REACHING a milestone, no matter what the occasion, is always a time for celebration.
Last month, Alfa Romeo reached the magical 100 year birthday, and what more fitting way for the sporty Italian marque to celebrate than to introduce a brand new model which is set to drive the company to greater heights.
Having kick-started the revival big time with their fabulous little MiTo supermini, Alfa has now set its sights on the small, family-sized class which makes up around 25 per cent of all new cars sold in Europe.
To succeed against the VW Golfs, Audi A3s and Ford Fiestas of this world you have to come up with something that’s a bit special.
Alfa has just done just that with the new Giulietta.
With strikingly good looking the sexy new Giulietta, which carries on the famous name first used back in 1954, comes with a strong range of fuel-efficient, smooth-running turbocharged engines.
For those seeking out a conventional petrol unit there’s the choice of two 1.4-litre engines pumping out either 120bhp or 170bhp.
Then there’s a larger 1.7-litre 235bhp unit, which with its 150mph top speed, can keep pace with most competing offerings within this class.
Two diesels are also available, a 1.6-litre 105bhp and a larger two-litre, also good for 170bhp and with it a top speed of 135mph.
To control all this power, Alfa designed the new Giulietta to sit on an all-new lightweight compact platform which utilises a host of advanced engineering and technical solutions.
Combined with other high-tech systems, such as vehicle dynamic control, electronic stability programme, anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution and anti-slip regulation, it helps make the vehicle the safest compact car on the road.
Other superb features are the Giulietta’s Q2 system which acts as an electronic limited slip differential and the car’s electronic DNA system which allows the driver to switch from Normal set-up to either a more sporty Dynamic setting or All-weather mode for maximum grip in poor conditions.
Prices for the Giulietta start at £16,995 for the entry-level Turismo working up to £24,495 for the 1750 TBi Cloverleaf flying machine.
All come with air-con, electric windows all-round and fuel and CO2-saving engine start and stop system.
Lusso spec adds alloy wheels, steering wheel-mounted controls and Bluetooth, while Veloce trim has sports suspension and a sportier leather/cloth trim.
The flagship Cloverleaf gets even lower suspension, 18-inch alloys, darkened windows and visibility pack.
With such a long and illustrious sporting heritage behind them, including Grand Prix championships, Le Mans 24-Hour successes and 10 pre-war Mille Miglia victories, Alfa Romeo has a lot of time to make up, but with the new Giulietta things should quickly head in the right direction.
FAST FACTS
Alfa Romeo Giulietta Turismo
Price: £16,995
Mechanical: 120bhp, 1,368cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 121mph
0-62mph: 9.4 seconds
Combined mpg: 44.1
Insurance group: 15
CO2 emissions: 149g/km
BIK rating: 15%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles