Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio v Audi RS4 Competition – car pictures of the week
We test the facelifted Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio against Audi’s RS4 Competition in the latest issue of evo – here are some of our favourite shots
Believe it or not, if you're looking for a fast, roomy everyday performance car in 2024, it doesn't need to be an SUV. The Audi RS4 Competition and the new, facelifted Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio are proof of that, and in issue 321 of evo, we find out which is best. To read the full feature, you can pick up a copy of the magazine in-store or online via the evo shop.
Our first taste of the sharpest, most focused RS4 of all came when we tested it against BMW's M3 Touring last year. It came up a little short against what is admittedly the best fast estate on sale, but the Competition still made an impression – this is an RS4 that offers a real step up in finesse, communication and fun over the standard car. Is that enough to beat the Giulia?
We fell in love with Alfa's snorting twin-turbo V6 saloon from the moment we first drove it in 2016 (actually, make that the first time we saw it at the Frankfurt motor show a year earlier). It packed a unique, Ferrari-esque dynamic character and mammoth performance in a bid to dethrone the BMW M3, and eight years later, it's somehow just as alluring as ever.
For 2024, the Quadrifoglio has gained a very subtle design update, a little more power and crucially, a new mechanical limited slip differential. The old diff was prone to overheating and could make the car feel unpredictable, and the facelift stamps out what was one of very few vices in the dynamic package.
‘You can get on the power early and it hooks up progressively and cleanly’, said Deputy Editor James Taylor. ‘Even when the roads become greasy after a cloudburst, the rear axle gives you confidence. It responds in the same way, time after time, and you trust it. More than ever, the Giulia is a steer-from-the-rear kind of car.’
On the other hand, the four-wheel drive RS4 has a less expressive character, but it’s one you’re encouraged to exploit through genuine feedback and adjustability. Pick up your copy of issue 321 to find out which comes out on top.
