BMW M3 Competition Drag Races Tuned Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, Sadly Accepts Defeat

Pictured in black, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio makes 620 metric ponies and heaven knows how much torque from a 2.9-liter V6. From the factory, the Ferrari-derived sixer makes 510 ps (503 horsepower) and 600 Nm (442 pound-feet) of torque. Over at BMW, the M3 Competition's M-specific S58 develops the same kind of power as Alfa Romeo's V6 and 650 Nm (479 pound-feet).

The Italian automaker claims 3.8 seconds to 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour), whereas Munich's favorite son advertises the rear-drive M3 Competition with 3.8 seconds. Opting for M xDrive improves the 0-60 acceleration time to 3.4 clicks, which is utterly insane for a car this heavy. The pictured M3 Competition is rear-wheel drive and weighs around 1,730 kilograms (3,814 pounds).

As for the Giulia Quadrifoglio, the curb weight is 1,620 kilograms (3,571 pounds) for pre-facelift models in European spec. Quite a bit lighter than the M3 Competition, the Giulia Quadrifoglio is running performance-oriented rubber from Hankook at every corner. The Bimmer flaunts Michelin tires out back and – weirdly – Pirelli rubber in the front.

Both cars are running the 8HP torque-converter automatic from ZF, an eight-speed transmission introduced on the F01/F02 generation of the 7 Series in 2008. The Giulia Quadrifoglio was originally available with a manual in Europe, but it was sadly discontinued a few short years ago.

The M3 Competition clocked 11.9 seconds in the quarter mile twice, but improved on its 0-100 time from 3.9 to 4.1 seconds in the second of two dig races. To whom it may concern, 100 kilometers per hour is 62 miles per hour. The Giulia Quadrifoglio may have lost the first race (12.04 and 4.4 seconds), but its owner made amends in the second race, clocking 11.6 in the quarter mile and 3.7 to 100.

KaRace also tests vehicles from a 50-kph roll, with 50 kilometers per hour converting to 31 miles per hour. Not surprising in the least, the 620-ps Giulia Quadrifoglio made easy work of the 510-ps M3 Competition. The only metric that matters to the peeps at KaRace from a rolling start is the pull from 100 to 200 kilometers per hour (62 to 124 miles per hour), with the Giulia Quadrifoglio recording 7.9 seconds compared to 8.6 for the M3 Competition.

Had it been completely stock, the Alfa Romeo may have been defeated by the BMW. In addition to being dishonest – in the good sense of the word – about its output ratings, BMW is in a league of its own in terms of launch control. These should offset the heavier curb weight of the M3 Competition in a race. Motor did race an M3 Competition against a stock Giulia Quadrifoglio back in May 2021, and surely enough, the BMW asserted dominance.

Due to Alfa Romeo's electric push, the Giulia is living on borrowed time. An electric successor is due in 2025 for model year 2026, and hearsay suggests 1,000 ponies for the Quadrifoglio. The M3 is also getting an EV spinoff at some point in the future, but fret not because the G80 will continue production until February 2027. A combustion-engined successor is also possible after the G50 3 Series lands in 2026 for model year 2027. This yet-unconfirmed M3 is reportedly codenamed G84.