It’s a sad day for sports sedan enthusiasts—the 2024 model year marks the end of the high-performance Quadrifoglio (Italian for four-leaf clover) variant of the Alfa Romeo Giulia. The brand is commemorating the occasion with the release of a Super Sport edition.
“A milestone for all Alfisti (Alfa fans), the new Super Sport is the ultimate expression of Quadrifoglio, represented by extremely limited volumes and bespoke design cues,” says Larry Dominique, Alfa Romeo North America senior vice president, in a media release.
He adds, “While we look forward to the future of the four-leaf clover with the amazing performance benefits of electrification, the twin-turbo V-6 Super Sport is a fitting final chapter to the combustion engine Quadrifoglio in Canada, and we’re thrilled to bring an exclusive number to Alfisti in North America.”
Though DARPAN didn’t have access to this particular model and its special black badging and carbon fiber extras, the standard Quadrifoglio is just as exhilarating to drive and look at. The press vehicle was coated in brilliant Misano Blue Metallic paint and sat on massive 19x8.5-inch front/19x10-inch rear dark five-hole wheels.
For 2024, some nifty smoked LED adaptive matrix headlamps are housing three U-shaped signature daytime running elements, complemented by a gloss black V-Scudetto center grille surround and dark lens taillamps.
Inside, the instrument cluster is now all digital, boasting a 12.3-inch customizable screen, and is still nestled under the heritage-inspired binocular hood. The interior features a nice mix of standard leather upholstery and carbon fiber trim pieces. For an additional $4,500, buyers can opt for Sparco Alcantara race seats.
There are lots of tactile buttons and knobs on the center console—a welcome change from the touch panel-filled cabins of many modern cars—though, for its $100,000-plus price tag, one might expect a larger-than 8.8-inch non-upgradable display and some more premium materials used on an otherwise fairly spartan dashboard. The flat-bottom steering wheel with aluminum paddle shifters is perfect, though, and the rear seats are totally usable and are even sufficient to accommodate a child seat.
The Italian-built powerplant, however, justifies the MSRP. Possessing lineage from the Ferrari F154 engine found in products including the California T, the mill is a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 sending 505 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. Absolutely melodic at full throttle, it will put a smile on almost any driver’s face, especially while whipping around corners, taking full advantage of the adaptive suspension system.
Like all modern Alfas, the Dynamic/Natural/Advanced efficiency (DNA) drive mode selector changes throttle, steering, and other onboard settings to suit various moods and environments. Exclusive to Quadrifoglios, a Race setting turns everything up to 10 and is best used at a track. During a wet and rainy day, I turned the dial to A, and the Giulia behaved in a very tame fashion on a long drive to Chilliwack and back with little drama.
The 2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio will remain available until inventory runs out. To inquire about the Super Sport, contact your local dealer.
Highlights:
MSRP: $99,840 (Base)
Motor: 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6
Horsepower: 505 @ 6,500 rpm
Torque (lb-ft): 443 @ 2,500 rpm
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Layout: Front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Fuel economy: 13.2 L/100 km mixed city/highway (observed)