Alfa Romeo->ke1386 is gearing up for the release of its latest baby, the Giulia->ke3472. It’s a long time coming considering rumors on the car have been around for quite some time now. But in the classic case of ‘better late than never’, the new Giulia, which is expected to hit the production line at the tail end of 2012, is now further along in its development. This poses as great news for fans of the Italian marquee while on the flip side, the sports sedan's forthcoming release should be a cause for concern from some of its German rivals, particularly BMW->ke178 and Audi->ke14.
For a brand that has seen its recent struggles, Fiat is hoping that Alfa Romeo's new Giulia sports sedan will be the car that will help the Italian brand recover its place in the auto industry. It's a tall order for a sports sedan given the stiff competition it's going to face in the market once it's released, but nevertheless, Alfa Romeo is confident that they have found the car that will lead them back to prominence in the 2012 Giulia.
UPDATE 04/13/2011: It seems Fiat-Chrysler CEO, Sergio Marchionne, is unhappy with the design for the new Giulia so Alfa Romeo may have to wait until 2013 to make its return to the U.S. We've waited this long, what's a few more months?
Details on the Alfa Romeo Giulia after the jump.
2013 Alfa Romeo Giulia
- Make: Array
- Model: 2013 Alfa Romeo Giulia
- Engine/Motor: Pentastar 3.3-liter V6 engine with MultiAir technology
- Horsepower: approximately 300 horsepower
- [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Exterior and Interior
Alfa Romeo has already made it known that the 2012 Alfa Romeo Giulia will have a new platform altogether in the form of the 'C-Evoluzione'. This particular chassis will come with a longer wheelbase that should make the car have shorter aerodynamic overhangs and a newer and more sophisticated suspension system.
On the flip side, not a lot has been divulged on the new Giulia’s design language, but from what we’ve gathered, the 159->ke1912 successor will be given the same design look as that of the MiTo->ke3111 and the Giulietta->ke3589. Among the short list of notable features we've unearthed are a sharp and aggressive front end with Alfa’s long-standing inverted triangle grille, LED headlamps, a road-hugging bodykit, and a set of 19” wheels.
Performance
The next-generation Giulia is expected to come in a variety of engines, including petrol options ranging from a turbocharged 1.4-liter with 118 horsepower and 168 horsepower to a 1.8-liter variant with 200 horsepower under its hood. Diesel variants are also scheduled to be offered with performance outputs lying somewhere from 104 horsepower to 200 horsepower.
In addition to that, another version of the Giulia is expected to be outfitted with the Brera’s 1750 TBi powerplant producing 200 horsepower. A top-spec Cloverleaf version will also be likely to carry a Pentastar 3.3-liter V6 engine with MultiAir technology and direct fuel injection, and possibly 300 horsepower under its hood.
Pricing
Pricing for the new Giulia is yet to be determined, but look for it to be somewhere around $35,000.
Competition
For all intents and purposes, the new Giulia is looking to become a contender in a market that includes the BMW 3-Series and the Audi S5.->ke2297 Both vehicles look to be significant foils to the forthcoming Cloverleaf version of the Giulia and it's Pentastar 3.3-liter V6 engine with around 300 horsepower. With the 3-Series coming with its 3.0-liter “N54” twin-turbocharged inline-six engine that produces 320 horsepower and the S5 coming with a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine that produces 333 horsepower, these two cars are almost certain to put up some stiff competition for the 2012 Giulia. Not that we're complaining because in the end, you really can't go wrong with any of these cars.