Photo: Alfa Romeo
Alfisti from the United Kingdom now have two reasons to rejoice. Their favorite car brand is celebrating a little over 90 years since the Quadrifoglio Verde emblem has been born. Thus, Alfa Romeo is releasing updated versions of the Giulietta QV hot hatchback and MiTo QV subcompact, slated to hit U.K. showrooms a mere month from now on.
Just like Mercedes-Benz has its AMG and BMW has its M division, high performance versions of Alfa Romeo models are adorned with Quadrifoglio Verde badges from head to toe. After making their world debut at this year's Geneva Motor Show, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV and MiTo QV are almost ready to show fans of the breed that driving pleasure and performance heritage can be combined with everyday practicality and a tad of efficiency as well.
So what updates have been operated by Italian engineers on these all-new Quadrifoglio Verde models? Starting with the quirky MiTo, Alfa Romeo's fastest B-segment model is a 136 mph pocket rocket fitted with a 1.4-litre MultiAir turbocharged petrol unit that churns out 170 horsepower and 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) of torque, all while returning a 10 percent better fuel economy than its predecessor.
The small mill under the beautifully sculpted bonnet is mated to the six-speed Alfa TCT twin dry clutch transmission. It's more or less the same unit that equips the Alfa Romeo 4C mid-engined two-seater sports car, but the biggest news as far as the MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde is concerned is that it comes with steering-wheel paddle shifters and reduces the 0 - 62 mph (100 km/h) sprint to a brisk 7.3 seconds.
Some highlight aesthetic enhancements worth mentioning are the new matte finish Magnesio Grey exterior body colour, a burnish finish on exterior elements such as the 18-inch alloy wheels, door handles, mirror and light cluster surrounds, as well as a revised sports rear bumper that integrates twin chrome tailpipes. Don't believe for a moment that the Alfa Romeo MiTo QV is just an overpowered subcompact. Other standard features that enhance the enjoyment in real world driving situations are the intelligent adaptive suspension system, four-piston Brembo brakes, a flat-bottom sports steering wheel and a Competizione carbon-look dashboard design.
Fabric seats with white and green stitching are also on the menu, as well as an Uconnect 5-inch touchscreen multimedia system with features such as TomTom satellite navigation, DAB digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity for your smartphone, audio streaming capability and MP3 playback via USB port. Set to make its official U.K. debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed later this month, British order books will open this July with the cheapest model priced at £20,210 OTR (€25,050 at current exchange rates).
Moving on to its bigger brother, the updated Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde shares the same 240 horsepower 1.75-litre turbocharged mill as the Alfa Romeo 4C that boasts an all-aluminum block and direct-injection technology. Compared to the outgoing model, this new Giulietta QV gets an upgraded launch control system that aids in propelling the Italian hatchback to 62 mph in 6 seconds dead, 0.8 seconds better than before.
Similar to what Ford uses on some of its hi-performance models, the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV gets a "QV Intake Engine Sound" system, which is basically an intake sound resonator that in theory makes the turbocharged mill sound more exciting. The car's passionate and sporty nature is further enhanced by 320mm brake discs adorned with fiery red Brembo calipers, two large exhaust pipes, leather and Alcantara one-piece backrest wraparound front seats, contrasting stitching everywhere and those 240 horsepower and 250 lb-ft (340 Nm) of torque of the 1.75-liter turbo petrol engine.
Both the Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV and MiTo QV retain the Italian carmaker's DNA driving selector switch, which employs different throttle, transmission and steering settings depending on whatever mood the driver is in, pretty much like it did before. As for pricing, the Giulietta in Quadifoglio Verde guise will set you back £28,120 OTR (€34,900) or £30,280 OTR (€37,585) for the limited run Launch Edition.
For more info on the updated QV models, check out the press release below. If that's a little too much dough for your budget and you plan on searching the classifieds for a low-mileage second-hand Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde, then be sure to read our review of the model before you part with your hard-earned pounds.
So what updates have been operated by Italian engineers on these all-new Quadrifoglio Verde models? Starting with the quirky MiTo, Alfa Romeo's fastest B-segment model is a 136 mph pocket rocket fitted with a 1.4-litre MultiAir turbocharged petrol unit that churns out 170 horsepower and 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) of torque, all while returning a 10 percent better fuel economy than its predecessor.
The small mill under the beautifully sculpted bonnet is mated to the six-speed Alfa TCT twin dry clutch transmission. It's more or less the same unit that equips the Alfa Romeo 4C mid-engined two-seater sports car, but the biggest news as far as the MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde is concerned is that it comes with steering-wheel paddle shifters and reduces the 0 - 62 mph (100 km/h) sprint to a brisk 7.3 seconds.
Some highlight aesthetic enhancements worth mentioning are the new matte finish Magnesio Grey exterior body colour, a burnish finish on exterior elements such as the 18-inch alloy wheels, door handles, mirror and light cluster surrounds, as well as a revised sports rear bumper that integrates twin chrome tailpipes. Don't believe for a moment that the Alfa Romeo MiTo QV is just an overpowered subcompact. Other standard features that enhance the enjoyment in real world driving situations are the intelligent adaptive suspension system, four-piston Brembo brakes, a flat-bottom sports steering wheel and a Competizione carbon-look dashboard design.
Fabric seats with white and green stitching are also on the menu, as well as an Uconnect 5-inch touchscreen multimedia system with features such as TomTom satellite navigation, DAB digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity for your smartphone, audio streaming capability and MP3 playback via USB port. Set to make its official U.K. debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed later this month, British order books will open this July with the cheapest model priced at £20,210 OTR (€25,050 at current exchange rates).
Moving on to its bigger brother, the updated Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde shares the same 240 horsepower 1.75-litre turbocharged mill as the Alfa Romeo 4C that boasts an all-aluminum block and direct-injection technology. Compared to the outgoing model, this new Giulietta QV gets an upgraded launch control system that aids in propelling the Italian hatchback to 62 mph in 6 seconds dead, 0.8 seconds better than before.
Similar to what Ford uses on some of its hi-performance models, the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV gets a "QV Intake Engine Sound" system, which is basically an intake sound resonator that in theory makes the turbocharged mill sound more exciting. The car's passionate and sporty nature is further enhanced by 320mm brake discs adorned with fiery red Brembo calipers, two large exhaust pipes, leather and Alcantara one-piece backrest wraparound front seats, contrasting stitching everywhere and those 240 horsepower and 250 lb-ft (340 Nm) of torque of the 1.75-liter turbo petrol engine.
Both the Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV and MiTo QV retain the Italian carmaker's DNA driving selector switch, which employs different throttle, transmission and steering settings depending on whatever mood the driver is in, pretty much like it did before. As for pricing, the Giulietta in Quadifoglio Verde guise will set you back £28,120 OTR (€34,900) or £30,280 OTR (€37,585) for the limited run Launch Edition.
For more info on the updated QV models, check out the press release below. If that's a little too much dough for your budget and you plan on searching the classifieds for a low-mileage second-hand Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde, then be sure to read our review of the model before you part with your hard-earned pounds.
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