New Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 TB Turismo

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 TB Turismo has caused a terrible row. In the blue corner was my friend who claimed this medium-sized hatchback is a pitiful excuse for a car. What 'absolute nonsense',

I exclaimed, as I defended its honour in the red corner. My friend said the Ford Focus has sharper handling than the Giulietta, that the Volkswagen Golf feels more robust, and that at £17,755 this entry-level fashion statement is rather expensive. Unfortunately, despite being made by a long-haired lout, these were valid points. The Focus starts at £13,995 and the Golf – that is possibly tough enough to outlast time – costs from £15,850. Okay, but none of these factors detract from the new Giulietta.

Alfa Romeo to target MX-5

Alfa Romeo is setting its sights on the Mazda MX-5 with a £25,000 two-seater sports car to replace the now-defunct Brera Spider.

The focus is on less weight and more compact dimensions, so the car will be a true successor to the sixties ‘Graduate’ Alfa Spider.

The newcomer will form an important part of Alfa’s strategy when it returns to the US in 2013 after more than 15 years. The first model to arrive there will be the 4C, revealed in concept form at March’s Geneva Motor Show, followed by the 159-replacing Giulia, a saloon based on the Chrysler 300C and this two-seater.


Power for the roadster will come from a four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine – most likely a detuned version of the Giulietta Cloverleaf’s 1.7-litre, delivering around 150bhp.


Alfa Romeo MX-5

Alfa Romeo

there is one aspect of the 159 that sneaks it back towards technology leadership: the recent addition of the 1750 engine option, which embraces the European trend for small-capacity, big-output engines. It's a 1742cc (so it really should be a 1740) unit with direct injection, variable valve timing and a turbocharger, making a truly impressive 147kW/320Nm yet still returning 8.1 litres per 100km in the combined cycle.

The claim of a diesel-like peak torque figure at just 1400rpm isn't always born out in practice - the throttle response can be tepid in low-gear, low-speed driving. But once you get into the mid-range, the 1.7-litre powerplant is beautifully linear and exceptionally crisp as you climb up the rev range.

It's certainly enough to give the very familiar (I mean that in a nice way) 159 a renewed lease on life, although in these days of two-pedal dual-clutch Alfas some might be surprised/disappointed to find that the 159 1750 only comes with a manual transmission. Once upon a time, you wouldn't have considered an Alfa Romeo with anything else. But times have changed.

Times have especially changed in this segment. The 159 - especially the Ti model, which rides 20mm lower than standard - still feels pretty sharp on the road. But there's a whole new generation of rival models like the Peugeot 508 and Volvo S60 which are new to the market and generations ahead in terms of dynamic sophistication. The 159 is still fun, but the ride/handling compromise feels unresolved on bumpy New Zealand back roads: not nimble enough to be truly sporty, not compliant
enough for executive status. The cabin is also dated compared with the latest generation of Alfa Romeos, but in a way that I really rather like.

Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon Review

The Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon is one of the most stylish estates on the market. But is that a reason to buy it? For many motorists the answer is 'yes'. People, after all, often choose vehicles because they want to be perceived as stylish and fashionable. They want their friends to say 'wow', look at him in his fancy Italian plaything. These folk might love a two-door convertible – but sooner or later most people get stuck with a pile of kids and need something practical. As such, the beautifully crafted 159 Sportwagon ticks the boxes. Its 445-litre boot swallows a reasonable pile of child related paraphernalia – but being an Alfa Romeo it also earns points in the ever-popular game of pub-based bragging.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 TB Turismo

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 TB Turismo has caused a terrible row.

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 TB Turismo has caused a terrible row. In the blue corner was my friend who claimed this medium-sized hatchback is a pitiful excuse for a car.

What 'absolute nonsense', I exclaimed, as I defended its honour in the red corner. My friend said the Ford Focus has sharper handling than the Giulietta, that the Volkswagen Golf feels more robust, and that at £17,755 this entry-level fashion statement is rather expensive.

Unfortunately, despite being made by a long-haired lout, these were valid points. The Focus starts at £13,995 and the Golf – that is possibly tough enough to outlast time – costs from £15,850. Okay, but none of these factors detract from the new Giulietta.

Alfa Romeo Planning MX-5

There are few sexier ways to announce a big return than with a cherry red coupe like the Alfa Romeo 4C. And, by all indications, that's exactly how Alfa plans to make its grand return to the United States market.

Not only is the 4C a looker, but it's also a good amount of car for a decent price. With a weight well under 2,000 pounds, a 200-horsepower engine, a 0-60 mph time under 5 seconds, and an expected price around $60,000, the 4C packs a whole lot into a small, affordable package.