Mercedes-Benz can spend six years developing one of their cars before it sees the light of day. Volvo spent seven years on just the seats in the new XC90. So when it came to Italy’s hot new sedan, the 2016 Alfa Romeo Giulia, you would think they spent their due diligence, and they did. For just two-and-a-half years.
And since it’s being built by Italians, I’m sure it’ll be just fine.
The news comes to us from the Alfa’s chief engineer Philippe Krief by way of Car magazine, and the rear-wheel-drive stormer is basically the result of an earlier, front-wheel-drive idea that got thrown in the garbage.
It’s been previously reported that the Giulia’s allegedly “new” platform was adapted from the one that underpins the Maseratis Ghibli and Quattroporte, which would make some sense when considering the quick turnaround time.
From the story:
This 159 successor has been a long-time coming after numerous delays: the earlier front-wheel drive programme was canned in its entirety, deemed untrue to the brand after Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne ordered a more radical replacement. ‘You ask every car maker: doing a car in two years, everyone will tell you it’s not possible,’ says Krief. ‘The industry standard says four, the longest say five years, everywhere in the world. We had to do it in two and a half years. Marchionne said – and he’s right – the only way to achieve that is to be different.
And that’s the joy of Alfa. They look at the rest of the world, and no one says they can do a car in two years. Alfa completely ignores that because that’s ridiculous and probably correct. Sometimes their cars come out looking like they’re made out of unused condoms, but they’re great and perfect in every way.
Which is part of the reason why we’re in conniption fits with excitement over the new 510-horsepower Giulia. And the news of its, um, well, “speedy” development can only be a good thing. Because an Alfa simply isn’t an Alfa if it’s made properly. We can’t wait.
Other gems from the Car interview include the fact that Krief went straight from working on the Ferrari 458 program to the Giulia, and the car’s got a whole bunch of carbon fiber and active aerodynamics. Read the rest of it here.
Contact the author at ballaban@jalopnik.com.
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