Battle Of The Vertical Grilles: BMW M3 Competition And Alfa Romeo Giulia QV Face Off On Track

BY Andrew Gutman | Posted on

BMW’s newest M3 has been making headlines recently, and not just for its controversial styling. The sports sedan has proved to be a fitting upgrade over its predecessor, and has left many reviewers impressed.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is one of its closest competitors on paper, and while we have seen them compared on the road before, this video by Auto Express pits the pair against each other for one of their first battles on track.

The test takes place at the Llandow Circuit in South Wales, where the Alfa Romeo is up first. It remains very similar to the car that debuted back in 2016, with the most notable difference being its updated interior. The Quadrifoglio makes 505 hp from a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, and it sends that power to the rear wheels via an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. Auto Express described its handling as “agile and sharp”, saying that it had great dynamics to complement its straight-line speed.

Read More: First-Gen Ford GT Destroyed In Los Angeles Crash With Alfa Romeo Giulia QV

Next up is the 503 hp M3 Competition that immediately feels more track oriented and firmer. The steering is meatier and heavier than the Alfa and it has great throttle response. Moreover, despite being heavier by 185 kg (408 lb), the M3 manages to hide its weight on the track.

Auto Express predicted the Giulia would win on account of its lighter curb weight. However, it was actually the M3 that emerged victorious, running 0.5 seconds a lap quicker than its Italian competitor. That being said, this victory could be a result of the BMW churning out more horses than advertised, which was shown to be the case on a dyno run of an M4 that shares its engine with the M3. Sure, that run might not be enough to draw a conclusion, but it still makes us wonder…

See Also: Here Are All The Best 2021 BMW M3 And M4 Video Reviews

Overall, it seems like the BMW should be the clear winner. Yet, when you consider the fact that the Alfa Romeo is significantly cheaper (at least in the UK market where this test takes place), slightly more livable, and quite frankly better looking, the decision becomes a bit more subjective and begins to boil down to more than just numbers on a spec sheet.

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