Alfa Romeo drops diesel from Giulia range

ALFA Romeo Australia has axed the only diesel option from its Giulia while increasing the mid-size sedan’s pricing and specifications as part of a 2019 model-year update that has now entered showrooms.

Speaking to GoAuto, a Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Australia spokesperson said: “The diesel has been removed from the range to align with changing customer demand in the segment.”

Nonetheless, the Giulia-rivalling and best-selling Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 all remain available with diesel engines, with the German trio accounting for 55.8 per cent of the $60,000-plus mid-size-car segment last year.

The Italian model’s 132kW/450Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine was only available with the higher-specification Super grade that is now exclusively motivated by the same 147kW/330Nm 2.0-litre petrol unit as the entry-level Giulia variant.

While the sportier Veloce grade uses a similar sized engine, it instead produces 206kW of power and 400Nm of torque.

As before, the flagship Quadrifoglio variant is propelled by a Ferrari-built 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 that develops 375kW and 600Nm.

The mid-sizer exclusively sends drive to its rear wheels via an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.

The range-opening Giulia and the Veloce are both now $1005 more expensive, at $60,900 and $72,900 plus on-road costs respectively, while the $65,900 Super is $1705 dearer and the $145,900 Quadrifoglio is $2000 more costly.

However, Alfa Romeo Australia claims that buyers are compensated with extra value, partly thanks to the range-wide addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

The base Giulia also picks up blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, which – combined with the infotainment upgrade – represent $1000 of additional value, or almost enough to offset its price increase.

Conversely, the Super is better value than before with the inclusion of adaptive bi-Xenon headlights, high-beam assist and heated rear seats accounting for more than $2500 of extra value.

Similarly, the Veloce is more than $2000 better off thanks to the addition of eight-way power-adjustable front and heated rear seats.

Of the four grades, the Quadrifoglio’s value has received the biggest bump, at $4000, with the inclusion of a leather- and Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel with a carbon-fibre insert, and heated rear seats.

Several options are offered, with the $4000 Veloce Pack (adaptive suspension, dark-finish 19-inch alloy wheels, red brake callipers, gloss-black side-window surrounds, rear privacy glass, leather-trimmed sports front seats, steering wheel with heating, and aluminium pedals and trim) exclusive to the entry-level Giulia.

Adaptive suspension can be individually optioned on the Super for $2000, while an alarm ($750), a Harman/Kardon sound system ($1500) and a panoramic sunroof ($2200) are available on all variants.

“Since its launch to the Australian market in early 2017, the Alfa Romeo Giulia has set a new standard for stunning design, performance and dynamism in the premium medium-sedan segment,” Alfa Romeo Australia head Fulvio Antonelli said.

“We’re pleased to improve the Giulia MY19 range and increase customer value with the addition of standard specification across all variants – including active safety, infotainment and premium content – with a streamlined model grade walk.”

Sales of the Giulia declined by 4.1 per cent in its first full year in showrooms, with the 613 examples sold in 2018 representing a 26-unit decrease over the previous year.

Comparatively, the C-Class (5055 units), 3 Series (3079) and A4 (1625) were three of the $60,000-plus mid-size-car segment’s four best-selling models, leaving the Giulia in eighth place.

2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs