Might be posted earlier, but this is interessting reading from Squadra-Tuning. Most of this could be EU specific, as the RWD (untill 2020) was only delivered with the 2.0TB downtuned to 200hp.
"In short, there is a huge difference between the first generation Giulia 280 hp and the last generation 280 hp. The engine delivers less performance with more effort. In this example with 0.14 bar more turbo pressure about 25 hp less power"
"The 280 hp version has a slightly larger turbo. The turbo pressure at maximum power is now about 0.14 bar higher with a Euro6D"
This is translated from Dutch to English - enjoy reading:
January 2017
At the moment we are busy with the development of the 2.0 Petrol version. The Marelli system is a new type, Marelli 10JA to be precise. This means a new communication protocol. and that means waiting for this to develop.
What is certain is that the 200 hp is a downtuned version of the 280 hp Veloce. It is not only 80 hp power difference, but also 50 Nm torque difference. A rather large downtuning
We have managed to get hold of the standard software of the 2.0 Gasoline. From the software you can read quite well what the Twin Scroll turbo is capable of.
A cautious prediction is some 320 hp. Sounds almost too good to be true. However, so far all of our predictions have come true - so why not this one to.
Early February 2017
We did not want to wait any longer for the supplier of the communication protocols. Something that nowadays people depend on as a chip tuner to be able to do the work.
This time we have taken matters into our own hands. We have developed a communication method in-house and with success. We have found the key to access the software.
The first target was a 200 hp Giulia equipped with 280 hp Veloce software. With this we also introduce a configuration that is not available - a RWD Giulia with the engine power of the Veloce Actually a “Fast Veloce” version. This is because the 4WD system of the Veloce is some 100 kg heavier (6% of the total car weight) than the RWD.
In addition, the final drive ratio of the RWD (1 to 3.27) is 4% shorter than the AWD (1 to 3.15) resulting in 4% more torque at the wheels.
March 2017
Normally we will carry out power tests after we have performed a number of practical tests on the road with adapted standard software.
The diagnostic equipment nowadays shows so many parameters that we can make a fairly accurate estimate of the torque and power.
We then use the parameters of engine and automatic gearbox. In particular, the parameters of the 8-speed ZF gearbox show a torque value that we know is quite close to reality.
So we came close to the promise that Alfa Romeo makes about the 200 and 280 hp petrol version. But because the 280 hp is a seriously fast car, road testing became a bit difficult.
Speeds often rose to 200 km/h and that is even too much for us if you want to do that several times in a day. We also love our driver's license. In short, time to test the Giulia 2.0 Petrol on the dyno.
The standard performance measured on dyno was far exceeded. The graph below says it all.
The 200 hp version, which according to the factory would deliver 330 Nm and 200 hp, delivers 380 Nm and 230 hp in real life. That's 50 Nm and 30 hp more than promised by Alfa Romeo.
The Veloce version which in the brochure states 400 Nm and 280 hp scores 460 Nm and 310 hp.
The thin lines and text indicate the promise of the 200 and 280 hp versions. The thicker lines and text represent reality.
A very early suspicion was also confirmed on the dyno.
The Veloce is limited in top speed. In this case at the promised top speed of 240 km/h
2019- : the mystery surrounding the standard power of the Giulia “Global Medium Engine”.
There is a lot to do with the standard power of the Giulia 2.0TB engine. We measured the first cars at the beginning of March 2017. We could hardly believe our eyes and thought the measurement had gone wrong.
The standard 200 hp / 330 Nm version showed 230 hp and 380 Nm. The standard 280 hp / 400 Nm showed about 310 hp and 460 Nm. Significantly more than what Alfa promised.
The dyno used by us is known as one of the best and most accurate, and certainly one that is not tampered with.
We normally always see values close to factory specifications of other cars.
But now even ourselves started to have doubts, since dyno reults all showed the same result.
303 hp, 308 hp and even 314 hp on RON102 fuel.
Please note, without adjusting one single bit.
Because we are always of reality, we have expressed this that way. Unfortunately, that has caused quite a bit of confusion.
The majority thought that we could tune the Giulia from 200 to 230 and from 280 to 310 hp. Even competitor / fellow tuners took over blindly and promised the same numbers.
But this was not about tuning. This concerned standard measured values.
We just kept explaining and explaining it. We almost regretted that we had brought it this way. Sometimes the truth isn't always the easiest.
In the meantime, more and more stories appeared on the internet about the differences between the 200 hp and 280 hp versions. We were able to refute all of these, because we were able to compare the two versions on a component level. The software and other measured parameters point in the same direction of much more torque and power than the manufacturer's statement.
We are now more than 2 years later. Around the beginning of 2018, a switch was made to a new software generation. There have been about 13 software updates from the first generation. We are now working on the 14 th software version. An embarrassing record.
The first generation was equipped with EGR, which we were convinced was not used at all. This turned out correct, and from the 2nd generation the EGR has completely removed.
The air mass meter is no longer there either, which is too bad, since that was an important measurement for us. Many used the absent EGR as an important difference.
However, there is actually no difference between not working and being absent. Yet it seems that from that moment on the standard power has decreased a bit. Despite the fact that no differences were discernible in the area of the software and tests on the road showed no different turbo pressure or ignition.
In short, time for more dyno testing.
However another catch suddenly emerged. The second generation Giulia was difficult to tame on the dyno. We indeed measured 280 hp, but we saw the turbo pressure decrease way too much as the revs increased. Much lower than intended. Whatever we tried, the thing didn't want to perform 100% on the dyno. Frustrated, we aborted dyno testing and hit the road. And of course the Giulia does it as usual there. Given the fact that we "only" scored 280 hp with about 0.3 bar less turbo pressure on the dyno, we assumed that 300 to 310 hp was achieved on road.
The truth is only different. Software updates for the 2 nd generation have now also been released. Again we entered the power bank with one of the later Giulias of the 2 nd generation. This one was easy to tame. No more turbo pressure reduction. But unfortunately "only" 280 hp. The torque is still quite a bit more. In this case 440 Nm. Our tuning adds about 22 Nm and 13 hp. 462 Nm and 293 hp was the end result.
What exactly happened when, where and to what extent has changed, still remains a question.
There have been a lot of number changes on a component level. Only if a part has the same number can you be sure that it is 100% the same. Another number can also be the same, but it is not necessary.
The Euro6D standard is now on the market. The main difference is the Gasoline Particle Filter in the exhaust. A Particle Filter, as we know from a diesel, is now also on a petrol version.
Alfa also knew that this would have consequences.
The 280 hp version has a slightly larger turbo. The turbo pressure at maximum power is now about 0.14 bar higher with a Euro6D. One would expect more power again. But unfortunately, exactly 280 hp.
In short, there is a huge difference between the first generation Giulia 280 hp and the last generation 280 hp. The engine delivers less performance with more effort. In this example with 0.14 bar more turbo pressure about 25 hp less power.
For the 200 hp this story is slightly different, all generation are actually 230 hp and 380 Nm instead of the factory specification 200 hp / 330 Nm.
