Italian automaker Alfa Romeo uses "Quadrifoglio" to refer to high-performance models, similar to BMW M, Mercedes-Benz AMG and Audi RS. "Quadrifoglio" means "four-leaf clover" in Italian.
In modern Alfa Romeo models, the "four-leaf clover" logo is usually affixed to the side panel above and behind the front wheels of the car, with the four-leaf clover pattern placed in a triangle.
The origin of the four-leaf clover logo
In 1923, the four-leaf clover logo first appeared on one of the four RL Targa Florio cars. The four cars were built specifically for the Targa Florio endurance race in Sicily by chief designer Giuseppe Merosi.
Prior to this, Alfa Romeo has been unable to achieve major success in any international competitions, but has won some low-level and minor competitions. In 1923, Melosi built four cars specifically for the most prestigious Targa Florio endurance race at the time, with drivers Enzo Ferrari, Giulio Massetti, Ugo Sivertchi and Antonio Ascari. They are experienced and skilled racing drivers, but they seem to have been unlucky and are considered "the second best".
To avoid another misfortune, Ugo Ciwatch painted a white square with a green four-leaf clover on the grille of his car. It may be that the four-leaf clover is showing off its power, and the result of the story is that Ugo Ciwatch won the first international race for Alfa Romeo.
However, if nothing else, there must be an accident. A few months later, on September 8, 1923, tragedy happened. Siwatch drove his Alfa during practice for the first European Grand Prix. ·Romeo P1 No. 17 crashed and died. This time, his P1 No. 17 car didn't sport the divine square four-leaf clover.
For the same superstitious reasons, the number 17 was no longer assigned to the Italian racing team after this crash. Even in the absence of official regulations, starting from the 1924 season, the Alfa Romeo team's cars were decorated with green four-leaf clovers. In memory of Siwatch, the white square was replaced by a triangle to indicate his absence, a symbol that remains in use today.
After World War II, quadrifoglio was used to distinguish Alfa Romeo's special sports products, first appearing on the body of the 1963 Giulia TI Super (also known as Giulia quadrifoglio).
Different versions of the four-leaf clover
In the 1970s, the Quadrifoglio Verde ("Green Four-leaf Clover") adorned Alfa Romeo's sportiest models, equipped The most powerful engine. Often abbreviated as "QV".
Also in the 1970s and 1980s, the golden four-leaf clover badge was used to represent the most luxurious version of Alfa Romeo, named Quadrifflio Oro ("Golden Four-leaf Clover"). Models such as Alfasud, Sprint, 33, 75, Spider, 164 and 145 all have Quadrifoglio Verde and Quadrifflio Oro versions.
The 155 model launched by Alfa Romeo in 1992 used the name "Q4" for the first time to represent the top version of the turbocharged four-wheel drive. The Q on the "Q4" logo is stylized as a clover, which means "Quadrifflio 4". The Q4 badge has been used to mark Alfa Romeo all-wheel drive vehicles since the launch of the 155 Q4 model. The same Q4 badge is also used on some new Maserati all-wheel drive models. In 2016, Volkswagen's Audi swapped trademarks with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles so the Q4 badge could also be used on Audi vehicles.
Most recently, the quadrifoglio badge was revived on the 2007 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione and Spide eight-cylinder sports cars. On the Alfa Romeo MiTo and Giulietta models launched in 2012, the Quadrifoglio Verde once again becomes the sportiest trim in the range, and the green four-leaf clover on the front wing once again becomes the hallmark of high-performance Alfa Romeo.
Alfa Romeo’s current models equipped with the Quadrifoglio badge are high-performance versions of the Giulia and Stelvio. Although these models do not use the "verde" adjective, the abbreviation QV is still often used informally, such as Alfa Romeo Giulia QV. The Quadrifoglio badge also appeared on the Alfa Romeo F1 team in 2018 and 2019.