The discontinued Ferrari-powered sedan that made BMW M3 owners jealous

Published Aug 27, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT Tyler is an automotive journalist and content contributor at How-To Geek with over three years of experience covering the automotive industry. His work focuses on delivering clear, well-researched, and engaging content that helps readers better understand the vehicles they drive and the technology behind them. Before entering automotive media, he spent five years as an academic editor, developing a strong foundation in research methodology, factual accuracy, and structured analysis. This background informs his journalistic approach today, ensuring that every article balances technical insight with accessibility for a broad audience. Tyler specializes in automotive journalism, content strategy, and SEO-driven publishing, with a particular interest in performance, reliability, and the cultural role of cars. He approaches automotive writing with a distinct philosophy: vehicles should be engaging and expressive, not merely functional tools. This perspective shapes his coverage and allows readers to connect with cars beyond basic specifications. Performance sedans are increasingly becoming faster, more digital, and arguably less engaging, making this discontinued Italian model feel even more special in hindsight. With more than 500 horsepower, rear-wheel drive, razor-sharp handling, and a Ferrari-derived twin-turbocharged V-6, it offered a driving experience that few rivals could match. It wasn't the quickest car in its class on paper, but behind the wheel, its character and communicative steering gave it an edge that spec sheets couldn't capture. In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Alfa Romeo and other authoritative sources, including the EPA and Edmunds. The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio was the ultimate driver's sedan Glorious Italian engineering If you're a driving enthusiast, you likely don't need to be convinced of how good Alfa Romeo can be. At the top of their form, the Italian automaker has delivered some of the most fantastic driving machines ever built, although reliability has always been questionable. The Giulia Quadrifoglio is the perfect example of just how good Alfa can be when they really put their minds to it. A dancer in the corners Engine 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 Transmission 8-speed automatic Horsepower 505 HP Torque 443 LB-FT Driveline RWD 0-60 MPH 3.6 seconds Top speed 191 MPH One of the most alluring parts of the Quadrifoglio is its powertrain. The twin-turbocharged V-6 under the hood is Ferrari-derived and puts down a fantastic amount of power. Just as impressive as its power is the melodic sound it makes, which is all but guaranteed to put a smile on any petrol head's face. It sends its power exclusively to the rear wheels via a smooth ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, with satisfying paddles mounted to the steering column. Put the spec sheets side-by-side, and it may seem like the M3 comes out ahead of the Giulia in most regards. Climb behind the wheel, though, and Alfa has clearly built the more entertaining car. While the M3 is fantastic, it feels muted. Its steering is numb and the car feels like it is doing most of the work most of the time. In comparison, the Giulia delivers aggressive handling and communicative steering that make for a better all-round driving experience. It might not win drag races, but it will certainly win hearts. Inside, the Alfa is contemporary and classy BMW leans too far into the touchscreen trend Credit: Alfa Romeo Something that is sorely lacking in modern cars is character. Unfortunately, the current BMW M3 is a good example, with a minimalist interior that is dominated by screens. The Giulia Quadrifoglio may not have had the most cutting-edge technology, but its design made it feel far more special. Alfa delivers striking good looks Credit: Alfa Romeo The Giulia Quadrifoglio was discontinued after the 2024 model year. In its final year, it still delivered one of the most appealing interiors on the market. Its touchscreen might have been pretty small at 8.8 inches, and its material quality may not have been class-leading, but in terms of design it blows just about everything else away. The swooping lines on the dashboard, Recaro racing seats, and swathes of carbon fiber came together to make the interior feel special. BMW has gone minimalist Credit: BMW There's no arguing that the build quality and materials in the M3 are top-notch, but the design ideology in modern BMWs is more than questionable. There has been a clear attempt to reduce visual noise on the dashboard, putting everything into a massive curved touchscreen that sits on top of the dash. Unfortunately, it strips the M3 of some of its character and makes it a little more generic, which is not what you want when you're spending over $80,000 on a sports sedan. The Giulia Quadrifoglio lives on in other markets We're stuck with the base Giulia Credit: Alfa Romeo As mentioned, the Quadrifoglio variant of the Giulia was discontinued in the United States after the 2024 model year. The Giulia is still around, but you can only get models with a turbocharged four-pot under the hood. While we're denied the high-octane model, Alfa has decided to bring the Quadrifoglio back to other markets around the world. The Giulia nameplate, as we know it, is changing Alfa's decision to halt sales of the Quadrifoglio in the United States came down to sales. While it was a fantastic sports sedan, it just wasn't all that popular. This is especially true when you compare it to the likes of the BMW M3, which sells incredibly well. While the Quadrifoglio was originally discontinued in all markets, it has made a return to a number of different places around the world. There are no plans to bring it back to the U.S., though. If that wasn't sad enough, there are rumors that the next generation of the Giulia, slated to be revealed as a 2028 model, will transform from a low-slung sports sedan into a fastback-styled crossover. Regardless of its body style, it'll likely share underpinnings with the Dodge Charger, which is a shame. You can get used models for a bargain Because Alfa Romeos have a poor reputation when it comes to reliability, Giulias tend to deprecate fairly quickly. Quadrifoglio models hold their value a little better, but they can still be bought for what we think is a steal. When new, the sports sedan would have cost upwards of $80,000. Post-facelift models, which are 2022 models and newer, can be had for as little as $60,000. If you're willing to go older, 2017 models hover around the $30,000 mark. That's a lot of car for the money. The Giulia Quadrifoglio is a future classic While Alfa's twin-turbo V-6 sports sedan may not have gotten the love it deserved during its time, we think that a couple of years down the line it will be heavily sought after. It is one of the most impressively engineered sports sedans ever built, one that clearly has a lot of love and passion poured into it. As we move into an era where character and soul are sorely lacking, we will miss cars like the Giulia Quadrifoglio.