What’s the deal with Alfas? Growing up, a tall, curly-haired bloke told me you aren’t a true petrolhead unless you’ve owned an Alfa. But when he grew up, Alfas were fizzy little Italian stallions with bellowing V6s, pin-sharp chassis, and tailored cockpits. But when I grew up, Alfas were diesel barges that looked… alright, but never gave you that ‘wow factor’ when behind the wheel. Once GM came into the equation, sharing Fiat platforms and powertrain projects with noughties Alfas, the magic was kind of lost.
But come the turn of the decade, as the 2000s rolled into the 2010s, a small spark was ignited once more, perhaps even a twin-spark per se. Alfa began to reassert itself. Cars like the Giulietta and the 4C hinted at a rekindling of Alfa’s sporty spirit. Someone once said history repeats itself, I guess they must be right.
Fast forward to 2015, and Alfa Romeo made a bold comeback in the saloon market with the Giulia, finally giving BMW’s 3 Series some real competition. This one here is the Giulia Quadrifoglio 100th Anniversary, a punchy limited-edition variant capped at just 100 units. It has everything to get me excited: stunning 5-hole teledial wheels, the iconic four-leaf clover with a “100th Anniversario” badge, and enough power to make four out of five passengers physically uncomfortable.
But, in my opinion, the climax to this whole thing would be that jaw-dropping Montreal Green paintwork. The brain simply cannot comprehend this vivid shade that highlights Alfa’s blend of Italian style and performance, so much so that Alfa dealerships simply couldn’t hold back wallets.
But the truth is, the Giulia Quadrifoglio is a niche choice for most people looking for a performance saloon. Most gravitate towards Munich’s finest pack-a-punch Wunderwaffen or Stuttgart’s potent V8s. The 2.9-litre V6? A bit of a dark horse. But I assure you, the exhaust note of a Giulia Quadrifoglio, especially with the Akrapovič system that comes standard on the 100th Anniversary, easily outshines that of a G80 M3 or C63. It may dwell in the shadows of its German rivals, but for those who seek niche over mass, soul over standard, the Giulia Quadrifoglio sings a tune no other can compose.
Images courtesy of @carsbysimon on Instagram