THE QUADRIFOGLIO ANNIVERSARY
New 2023 Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio range
When you think of a testdrive, you expect beautiful sunny weather, maybe not much traffic and of course dry, winding roads to be enjoyed. To get to really test a car. Go fast, push and test its systems, without restrictions or risks. But when the said test-drive is supposed to take place around Nürburgring, these expectations are rather mere hopes, than absolute requirements. We know too well how unpredictable the weather conditions can be in the beautiful Eifel region in Western Germany. And that’s what happened to us, in the day scheduled for our test drive with the new 2023 Quadrifoglio range: after an extraordinary beautiful sunny Sunday spent with some of my Squadrifoglio friends, an all grey Monday followed and of course even with pouring rain, just as I arrived at the Nürburgring Driving center.
Stelvio Quadrifoglio Anniversary
With lightnings striking down to Earth on the horizon I approached the meeting point with our first car for the day, a Verde Montreal Stelvio Quadrifoglio Anniversario. And it’s after all a very beautiful, bright and vivid glowing color in this grayish-dark atmosphere. Not long after we are on the roads around Nordschleife, with no fear of the soaking wet roads, as the Stelvio Quadrifoglio’s Q4 AWD system steers neatly around every corner and climbs up effortlessly every hill. On starting it and even after the first few meters driven, one gets a slight impression of this embodiment of a green thunderstorm on wheels, with its softly rumbling V6 engine, only implying the raw power that wants to be unleashed. It’s just the perfect companion with its typical SUV allure and the passionate heart of a sports car, above all reassuring in all weather conditions. But we will get our chance to push harder later, when the rain stops. For now we’re focus on the distinctive design and interior details implemented with the MY23 Quadrifoglio range and the Stelvio Anniversary edition, and what a satisfactory place to be in it really is!
First we have the new facelift-headlights, and in my opinion the Stelvio looks more mature and if possible even more impressive with the new 3 distinctive LED elements. Also the 21 inch wheels further underline that impression on the Stelvio, of a mature and serious car. From the technical side of things the MY23 Quadrifoglio cars got a slight power upgrade of 10hp to 520hp and a new mechanical differential. In the interior we find the new “Cannocchiale” style interface – minimalistic, yet functional and pleasant to interact with, as we already experienced extensively in March with the Competizione and Veloce models. You don’t have overarching animations or distracting elements with imitations of 3D-graphics like other carmakers have implemented. It’s still 100% centred on the driver and his or her immediate needs. And speaking about driver centricity – in Race-Mode the info delivered is totally focused on the driver, all other interface elements are even more reduced, arranged in a centered design and therefore visible with one short glance, to keep the eyes focused on the road. Which I can totally approve of. Operating the instruments still works via the steering wheel, but with the buttons on the steering wheel, no longer the handles – also an improvement in usability in my opinion.
The most remarkable update in the drivers cabin is for sure the 3D-Carbon panels. Until 2022 we had glossy Carbon surfaces, one can now admire its exposed raw layers. The look and feel of the silky but rough structure of the Carbon give the very refined and clean interior a new race car sense. It’s absolutely gorgeous and I truly love it. You will get that 3D-Carbon finish not only with the Anniversary editions, but in every Quadrifoglio model from now on. Furthermore, as anniversary edition exclusive extras, we have the golden details like the stitchings, the “100 Quadrifoglio” sign on the passenger’s side of the dashboard and golden brake calipers.
While examining the details the weather really cleared up and we could finally drive some serious curves and let Stelvios’ sports car soul run free a little. As we are used to it, of course it drives great. The four wheels just bite into the pavement pushing forward, like on rails through a hairpin corner then accelerating into the peaceful Eifel woods, only the engines’ roar echoing in every direction. With every movement and feedback of the vehicle, you still can feel the passion and dedication which was invested into this car over the years, making it more perfect with every update. Every technical detail was chosen with a purpose and not for decoration, nor gamification or „nice-to-have“. It’s still a pure driving machine, only on our roads to create endless adrenaline rushes and countless happy faces. I’m addicted to the Quadrifoglio models since the beginning, and they again prove that they still earn my admiration.
With the sun comes the Giulia
Later on we finally switch to the Giulia Quadrifoglio, first off in Grigio Vesuvio and then in its Rosso Etna Anniversary edition for a short run in a sunny (by now) Eifel. These two Giulias just demonstrate their fiery virtuosity. How they carve corners with the precision of a surgeon's scalpel. Differently, more pushy and overall more unpredictable than the Stelvio, definitely more challenging for the driver. The V6 engine roars like a primal beast, propelling us forward with a ferocity that always ignites a fire in me, like no other car does. Truly addictive. Equipped with the Akrapovic exhaust system, the somewhat reduced sound due to the OPF does not really matter. It’s just the best exhaust for the Quadrifoglio models, as it’s simply enhancing the roaring characteristics of the V6-engine and doesn’t fake it or change into something that’s not authentic, from the inside and when you hear one driving by. Also on the Nürburgring Boulevard the common petrolheads strolling and driving around, are simply mesmerized by the Rosso Etna Giulia Quadrifoglio Anniversario while we drive by. As we stop for a short photoshoot in front of the famous red Nürburgring sings, some of the visitors immediately gather around us, take a closer look and asking us a miriad of questions.
To summarize this great afternoon and the experience we had with the new 2023 Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio range, I can say we have successfully overcome and defeated the Eifel weather. With real Italianness in the shape of the most beautiful and passionate cars that can be found on our roads. They still check all the boxes one searches with an authentic, uncompromising and emotional sports sedan or utility vehicle. Alfa Romeo stays true to their initially promised values, when Giulia and Stelvio first were introduced to this world. Thank you Alfa Romeo for staying on this emotional path and continuing to make us happy with the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio!
Photos by Daniela Bay.
