Alfa Romeo introduced the successor to the 159 earlier this year – not a moment too soon, in our humble opinion.
However, all we have seen is the range-topping Giulia QV, with its appealing body and impressive engine that makes it a true rival for the BMW M3, Mercedes-AMG C63 and the rest in the super sedan niche.
This makes for nice headlines and gathering large crowds at motor shows, but it’s not the car that will draw in customers. Lesser versions were only recently revealed, or rather leaked and, what’s worse, the launch was pushed back again.
With Alfa Romeo, quite understandably, focusing on its make-or-break new saloon, there is no word on future vehicles that will expand the brand’s range. Thankfully, expert image manipulator Theophilus Chin came up with a bigger brother for the Giulia to contest the likes of BMW’s 5-Series and Merc’s E-Class.
Named the Grigio, it was created by incorporating many elements of the Giulia onto a Maserati Ghibli-based virtual “platform”. In terms of size, there are some significant differences between the two, and while the Maser is 4,971mm (195.7in) long, 2,100mm (82.7in) wide and 1,461mm (57.5in) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,998mm (118in), the smaller Alfa stands at 4,639mm (182.6in) in length, 1,873mm (73.7in) in width and 1,426mm (56.1in) in height, with a shorter 2,820mm (111in) wheelbase.
Right now, there are no reports indicating such a model. However, Alfa badly needs much more than the Giulia if it is to succeed as a serious contender in the premium segment. Who knows; maybe some of the mules dressed up as Maseratis were, after all, hiding something similar under their cladding.
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