Giulia and Stelvio Veloce Estrema models launched

The Veloce Estrema models are as far up the Giulia and Stelvio trees you can climb before you arrive at the Quadrifoglio. For the Giulia that means a 280PS (206kW) 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, for the Stelvio it’s the 280PS petrol or a 210PS (154kW) 2.2-litre turbo diesel. Alfa Romeo says the Estrema cars are “targeted at driving enthusiasts”, and as such come with Alfa Synaptic Dynamic Control adaptive suspension and a limited-slip differential. There’s no bump in power, which is a shame and perhaps unfitting of the ‘Estrema’, or ‘extreme’, name, but the mechanical upgrades are very welcome additions.

There are cosmetic upgrades too, including carbon-fibre mirrors, a carbon V on the front grille, dark Estrema badging, dark 19-inch alloys on the Giulia and dark 21-inch wheels on the Stelvio. There are four exterior colours, namely Alfa red, Alfa white, Vulcano black and Misano blue.

Inside, you’ll find Alcantara and leather seats with red stitching, the same stitching across the dash, wheel and gear lever, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

The price for all of this extremeness? £50,579 for the Giulia, £57,999 for the Stelvio petrol and £59,999 for the diesel, roughly £6,000 more than a regular Veloce. What’s a diff and some clever suspension worth to you?