For years, the BMW M3 has been the benchmark in the premium midsize sedan/coupe segment taking jabs from a series of competitors, yet has always come at the top of every head-to-head comparison. Now, the M3 gets a new and exciting competitor: the Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio Verde.

The Giulia Quadrifoglio is the first example of Alfa’s bold strategy to take on BMW, Mercedes and Audi. With a balanced weight distribution, 510 horsepower from a 2.9 liter V6 twin-turbo engine developed in collaboration with Ferrari and a rear-wheel drive, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Verde seems to have the right ingredients promising tremendous driving pleasure. Thanks to the use of carbon fiber, the sporty Alfa also has a curb weight of around 1500 kilograms (3306 lbs).

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The sporty Giulia should run from standstill to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds. The Giulia Quadrifoglio will only be offered with rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission.

Recent reports from German media say the Giulia QV is faster than its competitors around Nurburgring. Giulia QV actually officially lapped the ‘Ring 14 seconds faster than the BMW M4, with a time of 7:39. That makes the Alfa Romeo Giulia QV faster around the Nurburgring than the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, which is about as good as bragging rights get. But the bragging rights don’t stop there, because a 7:39 second ‘Ring time makes the Giulia QV the fastest sedan ever around the famed track.

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And judging by the amount of journalists around the car in Frankfurt, the Giulia seems to be the talk of the town.