Right now, the 4C is the only Alfa Romeo available in the US. According to Top Gear‘s Chris Harris in the video below, we have plenty of reasons to look forward to the new Giulia Quadrifoglio.
For being such a performance-focused, high-horsepower sport sedan, it’s surprisingly comfortable out on the road. In fact, its suspension is more forgiving than the one in the BMW M3. The Quadrifoglio is also less punishing to the ears, thanks to its lower level of tire noise.
On the track (Alfa’s own), the Quadrifoglio is down a few points compared to its German rivals because of its absence of connection and relative lack of low-down power. However, the Alfa’s turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 is more exciting at the top end of the power band. Its 443 lb-ft of torque make it a cinch to power-slide. The massive brakes easily keep all of that fun within the bounds of safety.
Ultimately, the Quadrifoglio definitely has room for improvement, but it’s highly enjoyable to Harris and gives us reason to want to see more than just 4Cs in dealerships and out on the road. We’re hoping to get our hands on one later this year to find out if it’s been worth waiting for.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
