Finally, they've unlocked the doors to the new Alfa Giulia and allowed us to try the seats for size. When Alfa unveiled its rival for the Audi A4 and BMW 3-series earlier this year, it fiercely protected its innards. Nobody was meant to photograph them, let alone put a bum on a seat. All of which made you wonder why.
My concerns were amplified this morning at the Frankfurt motor show, when I got my head bitten off for opening an unlocked door on the car - but midway through the day and with the stand's coffee bar firing out the espressos, nobody seemed to mind any more.
Read our first drive of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio here
Geneva 2016 update: Alfa Romeo Giulia range revealed ahead of going on sale in the UK
Perhaps inevitably, what's inside these top-spec go-faster models is a mix of majesty and mediocre. The sports seats are large, comfortable and supportive. The steering wheel feels big to the hand but is nicely assertive, with a decent range of rake and reach adjustment. The pedal spacing is also okay, at least on these left-hookers. Combined with the large, red steering wheel-mounted start button, there's a message here that this Quadrifoglio model is built for serious drivers.
And yet… The gearknob is comically large. The fit, finish and materials of the cubbyhole section of the car I was in were fine, but didn't scream quality as an Audi RS4, BMW M4 or Mercedes C63 AMG would. The infotainment screen was average, reflecting badly under the show lights and looking a bit underwhelming in its operation.
Don't get me wrong - the inside of an Alfa Giulia is a very fine place to be, but perhaps a little inconsistent in its qualities. Of course, many buyers won't give a damn about any of that because it's a fast Alfa.
Indeed, many will scoff at the suggestion that an Alfa should be anything else, but anyone expecting the car's launch to herald a cabin style and consistency to challenge the very best on offer from the Germans may be left a little bit underwhelmed.
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alfa
I did see the car in the flesh
Biased ? I dont think so, if
So going by the early
I hope this being a pre-production model means that early indications turn out to be early teething problems. That said, in addition to the needlessly large gear knob and inconsistent quality, the designers have gone overboard with the hoods over the dials, which look a bit comical.
Have seen the car in the