Alfa Romeo Giulia's bigger brother set to go on sale by 2018 and will take on the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class
The new model will feature a range of powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid and the company’s first-ever six-cylinder diesel. As it will be based on the same rear-wheel-drive platform as the recently launched Giulia saloon, it should share the engine range, including the four-cylinder diesel and petrol units, too.
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“We owe our investors a constant stream of new, fresh global products that can be sold,” Fiat Chrysler chief technology officer Harald Wester told Auto Express. “It will be a relatively fast sequence of relevant and saleable products like saloons and SUVs.”
The Giulia uses a 2.2-litre diesel with either 148bhp or 178bhp and a 2.0-litre petrol with 197bhp – and both are likely to appear in the larger saloon. Wester told us that the petrol engine has plenty of tuning potential, so it could even get a power boost to improve performance in the larger model.
Alfa’s tech chief also hinted that the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s
503bhp twin-turbo V6 engine could make an appearance, alongside the
company’s first-ever six-cylinder diesel. These additions would help it
compete with the likes of the Mercedes E-Class and 5 Series.
As with the Giulia, it’s likely to get an eight-speed automatic gearbox and a six-speed manual, although the UK-market version will be auto only. It’ll be priced in line with rivals, kicking off from around £35,000 for an entry-level diesel. The 5 Series rival is expected to follow the upcoming Stelvio SUV, as part of the brand’s rebirth over the next four years.
The platform is brand new and is able to support many applications, which means the new model will also get a plug-in hybrid version. Alfa Romeo Europe boss Fabrizio Curci told us we’ll start to see electrification around 2018. “The platform is built to support whatever kind of electrification we do,” he said. “It can support everything from plug-in hybrid to full electric.” The platform also supports four-wheel drive, and even semi-autonomous driving, which is set to appear on the large saloon.
The 5 Series rival will be a core part of Alfa Romeo’s plan for a new model range by 2020 (see below). We’re unlikely to see the new big saloon until around 2018, as the next car from the brand will be the Stelvio SUV. That car will also get the same range of engines as the Giulia, which could even include the hot 503bhp V6.
Wester told us that “speciality models have to be part of the plan, as they are what made Alfa Romeo iconic. It’s possible for the Quadrifoglio engine to fit into the SUV. There is a market for it, but it’s very small.”
Alfa bosses are tightlipped on what other speciality models are on the way, but Curci is interested in developing the 4C. He said: “We are thinking of how to do a special version, but not a Cloverleaf. We are thinking of what to do, but it won’t change the DNA – a different look and feel, maybe.
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