The all-new Alfa Romeo Giulietta goes on sale in Europe this May, but the car will be released to the public at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, starting tomorrow. Giulietta is a name synonymous with Alfa performance and its resurrection is quite welcome.
The car is designed to compete in the premium hatch segment and is said to embody all that is good about Alfa and Italian design in general. It features the brand’s trademark triangular grills, a brand new interpretation of the classic shield, LED daytime running lights and rear LEDs too.. It was pencilled with coupe-like side windows and concealed rear door handles. Measurements are 4.35 metres in length, 1.46 meters in height, 1.8 meters in width and with a wheelbase of 2.63 meters. Boot space is rated at 350 litres.
Alfa borrowed the 8C Competizione’s dashboard commands and then grouped the main ones together in the centre. Satellite navigation is accessed through a pop-up display unit and interior equipment includes dual zone automatic climate control, leather steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, and other options like Blue&Me.
There will be four engines at launch, half of them petrol the other half diesel. Bottom of the range is the 88 kW 1.4TB, followed by the 125 kW 1.4TB MultiAir with 184 N.m and 250 N.m of torque respectively. The 1.4TB produces 134 g/km of C02 emissions and returns 4.6 l/100km in the extra-urban cycle.
The two diesels are the 1.6 JTDM with 77 kW and 320 N.m of torque at 1 750 rpm. It returns 3.7 l/100 km on the extra-urban cycle. Lastly a 125 kW 2.0 JTDM producing 350 N.m and 124 g/km of CO2 completes the initial range. All engines come with a 6-speed manual while the MultiAir and 125 kW 2.0 JTDM can be mated with a dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Later the 1750 TBi Quadrifoglio Verde model kicking out 173 kW and 340 N.m will join the range. It features a turbo, direct fuel injection, two continuously variable valve timing units and a scavenging control system that promises to get rid of turbo lag.
Exact timing for right-hand drive production is still not known, but expect the new Giulietta to reach SA shores by the 4th quarter of 2010.
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