The Alfa Romeo Giulia is one of the winners of the 25th edition of the "Compasso d'Oro ADI", a prestigious Italian industrial design award, which saw the prizes this year handed out on Wednesday in the beautiful setting of Milan’s Castello Sforzesco - Cortile della Rocchetta.
Created in 1954, the Compasso d'Oro ADI Award is assigned on the basis of a pre-selection made by the ADI (Italian Industrial Design Association) Osservatorio Permanente del Design, which consists of a committee of experts, designers, critics, historians and specialist journalists, all continuously working, year by year, to gather information and assess the best products.
The "Compasso d'Oro ADI" has steadily grown in international stature during recent years to become comparable to the design world's benchmark “Red Dot Awards”.
The Giulia the only car to be chosen amongst this year’s sixteen winners which included the usual mix of home appliances and lighting systems. Other standouts included the new "Fondazione Prada" building complex which combines conservation, creativity and sustainability in an original architecture set in a cultural space that has become relevant to the city as well as the new Vibram Furoshiki sports training shoe that fuses comfort and performance.
The Giulia’s proportions are based on the technical architecture of the entire car and are a direct consequence of the latter, while stylistic details are sculpted on its mechanics. The new Giulia stands out for its short front overhang, long bonnet and long front wings, retracted passenger compartment settled on the drive wheels and muscular rear wings which visually mark the point where power is unleashed onto the road. Elongated tail typical of rear-wheel drive cars balances proportions and guarantees an adequate boot capacity.
This general profile springs from the adoption of a longitudinal front engine and rear-wheel drive layout. Engine and mechanical components are arranged to ensure perfect balance of weights. This results in an extremely generous wheelbase packaged in a compact body. These proportions draw the dynamic shape of an ellipsis in plan view.
In addition, the rounded angles and the enveloping pillars convey momentum to the car creating a "drop-shaped" profile which is reminiscent of the Giulietta Sprint, one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
A second aspect of the Italian style is "simplicity" capable of enshrouding what is in fact one of the most complex creative processes in industry - designing a car. It is up to style to conceal the long, complex work behind a simple, natural line which enhances elegant shapes and sophisticated Italian taste. Alfa Romeo design has always been expressed by means of clean, hand drawn lines, paired seamlessly with pure, hand sculpted surfaces. Once again, the new Giulia boasts a strong identity drawn in few simple, sophisticated strokes. A line gouged along the sides which marks the doors and envelops the handles and, naturally, the legendary trefoil nose - arguably the most famous, recognisable style element in automotive history.
Another trait is quality, which satisfies both sight and touch, and creates rich, harmonious reflections across the volumes of the car. Outside, the shape of the new Giulia is statuesque, recalling a big cat just about to pounce.
An essential component in the design of the new Giulia, which inspired its design, is the driver. The interior of the car focuses on driving satisfaction in a clean and essential way: the presence of non-invasive technology can be perceived among the instruments which pivot around the driver. The tunnel is diagonal, the dashboard slightly undulated and the steering wheel, which groups together all the main controls, is small and straightforward, suitable for any driving style. The whole package is framed by fine materials, picked for their tactile and visual impact and assembled with bespoke care.
The awards were given out at the Castello Sforzesco - Cortile della Rocchetta in Milan, where the public could see a Giulia Quadrifoglio, the most powerful street-legal sedan ever created by Alfa Romeo, together with an exclusive 4C Spider "Italia" special edition.
The first is fitted with a V6 BiTurbo petrol engine delivering 510 hp and 600 Nm, entirely made of aluminium, capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. The power-to-weight ratio is at the top of its category - 2.99 kg/hp – and comes courtesy of the expansive use of materials such as carbon fibre, also for the roof, bonnet, front splitter, rear nolder and skirt side inserts.
A 4C Spider "Italia" was shown next to the Giulia. This special edition sports the Misano Blue bodywork with gloss black inserts on the bumper exclusive to the 108 cars in this version. On the outside, eye-catching features include Alfa Romeo five-spoke wheels, 18-inch at the front and 19-inch at the rear, and yellow brake calipers that match the stitching on the seats, dashboard, steering wheel and door panels. The side displays an exclusive "Spider Italia" sticker in the three colours of the Italian flag.
The standard outfit of the 4C Spider "Italia" includes Akrapovic titanium central twin tailpipes with dual mode function and carbon trim. The equipment is completed by Alpine Hi-Fi system, with subwoofer, numbered badge on the central tunnel and aluminium "Italia" dashboard plaque.
Photos: Alfa Romeo Giulia Wins “Compasso d’Oro ADI” Award
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