What's this then?

This is the Alfa Romeo Giulia saloon, which we've already seen and learned about; however, Alfa is adding some interesting figures to it to as it displays the car for the first time in public, at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Specifically, it's talking about the hot Quadrifoglio version with its twin-turbo V6 engine, which is, kinda, a three-quarters Ferrari V8 turbo. Now, we already knew that it has 510hp, but how about its performance? Alfa is now claiming that it has a 0-62mph time of just 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 191mph - very, very serious figures. It also claims a sub-eight-minute lap time (actually 7 minutes 39 seconds) of the Nurburgring race track, a time that, if accurate, puts the Alfa in amongst some supercar royalty.

There are a few more tech details too. Like a Magnetti-Marelli-designed computer system that controls all aspects of the chassis from the torque split of the four-wheel drive system to the active suspension to the brakes to best harness all that power.

The driver's controls are either on a big 8.8-inch touchscreen that's also controlled by a touchpad, and any immediately necessary controls, such as the engine start button and the switch that alters the DNA sport mode switch, are mounted on the steering wheel, just like a Ferrari. Carbon brakes, which can apparently haul the Giulia down to standstill from 62mph in just 32 metres, are on the options list.

We'll get more details, many more, throughout the year as this ultimate Alfa doesn't go on sale for another 12 months.

Neil Briscoe - 15 Sep 2015