The Giulia and Stelvio have served in Alfa Romeo’s lineup for several years now but despite their age, both models still possess charisma and charm to entice petrolheads. Now, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Quadrifoglio badge, the premium models have been imparted with treatment to better align with the rest of the lineup.
On the 15th of April 1923, the Quadrifoglio emblem was first featured on an Alfa Romeo when Ugo Sivocci painted the memento of luck on his RL “Corsa” which went on to win the XIV edition of the famed Targa Florio. Since then, it has been a benchmark for performance versions of Alfa Romeo, proudly adorned on race cars and high-performance road cars. To commemorate a century of its use, the Italian automaker will be releasing the exclusive commemorative “Quadrifoglio 100th Anniversario” edition of the Giulia and Stelvio. Each will be limited to 100 units and each has been given a significant overhaul as performance flagships in the lineup. To further honour the legend that has intertwined itself with the firm, the Quadrifoglio 100th Anniversario models returned to Sicily for a backdrop to the evocative shoot, the same location where the original symbol took to competitive racing for the first time 100 years ago.
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Mechanically, the motors have been boosted to offer more power for certain markets, with the Ferrari-derived twin-turbocharged 2,9-litre V6 now putting out a healthy 388 kW. Not limiting their century of performance expertise there, Alfa Romeo has also installed a new mechanical differential that provides a more engaging experience to the already impressive performance flagships.
Technologically, the models will feature the latest Alfa Romeo exterior design language which features a full LED matrix headlamp setup with a distinguishable 3+3 design. The interior boasts a new digital instrument cluster housed within the historic ‘telescopic’ design while carbon inserts and a 100 symbol have been strategically placed. The Centro Stile Alfa Romeo-designed fender badges now show a distinct 1923-2023 gold theme while the colour has also been imparted onto the brake calipers. Carbon fibre also continues on the exterior with the grille and mirrorcaps.
The Giulia boasts the iconic 5-hole sports alloy wheels in 19-inch size while the Stelvio boasts Tonale style 21-inch rims instead. Three liveries are available on the models in either Rosso Etna, Verde Montreal, or Nero Vulcano. With limited production, the models are both still under evaluation for the South African market.
The story of how Quadrifoglio came about
The Quadrifoglio has been part of Alfa Romeo’s racing and industrial history since the very beginning. It all started on April 15, 1923 on the occasion of the XIV edition of one of the oldest automobile races in the world, the Targa Florio—the prestigious event which, at the beginning of the 20th century, transformed Sicily once a year into the most famous European “salon”. Intense and incredibly challenging, the race was one of the most important milestones of its time for drivers and could thrust particular car models and entire brands onto the market. That’s why, in 1923, Alfa Romeo put enormous importance on the Sicilian race, developing a specific version of its RL and recruiting talented drivers.
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In the end, Ugo Sivocci, an important driver of his time, brought home the win thanks to his skills and a series of fortunate events which would make the choice of the Quadrifoglio (a four-leaf clover) even more meaningful as an emblem of sportiness on the hoods of race cars. With this victory, Alfa Romeo was catapulted onto the Mount Olympus of car manufacturers, inexorably linking the symbol of the Quadrifoglio to the brand’s legendary vehicles and setting the stage for an extensive series of brave achievements by unforgettable drivers. From the first Grand Prix championship in 1925, and moving on to the Mille Miglia, the Targa Florio and “24-huor Le Mans”, the brand dominated the international racing scene from then on. However, the lucky symbol soon began to stand out on exclusive road vehicles as well. In fact, the glazed Quadrifoglio badge would make its first appearance on a road vehicle with the Giulia Sprint GT Veloce and launch a tradition which continues until today. These are the brand’s most powerful versions in their ranges and have been designed for a public of car-enthusiasts who are passionate about sporty driving.
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