The new Alfa Romeo Giulietta will offer much greater practicality than the car it replaces, the 147, according to project engineer Matteo Benedetto.
Rectifying the Alfa Romeo 147's drawbacks while retaining its verve and style were major goals of the Giulietta's development process. Only a tiny section of floor and a suspension nut have been carried over from the old car, said Benedetto.
But the aim is to please more than the Alfisti, with extended accommodation and a boot that's now as big as you’ll find in a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus. "This has got to be a family car," said Benedetto.
See our Alfa Giulietta gallery
Improving ride quality and refinement were priorities, and the Alfa's crash test performance is expected to be class-leading.
A new rack-mounted electric power steering motor is said to sharpen steering feel, while improved body rigidity has helped to contain this Alfa's weight. Although it's heavier than the 147, it is more than 100kg lighter than the new Vauxhall Astra. A magnesium crossbeam behind the dash improves stiffness and cuts the kilos.
The all-new suspension consists of struts up front and a multi-link set-up at the rear, while the 1.4 Multiair engine is among the most impressive in the line-up; it offers 168bhp, but emits 134g/km of CO2.
Inside, the Giulietta offers an appealingly Latin flavour with its elegant seats and faintly retro instruments. But the slightly fussy dash and plasticky door casings look set to fall short of best-in-class standards.
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Re: Alfa's 'practical' Giulietta
Re: Alfa's 'practical' Giulietta
Well, I returned from Geneva today and I can confirm reports that it looks better in the metal than in pictures.
I haven't found anything wrong with the dash, in fact it looks very 'Alfa' which I like very much.
And most of all, I look forward to a group test with the new Astra. I sat in the back of Astra and with 191 cm in height I bumped my head constantly into the edge of the roof. I had to look straight all the time. The moment I would turn my head left or right, I'd bump it into the roof.