Alfa Romeo Giulia Q 8-Speed Auto Sets 7:32 Nurburgring Record, Porsche to Reply

Fitted with an automatic tranny, the Giulia was able to go round the Green Hell in 7:32. This not only shaves 7 seconds off its manual gearbox Ring time, but it also means the Italians have thrown the gauntlet to Porsche.

As you might remember, the 2017 Panamera Turbo roasted the manual Giulia Q earlier this year, setting a time of 7:38. Zuffenhausen did see the 503 hp (510 PS) Giulia's present record coming, though - with Nurburgring records not being sanctioned by any official body, the two sedans don't "officially" compete, as Porsche mentioned the Panamera set a Ring record for the fastest luxury sedan.

With or without the said particle associated to the Giulia Q's 7:32 record, the war is far from over. Why? Simply because Porsche still has the Panamera Turbo S ace up its sleeve.

We'll remind you that, before the second-gen Panamera was launched, Porsche let it slip that its new sedan would be able to lap the infamous German track as fast as its "previous super-sports" car - was the automaker referring to the 7:28 Carrera GT? We'll probably get to find out once the Turbo S joins the line-up. However, this is one complicated riddle, as the 997-generation 911 Turbo S sits at 7:32, while the just-as-997 GT2 is a 7:31 car.

Interestingly, the two Giulia and the Panamera share the same gearbox supplied. However, while the Giulia Q packs a torque converter ZF 8-speed auto capable of delivering sub-100ms shifts in its Race Mode, Porsche uses a dual-clutch 8-speed box dubbed PDK II.

Unlike Porsche, though, the Italian automaker did provide the full lap footage. And we can see the Alfa male behind the paddle shifters, test driver Fabio Francia, having an intense time - the sharp oversteer correction moment at the 1:48 point should be an example as good as any.

Stepping outside the Alfa Romeo-Porsche battle, we'll satisfy your comparo thirst by mentioning the Giulia Q is now as quick as a 2016 Mustang Shelby GT350R.