Alfa brings back the Quadrifoglio Verde for dying models
by Noah Joseph on Jan 23rd 2008 at 7:01AM 
True, red-blooded Alfa Romeo fans will remember the Clover Leaf emblem, and not just from the red car in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The badge was used on Alfa's most successful racing cars and most powerful road cars. Now the Quadrifoglio Verde is coming back to grace two new top-of-the-line versions of the 147 and GT.
Both models are being outfitted with the 170-hp 1.9-liter JTDM that made its debut on the limited-edition 147 Ducati Corse, coupled to Alfa's Q2 limited slip differential, a lowered suspension and a sport button to switch between touring and sport set-ups for throttle response. The Quadrifoglio Verde editions of both the 147 and GT also feature a range of cosmetic enhancements inside and out, including chrome exhaust tips, red brake calipers, satin-finish grilles and wing mirrors and a host of interior mods.
The 147 is being replaced soon by the "Junior" and 149, while the GT has largely become obsolete since the even more gorgeous Brera hit the market. We'd like to say these will be the last editions of both, but we have a feeling Alfa Romeo has a few more shots of adrenaline on hold to keep sales lively.
[Source: Italiaspeed]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bruxell 11:00AM (1/23/2008)
Ok, issues... Why the hell is a supposed top-line Alfa getting a rattle-crap Diesel motor? And who says the Brera is better looking than the GT? Honestly, the Brera looks to be about a one-inch lift away from a crossover... and it's slow. The GT may not be the last word in refinement, but it's got character, and it goes like stink. Alfa has totally lost its way...
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Colin Smith 12:10PM (1/23/2008)
I completely agree. I was in my Fiat dealer today looking at the new 500 (lovely), and I just noticed the Alfa Coupe in the showroom next door (same dealer). I have always admired this car; it really is the most elegantly stunning car of its type and has unsurpassable presence on the road. Understated elegance with real magnetism - hard to achieve.
As for the diesels; these are very powerful engines, and economical too, and that's important here where fuel is the equivalent of $9 a gallon.
Michael 2:21PM (1/23/2008)
Yes Bruxell, Alfa has lost its' way. I remember when Alfa was all about beautiful, responsive, RWD cars. Now they're beautiful, nose-heavy, FWD cars. They finally came out with an amazing RWD design, but it costs a quarter million!
And don't even get me started on the Brera, it's almost the size of a 6 Series! Remember, when the Brera concept debuted, it had a V8, was RWD, had a glass roof, and scissor doors. They then make the pig FWD, with the V6 (which is a fantastic engine), with AWD as optional.
All Alfa needs to do to be very successful is go back to RWD, for every car, with maybe AWD optional on the sedan. I'd rather have an average powered, good handling, RWD car than an overpowered FWD one. They desperately need a competitor to the 350z, g35 and mustang.
If Alfa has plans to return to the U.S. market, I cannot see them being succussful without RWD. Their competitor's should not be Audi, Infiniti, BMW, (because all these brands have moved even more upmarket) but rather VW, Nissan, Toyota and the domestics. Could you imagine gti/Jetta and Passat fighters that are beautiful and RWD? They would sell like hotcakes! But 3 series/ A4 competitors that are FWD, I can't see the logic or the desired success.
willyjsimmons 10:46AM (1/23/2008)
Want.
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Bruxell 12:29PM (1/23/2008)
I agree that Deisels have their place, and that it's an important alternative fuel. I just don't see the point in what is supposed to be a charismatic, sporting, elegant car. In the 500 you mentioned I think the Deisle would be a great choice, but this is an Alfa we're talking about, and I don't like the idea of a Deisel Alfa any more than I do a Hybrid... Ok, maybe a little more than that.
Colin Smith 1:01PM (1/23/2008)
Fair enough, but the proof of the pudding...I reckon that if you tried one you might just like it. Different driving characteristics, but not necessarily worse ones.
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Bruxell 3:22PM (1/23/2008)
I agree, Alfa is at a bit of a crossroads (though we say that every time they come out with a new car dont we). I think they may be able to survive for a couple years in the US with only the Brera, Spider, and 159, but no longer than that. They need to at least bring the new Junior over for a start, but more than that, they need a compact RWD offering, the Brera should have been that car. The last generation of GTV and the GT were at least both performance coupes, if a generation out of date dynamically. Honestly, the GTV should have had the SZ chassis under it, that would have been the ideal starting point for a new generation of Alfas, and the company wouldnt be in this mess at the moment.
Colin Smith 5:40PM (1/23/2008)
The problem is that a rear wheel drive chassis would have to be designed from scratch, at enormous expense. BMW and Mercedes, oh, and Lexus, are the only manufacturers that have stuck with RWD for saloons, and not everyone is convinced that this configuration is necessarily advantageous, especially in icy conditions such as we get regularly in Europe: I have friends who hate the winter because their Merc just doesn't hold the road if there is even a hint of frost. Also, FWD packaging is still better in terms of space usage. To design a FWD platform would be prohibitively expensive, so either you'll have to accept AWD, or buy a BMW. Here in Europe the 350z practically doesn't exist as it is seen as a, well, a Nissan! The driven wheels are secondary to that disadvantage. An Alfa, even in its recently compromised forms, is still an Alfa, and don't forget, it was the Alfasud that made FWD sporty motoring respectable, so there is another parallel heritage here. Modern transaxles can permit huge torque to be put down safely with FWD, and this is the way Alfa will go. 0-5mpg times are possibly more important in the US than they are here, given all the other parameters that European manufacturers have to meet.
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Colin Smith 5:43PM (1/23/2008)
I meant MPH times, but MPG is important too!
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993C4S 8:26AM (1/23/2008)
Will these be available in the US? Or are they ROW cars?
http://www.993C4S.com/wordrpress
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