The Alfa Romeo Giulietta will be quieter and better-riding than a VW Golf, and more agile than a Ford Focus, according to its makers.
The all-new five-door hatchback will be launched at Geneva next month, and is the first Alfa model to utilise a new compact chassis.
See the Alfa Romeo Giulietta pictures
As a result, Alfa is already claiming European class supremacy in handling, steering feel, performance-to-weight, ride comfort, NVH and safety, according to Matteo Benedetto, the Giulietta project manager.
For comparison tests, Alfa engineers chose the model they feel marks the “sweet spot” in the range, the 170bhp turbocharged MultiAir 1.4 litre with twin-clutch paddle-shift gearbox.
Priced similarly to VW Golf’s range, the Giulietta is likely to follow the same three-tier line-up (Touring, Lusso and Veloce) as the Mito, though there will be an even zippier 1.8-litre, 235 bhp Cloverleaf version at the very top. Most models will be in British showrooms by June.
The new chassis on which the Giulietta is based is also earmarked for a range of Fiat-Chrysler group vehicles that will eventually include sports cars, 4x4 saloons and SUVs.
Fiat Group chief, Sergio Marchionne, says the Alfa marque’s prospect of being launched in the US depend heavily on whether the Giulietta achieves its European targets first.
He is determined that the car, whose name was changed from Milano at the last minute after a dispute with Milanese workers, will reinstate the marque’s reputation for fine handling and performance.
Steve Cropley
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Re: New Alfa 'better than Focus, Golf'
There's no doubt that Alfa is going through a difficult time, fiat have not done a good job over the years ( it's not good blaming Alfa all decisions are made by fiat ). On the other hand what we got here is the usual stereotype that Italians are only good at making pizzas and ice cream. The fact that Vw , or Ford before it would love to buy Alfa doesn't count. And oh yes let's not forget toyota , or honda for that matter and their massive ( very late) recall calls!! If this sort of scandal had involved an Italian maker, some of you would probably take the matter to the Un. But then again i guess those same , some of you, don't seem to have that much intelligence.
Re: New Alfa 'better than Focus, Golf'
It's a myth that Alfas are unreliable, they are as unreliable as most cars on the road. I'm on my second new Alfa and both have been quite reliable and well built. My Daughter's running my first Alfa now, and after 9 years and 60k miles it has been relatively trouble free. It still has the original exhaust on it!
My Brera has been superb, it's well built and residuals are good, my Alfa 155 (the workhorse) gives so much pleasure for so little money, and my 1991 Spider is due for another 2500 mile trip to Milan and back this Summer.
Serviced properly, an Alfa is as good as most anonymous Aldis, etc,. As for Bangle stealing styling ideas off the 147 for the one series, well!
BTW, a friend of mine says 80% of his work (block and cylinder repairs) is off German cars, and don't get me started on Mercedes reliability.......
Re: New Alfa 'better than Focus, Golf'
Find some interesting slides from Alfa. In Italian but easy enough to understand most of it
As you can see the Focus isn't held in such high esteem for its handling outside the UK- the Italians rate it more or less worst in class:
http://www.unica-strada.com/blog/2010/02/11/la-giulietta-aux-rayons-x-suite/