With so many models debuting at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, it’s easy for something like the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio to get lost in the shuffle. But as a fan of the hatchback, I’m not going to let this moment pass without at least acknowledging something that Alfa Romeo did right for a change.

The truth is, the Giulia is probably Alfa’s best chance at making an impression in the market. The 4C, as awesome as I thought it was, has been a massive disappointment for the company. The Mito has barely made a blip and the Stelvio SUV is still a few years away from arriving. So the Giulia is really what Alfa Romeo has going for it, and the more variants it has, the better the automaker is for it.

That’s where the Giulia Veloce comes into the picture. As the mid-range model slotted between the base Giulia and the range-topping Giulia Quadrifoglio, the Giulia Veloce finds itself in a place that can appeal to those who want more power out of their Giulias but don’t necessarily have the inclination or the money to afford the Giulia QV. The Giulia Veloce even holds its own in the power department, thanks to a pair of engines options, including a 2.0-liter turbocharged gas engine that pumps out 280 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Refinements on the exterior and interior of the sedan round out the features of the Giulia Veloce.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce isn’t the most important car to hit Paris, but it sure is that and more for Alfa Romeo.

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

The Giulia Veloce is an important model for Alfa Romeo

I like the idea of a bridge model separating the standard Giulia and the Quadrifoglio variants with a mid-range model that adds more variety to the Giulia lineup. It makes a lot of sense when you consider two things.

The first is the importance of the Giulia to Alfa Romeo's fortunes. I can't think of any other model that's as important to a brand like the Giulia is to Alfa Romeo. Simply put, the Giulia has to hold down the fort for the beleaguered automaker until the Stelvio arrives, and even then, there's no guarantee that the SUV is going to be a hit in its own right.

Then there's the segment that the Giulia finds itself in. Other than the SUV industry, no market is as competitive as the premium compact sedan. If the Giulia wants to be successful, it has to hold its own against the likes of the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class, and Audi A4, and the other premium compact sedans coming from Lexus and Infiniti. It's a tough market to be in, and the Giulia, for all of the positive reviews it has received, needs all the help it can get. Alfa Romeo is banking on the Veloce mid-range trim to do that.

Read our full review on the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia here.

Read our full review on the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce here.

Read our full review on the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia QV here.