The premium compact high-performance sedan category has long been dominated (and still is) by German manufacturers, but buyers who are in the market for such a car have other options if they don’t want to face the classic BMW M3 or Mercedes-AMG C63 dilemma.
It would have seemed unfathomable just a few years ago but Alfa Romeo now has a credible rival for Germany’s sports sedans in the Giulia Quadrifoglio. The 510 PS (503 hp) Italian sedan with a Ferrari-built twin-turbo V6 heart has enjoyed rave reviews so far in which it managed to give the M3 and C63 a good run for their money.
Also watch: Driving The Jaguar XE SV Project 8 On Targa Florio Sounds Like Motoring Bliss
However, we haven’t yet seen a comparative review of the Giulia Quadrifoglio and the even more bonkers 600 PS (592 hp) Jaguar XE SV Project 8 that packs a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 and AWD. There’s an obvious reason for that and it’s the fact the Jag is an SVO special project built in a limited-run special of 300 units and priced at just under $190,000 (£150,000 in the UK) — no wonder there aren’t that many press cars out there.
Harry Metcalfe happens to have a Jaguar XE SV Project 8 in his garage and since a Giulia Quadrifoglio isn’t that hard to find, he managed to put both high-performance sedans side by side in the first (and probably only) comparative video of its kind.
Without giving any spoilers, let us remind you that the mass-produced Alfa costs £62,500 in Britain while the handbuilt Project 8 is £150,000. The Giulia Quadrifoglio is therefore almost £90,000 cheaper and that’s the main thing you need to keep in mind before you start watching the video.