Making a comeback is never easy – just ask Michael Schumacher! Alfa Romeo, however, at least has comeback persistence and the arrival of the Giulietta name marks another attempt by the Italian automaker to rekindle the heydays of its Cuore Sportivo – sporting heart – that made its car so irresistibly desirable through the 60’s and 70’s.
For the last couple of decades that sporting heart appeared to have developed a slow puncture where moments of brilliance – the Walter da Silva penned Alfa 156 – was surround, nay, drowned in a sea of mediocrity. Really, who would see the dreadful Alfa 147 a ‘stepping stone’?
Then, suddenly, and very much out of nowhere, came the Competizione. Absolutely stunning styling and the first ‘real’ Alfa Romeo for years. Sadly consigned to being a limited edition it nevertheless piqued the interest and paved the way for the MiTo.
Exciting, innovative and with the ‘wow’ factor that had been missing for so long put firmly into place, Alfa Romeo was on the road to recovery – the question being what else, and when.
This is where Giulietta steps in. The name was originally revealed to the motoring public in Turin in 1954 and the Giulietta of that day an open top sportster. In its final incarnation it was a C-segment sedan that satisfied the sporty demands of the Alfisti while being eminently usable as a daily commute.
When Alfa left South Africa and the downward spiral got up to full revs, the fall out meant the ranks of the Alfisti were not really expanding, it was just the same ones getting older and crying over their pretzels and grappa about the old days.
Having made its world preview at the Geneva International Motor Show, the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta was launched in celebration of the Italian automaker’s centenary, the name Giulietta is a tribute to both an automobile and the legend that is Alfa Romeo.
Now the Alfa Romeo Style Centre has produced a new Giulietta, a five-door hatchback on an entirely new platform – called Compact – that will allow the Giulietta to accommodate the needs of all customers in this category, combining on-board comfort, functional interiors and generous boot space, with the dynamic qualities that belong to every Alfa Romeo.
The Alfa DNA selector, a device that customises the vehicle’s behaviour to suit different road conditions and driving styles and first launched with the MiTo is standard on the entire range of the new model that, at launch, consists of three derivatives – 1.4 TB 88 kW, 1.4 TB 125 kW MultiAir and the 173 kW Quadrifoglio Verde 1750.
The front displays a brand new interpretation of the classic shield, embedded in the front bumper and suspended between the air vents. The front headlights feature LED technology and a day light function for maximum active safety.
The profile of the car is coupé-like, while the rear features distinct styling including innovative rear lights that also use LED technology, not only for the sake of style but also preventive safety.
The measurements of the new car amount to a compact and dynamic shape, while at the same time offering comfort and a spacious boot (350 litres): it is 4.35 metres long, 1.46 metres high and 1.80 metres wide, with a wheelbase of 2.63 metres.
Thanks to the advanced ergonomics in the interior design, every switch is ideally located: the main ones are grouped together at the centre of the dashboard and feature the same retro, toggle-design as those on the 8C Competizione.
The range of engines available can accommodate the needs of all customers. First of all the 88 kW 1.4TB is the ideal C-segment alternative for fleet buyers, user choosers and those largely confined to city traffic and looking for low running costs. The turbo engine guarantees prompt response even at low revs (maximum torque is achieved at just 1,750 revs) while Start&Stop, in the city, makes it possible to cut consumption and harmful emission levels drastically, without compromising comfort and on-board safety.
The 125 kW 1.4 TB Multiair engine blends high performance levels with the lowest emissions and fuel consumption levels in its class for petrol engines of this power rating. It is a flexible engine, with a maximum torque of a generous 250 Nm (when set to Dynamic), fitted with a Start&Stop system and with fuel consumption and emission levels resembling a diesel engine more than a petrol one with this power rating (4.6 l/100 km in the extra-urban cycle and 134 g/km of CO2 emissions).
All the engines are combined with a state-of-the-art manual 6-speed gearbox belonging to the three axle transmission family, which can withstand and transmit high maximum torque values. Waiting in the wings is an all-new innovative dual-clutch automatic transmission (TCT) which will debut on the Giulietta during the second half of 2011.
The 5-star Euro NCAP rated Alfa Romeo Giulietta has achieved the highest safety score (87/100) ever by a compact car. In addition, the new platform was devised to guarantee the utmost interaction of the systems in charge of controlling the vehicle dynamics.
