ALFA Romeo's new Giulia is starting to get into its stride, with a sporty Veloce trim level added to the range.
The Giulia is going toe-to-toe with established favourites such as the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4, and the Veloce model would seem to be aimed at the familiar M Sport and S line versions of the German cars.
The Veloce debuts a new 2.0-litre petrol turbo engine, which pumps out a very healthy 276bhp and 295lb.ft of torque.
An eight-speed automatic gearbox and rear-wheel-drive complete the drivetrain.
Alfa Romeo says the Veloce sits between the Speciale and flagship Quadrifoglio models by offering both performance and luxury. It is priced from £37,935.
Top speed is quoted as 149mph with a 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds. The EU combined cycle fuel economy figure is 46.3mpg and the CO2 emissions are rated at 141g/km.
The Veloce gets 18-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels and fetching Misano blue paintwork is available, as an option, exclusively on the model.
Black, tan or red leather sport seats are standard, as are aluminium gear shift paddles on the steering column.
Other standard equipment includes front and rear parking sensors, headlamp washers and an upgraded braking system with larger diameter front and rear brake discs.
