Some car manufacturers will claim that their cars possess soul, heart and emotion. Alfa however, can boast that their cars have DNA.

Sitting into a Giulietta, you’ll notice a silver slide-switch in front of the gear stick. This is the DNA unit, a simple controller that allows you to choose between three different settings which change the way the car behaves.

DNA Selector

D – Dynamic mode.
Move the selector to D, and you will feel a discernible difference in the way the car drives. The steering weights up, the throttle becomes more responsive and the power delivery increases. This setting is the Sport mode in the Giulietta, it puts less importance on fuel economy and focuses on providing a more thrilling driving experience.

N – Normal mode.
This is the default setting for the Giulietta. When in N, the car drives very smoothly and efficiently, acceleration is progressive as opposed to sudden like you’ll find in D mode. The steering is also a little lighter making town driving and parking simple. The dashboard computer displays gear-change indicators to encourage the driver to drive in the most fuel efficient manner and the Stop Start system kicks in when deemed suitable.

A – All Weather.
When temperatures are low, like the recent frosty mornings, a snowflake icon will display on the dashboard computer. This is when the driver should consider selecting A mode as the cars safety systems are put on a higher state of alert, intervening early should the wheels detect slip or loss of traction.

Normally, this kind of technology is only available in high end saloons and sports cars, it is mostly unheard of in the Giulietta’s segment. What I like most about it is the ability to transform a car’s character from easygoing and relaxed to sharp and eager, allowing the driver to make the most of both worlds.

I uploaded a short video in which I further explained the differences between each setting.

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Another week down with Me Julie and it has been a great one. Last Sunday, I headed off to Ballyvaughan in Co. Clare to meet up with some of the lads from the Irish section of the Alfa Romeo Owner’s … Continue reading →