MOTORS: What colour comes to mind when you hear the words 'Alfa Romeo'?
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What do you think of when you hear the name Alfa Romeo? Italian flair, styling and performance? Probably, but what about the colour red?
It’s a very red brand and not just in the cars.
Take their head of product in the UK, Rob Lake. He’s a self-confessed car restorer and collector of anything with wheels so he’s clearly in the right job. I’ve seen him several times address a briefing and in his grey suit he looks a bit like a stereotypical accountant. Below the ankle however he is renowned for his trademark bright red patent leather shoes which not only make a fashion statement but also get over the red Alfa image.
So I was delighted when I was handed the keys to one of the latest models of their great range, the much-celebrated and widely lauded Giulia, to find that it was cloaked in the traditional Alfa Red paintjob. Along with dark tinted rear windows and big 19-inch dark petal alloys it looked the part.
OK, it wasn’t the top-of-the-range Competizione version but I knew the Veloce -directly translated from the Italian for ‘rapid’ – had a reputation for being true to its name.
While Alfa have only fairly recently ventured into the electric market with some mild hybrid and plug-in versions, they say there’s still a huge demand for conventional internal combustion powered cars and they expect that to continue right up until new petrol and diesel vehicles are forced off the market in 2030, so they’re committed to coming up with those offerings for at least the foreseeable future.
The latest Giulia marks what they call a bold evolution of the model, modifying the look but maintaining the classic styling and making the driving experience even better.
It’s got a new front end, for the first time featuring 3+3 headlights, a reminder of the Alfa Romeo heritage but updated as full LED Adaptive Matrix versions which constantly adjust the dipped beam based on the speed and driving conditions to better light the road ahead. They also have glare-free high beam segmented technology to avoid dazzling other road users and are more efficient and use less energy.
There are also new front and lower air ducts, which have been given a modern reinterpretation of the famous Alfa Trilobo grille.
Inside, the latest technology combines with aluminium accents to reflect the Alfa driving experience. The historic ‘telescopic’ design is brought up to date through a new digital 12.3-inch TFT screen which presents all the information the driver needs. The display can be configured with three layouts. Evolved uses the central area of the screen, while Relax focuses on comfort and Heritage is inspired by the brand’s iconic Sixties’ and Seventies’ models, with distinctive details like inverted numbers at the end of the speedometer so they are always the right way up.
Apart from sporty touches, the Veloce has luxury features including heated sports leather memory front seats with 6-way electrical adjustment and heated steering wheel.
But it’s the driving experience which most Alfa owners will be looking for and they certainly won’t be disappointed.
Power to the rear wheels comes from a lively two-litre turbo petrol engine through 8-speed automatic transmission which is a delight or can be used as a manual through the huge aluminium gear change paddles on the steering column.
I really like the simple Alfa DNA selector, especially when in Dynamic setting where the car transforms into an urgent athlete, desperate to get going with greater response from the engine and gearbox.
The car feels well-balanced and agile no matter how much is demanded from it, thanks to perfect 50/50 weight distribution, superb aerodynamics and suspension and weight-savings measures. 15 kgs has been saved by making the driveshaft from carbon fibre.
But one thing is for sure. The cars may come in a range of colours but if you want a true Alfa, it definitely has to be red.
CAR: Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce 2.0 Turbo
PRICE: £47,759 (£48,109 as tested)
ENGINE: 1995cc petrol 8-speed auto
POWER: 280 HP
TORQUE: 400 Nm
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 149 mph 0-62mph 5.7 secs
ECONOMY: 38 mpg combined
CO2 EMISSIONS: 167 g/km
Want to read more car reviews from Alan Douglas? Check some of them out here.