Devised to cater for the different needs of segment C car drivers in pursuit of driving satisfaction and comfort, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta in 1.4-litre Turbo Petrol guise is available in two versions, Progression and Distinctive. All the devices linked to active and passive safety are fitted as standard on the entire range. The 88 kW Progression version comes with the Alfa DNA system (incorporating Q2 electronic differential and DST), VDC (including ASR and hill holder), 6 airbags, front seat belts with dual pretensioners and front seats with anti-whiplash system as standard. The standard equipment also includes manual climate control, 16’’ alloy wheels, front and rear electric windows, stereo system with dual tuner radio, 6 speakers and MP3 CD player and the Blue&Me connectivity system.
The 125 kW Multiair Distinctive model offers the following in addition to the standard equipment of the former: 17″ alloy wheels, dual zone automatic climate control, leather steering wheel with radio controls, trip computer, front armrest with storage compartment, cruise control, fog lights, reconfigurable control panel, seats upholstered in Competizione fabric, front armrest, and a stylish chromed insert (chrome line) framing the side windows. The dashboard on the Distinctive version is also distinguished by a stylish insert painted in magnesium grey or, alternatively, in Ghiaccio white, Alfa Red as well as in brushed burnished aluminium.
A very exciting new option is the Blue&Me–TomTom system. This combo system adds navigation functions to the functions of the Blue&Me thanks to the TomTom portable navigation system which is perfectly integrated with the vehicle’s existing systems thanks to a Bluetooth interface. The TomTom portable navigation system is positioned on the dashboard using a support designed to guarantee maximum safety in the event of impact and complete integration with the vehicle’s other systems and improved ergonomics in everyday use.
The Giulietta features a revised MacPherson front suspension, tweaked to offer maximum rigidity under side loads, reducing the weight thanks to the use of aluminium (saving 4 kg with respect to conventional solutions). The rear suspension is a sophisticated Multilink that guarantees the best trade-off between handling and ride comfort without compromising the useful volume of the boot. In this case too, special attention was paid to reducing weight and, thanks to the aluminium wishbones, this suspension allows for a weight reduction of over 10 kg with respect to conventional Multilink systems.
The Alfa Romeo Giulietta is equipped with an anti-lock braking system, one of the most sophisticated currently available. It has four active sensors and a hydraulic control unit with 12 solenoid valves. The system is incorporated with EDB (Electronic Brake force Distribution). The latter distributes the braking action over four wheels, in order to stop the wheels locking and ensuring complete vehicle control in all conditions.
On the Road
The launch drive offered a chance to test the MultiAir and the Quadifoglio Verde around the Western Cape and our first steed was the MultiAir. No question it is an Alfa Romeo – the very distinctive engine note that is engineered into every Alfa choogled its little boogie from startup.
Gearshifts were smooth and precise and the car – even in ‘normal’ mode always had the sesne it wanted you to do more. So we did. Handling is taut, steering precise and, oh happy days, the feeling of driving the car.
Road and wind noise came through rather disappointingly, but we waited until we swapped into the 1750 – again a disappointment in this department. However, discussion with colleagues later clearly pointed to imported Pirelli tyres being the best choice against the Bridgestone or Continental shod cars on the launch.
What I particularly enjoyed about the 1750 is the extra power is just there – it does not arrive in a rush of brutal force, it does not need high revs to shake it out of slumber. It really means a lot less downshifting for overtaking or climbing hills – yet, when going from A to B becomes a need for speed it obliges willingly.
Priced to be competitive with the BMW 1-Series, Volkswagen Golf, Opel Astra and that ilk, the Alfa Giulietta sweeps in as a breath fresh air in a market segment often bogged down by ‘sameness’.
As a first for a premium brand, Alfa Romeo offers a five-year 150 000 km warranty on the new Giulietta. Linked to this is a six-year/90 000km service plan for the 1.4-litre models (with service intervals of 30 000km) and a six-year/105 000km service plan for the flagship 1750 TBi which features 35 000km service intervals – a benchmark in the highly contested C-segment class.
| Price (incl. VAT and CO2) | |
| Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 88kW Progression | R243 000 |
| Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 125kW MultiAir Distinctive | R279 900 |
| Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1750TBi 173kW Quadrifoglio Verde | R330 275 |
Colin Windell is the editor of Fleet magazine and contributor to SACarFan.
