This is the Alfa Romeo Junior, the first model from the storied Italian carmaker to be available in completely battery-electric form.
A very smart-looking (what you’d expect from Alfa Romeo) compact SUV, the Junior will also be available with a hybrid drivetrain. Of the three variants announced, the Elettrica and the Elettrica Veloce will be all electric, while the Ibrida will offer the hybrid set-up.
Both the Electtrica and the Eletricca Veloce are front-wheel-drive and come with a 54kWh battery, but power availability varies between the two. The standard Eletricca offers 116kW/260Nm while the Veloce delivers 179kW/345Nm. Range is a claimed 410km (WLTP) for the 116kW version. Charging via 100kW fast charging stations will get you from 10 to 80 per cent charge in 30 minutes.
The Ibrida model adopts a 102kW, 48V Hybrid VGT (Variable-Geomtery Turbo) architecture, pairing a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine with a 48-volt battery and 21kW electric motor built into a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The Ibrida will be available with front-wheel-drive initially, but there will be an option to have Q4 all-wheel-drive at some point.
There is to be a special launch edition of the Junior – called the Speciale – available with either electric or hybrid powertrains. The model offers a few extra touches beyond the standard models.
Inside, the Junior offers a premium cabin using top-notch materials. Layout-wise, there’s a fully digital 10.25-inch TFT instrument screen to access the car’s data and the settings. In the middle of the dashboard, and oriented towards the driver, there’s a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen.
There’s 400-litre of storage available in the boot space, and a ‘frunk’ up front to store a charging cable.
Alfa Romeo says the Junior comes equipped with Alfa Connect Services – which offers advanced onboard connectivity and a range of services. Thanks to over-the-air (OTA) technology, the car’s maps and software are always kept up to date, and functions include ‘My Navigation’, consisting of apps to remotely search for destinations and points of interest (PoI), as well as real-time alerts on traffic, weather and speedcams.
Via the My Alfa Connect smartphone app, customers can also interact with the car using ‘My Remote,’ with various services, such as remote control of the car’s functions (opening/closing doors or flashing the lights) via smartphone or smartwatch; vehicle location; and control of certain parameters (speed and area). E-Control offers the option to remotely manage start-up and stopping, to schedule charging or, if necessary, to heat or cool the interior before getting into the vehicle.
Also integrated is the ‘Hey Alfa’ virtual assistant and ChatGPT (AI) which use voice recognition to give useful information.
For those wondering about the name ‘Junior’ – which doesn’t feel particularly Alfa Romeo of the modern era – it was not the first choice. In fact, the company launched the vehicle with the name Milano. However, rumblings of discontent from the Italian Government saw Alfa Romeo change the name just a few days after that launch. With the Junior reportedly to be built at the Stellantis (which owns Alfa Romeo) factory in Poland, the Italian Government said that it could only carry that name if it was built in Italy.
In a media release, Alfa Romeo said, ‘Despite Alfa Romeo believing that the name met all legal requirements and that there are issues much more important than the name of a new car, Alfa Romeo has decided to change it from “Milano” to “Alfa Romeo Junior” in the spirit of promoting mutual understanding.’
Politics can be weird, but who cares. We’re still going to get one beautiful-looking car.
Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (May 2024)
22 May 2024