and design elements that are ageing exceptionally well. This really is a beautiful piece of automotive art. 

 

A reprofiled front bumper sees the front air dams enlarged and the supporting structure for the Alfa Romeo shield grille thinned out for a more sporty look. The surrounding elements of the shield grill are now finished off in a gloss black and frame the redesigned Alfa Romeo badge. Bi-Xenon headlights with LED DRL elements keep the Giulia looking modern and sprightly while new Sport 2 19-inch alloy wheels adorn the corners and are finished in gloss black with high-polished accents to emphasise their size.

At the rear, the back bumper sees the addition of a new diffuser element replete with dark black dual-exit exhaust tips. We drove a white example and loved how the black badges, black roof and gloss black surrounding trims contrasted with the white paint.

 

Interior

The interior has seen a health injection of additional technology with the infotainment system being the most noticeable change. While the screen real estate remains unchanged at 8.8-inches, it's the operating system and functionality that strike a chord. Now equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the system features a widget-based function access menu with various vehicle parameters and audio controls listed on a single screen. Simple and intuitive, it complements the 7-inch colour display nestled between the two analogue gauges of the cluster. Where most have switched to a purely digital offering, Alfa has opted to remain traditional and it's refreshing to see an actual needle sweep the tachometer.

Wireless charging and dual-zone automatic climate control further enhance the functionality and comfort of the interior and the leather sports seats are both height adjustable and electric in their operation.

 

Drive

It's still the same 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged mill that rests under the vented bonnet, producing 206 kW and 400 Nm to give the Veloce a sprint time of 5.7-seconds and a top speed of 240 km/h. It will yield a claimed, combined cycle fuel consumption of 8.4-l/100km as it sends its power to the rear wheel through a carbon fibre prop shaft and 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox. Thanks to the DNA driving modes (Dynamic, Normal, and Advanced Efficiency) the ZF 'box remains one of the best executions of this format with silky shifts in Normal mode or punchy, purposeful shifts and glorious downshifts in Dynamic mode with the aid of column-mounted aluminium shift paddles.

 

Alfa went back to the drawing board and have redesigned the rear suspension for the 2021 model year to improve handling dynamics and improve mechanical traction through the turns. Combined with the near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution and turbocharged thump from the engine, the Giulia remains one of the most satisfying drives in the segment at any speed on virtually any surface. 

Additional safety features were also plumbed into the architecture with the Giulia sporting Blind Spot Alert, Lane Keep Assist, Park Assist and Forward-Collision Assist with Automatic Braking. Active Cruise Control alleviates some of the frustration of driving in traffic and helps the Giulia morph from an exciting, engaging sports sedan to a comfortable cruiser that you can use every day.

 

Stelvio

I'm almost embarrassed to admit that this was the first time was sampling the Stelvio. I had heard good things about this SUV and my peers lauded the Giulia-derived chassis and praised the handling characteristics of this practical SUV offering. Much like the Giulia, the Stelvio has received minor updates and a fresh new complement of tech to help thrust it into the garages of the connoisseur. 

 

Exterior

The changes to the Stelvio are slightly less apparent with the major difference between the existing version and this new model being the wheel and colour options. The 20-inch wheels sport a similar design and finish as those found on the Giulia and wear meatier 255/45R20 tyres to allow you to venture off the beaten path. You'll still get the same Italian styling and flair in a package that blends effortlessly into any occasion or situation.

LED DRLs and bi-Xenon headlights grace the front end while the rear wears a set of LED taillights that extend into the power tailgate that can be operated from within the cabin for both opening and closing.

 

Interior

The Stelvio gets the new infotainment system as well with its CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, complemented by wireless charging and dual-zone climate control. An additional 2 USB ports are available in the rear for passengers to allow them to keep their devices charged.

Climb inside the Stelvio and one is easily tricked into believing that they are behind the wheel of a Giulia sedan with the same design carried out throughout the cabin. Space is generous and the cavernous boot will swallow 525-litres of cargo and this is further extended to 1 600-litres with the rear seats folded.

 

Drive

With the same 2.0-litre powerplant and 8-speed ZF gearbox as the Giulia, the Stelvio is no slouch. While a 2.0-litre mill may seem small for such a large vehicle, it performs exceptionally well and won't leave you wanting for more. Thanks to the Alfa Romeo Q4 AWD system that is naturally RWD biased and can switch to a maximum of 50/50 torque split front to rear, the Stelvio has road manners and grip levels that will thrill.

 

This system is so effective that it manages to keep the sprint time of 5.7-seconds despite the additional heft of the SUV body. One can sense the higher centre of gravity but this is expertly offset by the additional traction and composure provided by the drive to all four wheels. Nevertheless, the Stelvio is the most sedan-like SUV drive that one can buy and makes perfect sense for the individual that still appreciates the driving artform.

Safety systems in the Stelvio are family-focused and one will find the same BSM, Lane Keep Assist, Attention Monitor, Park Assist, Active Cruise Control and will benefit from the addition of a Hill Descent Control. The Stelvio is a 5-star rated SUV.

 

Giulia QV and Stelvio Q

While not available for us to sample again, the team at Stellantis informs us that the Giulia QV and Stelvio Q, powered by the 375 kW 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 remains as exciting and visceral as ever before, now enhanced by the additional safety, tech and styling updates. These two will rocket to 100 km/h from a standstill in only 3.9 and 3.8-seconds respectively, the Stelvio benefitting even further from the AWD traction available.

The highly anticipated Giulia GTA and GTAm, a road-legal race-ready version of the Giulia, will be making their way to South Africa and Alfa Romeo is taking orders for these limited production run models with 5 orders confirmed already. Only 500 units will be produced worldwide and you'll have to act fast if you're wanting a slice of the action.

 

Pricing

Alfa Romeo prides itself on offering a full-house package with only limited options available. These options include colour choice, brake calliper colour and any cosmetic enhancements you wish to add from the Mopar catalogue.

Model	Price
Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce	R989 900
Alfa Romeo Giulia QV	R1 599 900
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Super	R1 159 900
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Q	R1 749 900