Designed and engineered in only two years as a performance sedan, the Alfa Romeo Giulia QV served as the backbone of Alfa's modern development. Providing an effective tool against hostile German supersedans, the Giulia QV managed to combine a peerless style, worthy of the Alfa Romeo nameplate, and fabulous driving characteristics brushed under the watchful eye of Ferrari engineers. At a length of 182.6 inches, and weight of 3,360 pounds, it was well endowed with power and ready to take on the best from the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, subsequent electrical issues, transmission problems, and an unresponsive start/stop system cast a shadow of doubt on early reviews of the Giulia QV. Alfa Romeo revisited these issues and solved many of the problems. Best described by its incredible Nürburgring lap time of 7 minutes, 32 seconds (6 seconds quicker than the Porsche Panamera Turbo), the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio NRing Edition further intensifies its racing prowess.

The 1936 Berlin Olympics had only one thing to prove - that the Germans were superior to anyone else. They failed in the attempt when Jesse Owens took four gold medals right there in Nazi Germany. However, a year before the first live broadcast Olympics, Nürburgring hosted a race that had much the same pretensions as the Berlin Olympics - to show the world that Germans are superior. Considering exceptional Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union machines driven by the best racing drivers in from Germany, I believe that much of the world was on the verge of believing them.

However, in front of the attendance of 300,000, among which stood the most prominent Nazi officers, Tazio Nuvolari drove the race of his life. Scuderia Ferrari entered three Alfa Romeo race cars driven by Tazio Nuvolari, Antonio Brivio, and Louis Chiron (you've heard his surname once or twice).

To give you some perspective on just how important this race was for the Nazi regime, I can tell you that the Nazi Party injected over 250,000 DM (Deutsche marks) into Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union per year. That's a bit more than $100,000 in 1935 U.S. dollars per year.

Replacing the Giulietta, it was a whole new breed of a racer that packed a punch to match and overwhelm any of the Grand Touring competition. From 1964 to 1970, Alfa Romeo managed to win 12 races on the Nürburgring in various classes and with multiple cars called or related with the Giulia:

-* 1964 ADAC Nürburgring 1000, Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ

-* 1965 Nürburgring 1000, Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ

-* 1966 Nürburgring 1000, Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ

-* 1966 6h Nürburgring, Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA win

-* 1967 6h Nürburgring, Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA, 1st, 2nd, 4th, in front of the 911

-* 1967 Rheinland-Pfalz Preis Nürburgring, Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA

-* 1967 DARM Nürburgring Mittelrhein, Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA, 1st, 2nd,

- 1969 Nurburgring, Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA

- 1970 Nurburgring, Alfa Romeo 1750 GTAM

- 1970 Nurburgring, Alfa Romeo 1750 GTAM

- 1970 Nurburgring, Alfa Romeo 1750 GTAM

- 1970 Nurburgring, Alfa Romeo 2000 GTAM

Results like these clearly converted the Alfa Romeo into a sort of a Nurburgring legend. Alfas become synonymous with the track. Later on, race driver Ron Simons created something called the 75 Experience that enabled anyone to have an authentic Alfa Romeo experience on the Nurburgring. He managed a fleet of about 20-30 'Ring prepped Alfa Romeo 75s (Alfa Romeo Milano), and offered driving lessons on the 'Ring to anyone. The 75 Experience evolved into the RSR Nurburg that operates to this day and "provide race-prepped rental cars and top-notch instruction for the greatest racetrack on Earth."

Alfa Romeo had to tribute such a tremendous and incredible history at the most recognizable race track on the earth. They did so in 2013 when the Alfa Romeo 4C lapped the Nurburgring in 8 minutes and 3 seconds. Such result was enough to make the 4C the quickest car with less than 250 horsepower on the 'Ring. Then, it was the time for Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio Verde to make history. The Stelvio QV lapped it in 7 minutes and 51.7 seconds becoming the quickest SUV on the 'Ring. The Alfa Romeo Giulia QV managed to do it in 7 minutes and 32 seconds. It is the fastest sedan on the 'Ring. Interesting enough, I found out that back in 1974, Adamich and Facetti managed to lap the 'Ring with the Autodelda S.p.A. prepped Alfa Romeo T33/TT/12 in 7 minutes and 31.6 seconds.

Basically, Alfa Romeo road cars nowadays are doing what the Alfa Romeo race cars from the seventies regularly did.

This astonishing history shows why "the future belongs to those who have a great history." Alfa Romeo has a great history, and that is what makes the 2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio NRing Edition special.

The 2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio NRing Edition Quirks and Features:

-* 505-hp, twin-turbocharged, 2.9-liter V6

-* optional carbon-ceramic brakes

-* exclusive Circuito Gray matte-finish paint

-* black and red interior

-* the carbon-fiber center grille and mirror covers

-* red brake calipers

-* 19-inch wheels

-* Optional Sparco carbon-fiber bucket seats

-* 2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio NRing Edition price is $91,485. $15,895 more than the standard version

2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia & Stelvio Quadrifoglio specifications

Engine

2.9-Liter Twin Turbocharged

2.9-Liter Twin Turbocharged

Horsepower

505 HP @ 6,500 RPM

505 HP @ 6,500 RPM

Torque

443 LB-FT @ 2,500-5,500 RPM

443 LB-FT @ 2,500-5,500 RPM

0 to 60 mph

3.8 seconds

3.8 seconds

Top Speed

191 mph

176 mph


Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.

Read our speculative review on the 2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia Coupe.