12 May 2011
New car report; Old name for new Alfa
Reviving an old nameplate from a true performance classic of yesteryear can be a risky business if the new machine doesn’t live up to the reputation its forbear created all those decades ago.
No such concerns for Alfa Romeo though with the new Giulietta, as the 21st century incarnation remains true to form, delivering lively performance coupled with a sporty chassis, packaged in a style that oozes all the charm and panache of Alfas that carried the Giulietta moniker as early as 1954.
Replacing the 147, the new Giulietta is longer, wider, higher and faster than the outgoing model, and with a 5 star Euro NCAP safety rating and meeting Euro 5 emission standards, it is safer and thriftier too.
New platform to be shared with Fiat and Chrysler
The Giulietta is the first of a number of future planned models to be built on the Fiat Group’s new Compact platform, which will see Fiat and Chrysler/Dodge badged vehicles utilising in the coming years.
Currently, New Zealand buyers are offered two model variants, a 1.4 MultiAir and a 1.8 QV, both turbocharged and both with six speed manual ‘boxes. Later in 2011 we’ll be offered the option of TCT (Twin Clutch Transmission) autos too.
Our test car was the 173kW/340Nm 1.8 QV. With a 0 – 100km/h time of 6.8 seconds, the QV has a quoted combined cycle fuel consumption of 7.6L/100km.
The 125kW/250Nm 1.4 MultiAir gets to 100km/h in 7.8 seconds and is said to consume 6.0L/100km. And for a performance machine, environmentalists will be relatively happy with CO2 figures of 177g/km and 139g/km for the 1.8 QV and 1.4 MultiAir respectively.
Alfa GiuliettaThe simplified model range means all cars for our market are fully loaded with trick gear, with standard equipment including Blue&Me Bluetooth, cruise control, rear parking sensors, rain and headlight sensors, show me home headlights, dual climate air, Q2 electronic differential and six airbags.
Our 1.8 QV (Quadrifoglio Verde – or Green Cloverleaf, which sounds far less exotic!), adds extra goodies such as sport suspension, side skirts, 18 inch dark titanium alloys, a Bose hi-fi system, red stitched sport seats and sport steering wheel, smoked headlamps and dark tint rear windows.
Alfa DNA turns throttle pedal into a switch - it's either off or on!
Both models get Alfa’s DNA (Dynamic, Normal, All Weather Control), which at the flick of a switch alters the dynamics of the car, sharpening up steering and handling as well as throttle response.
Sliding the switch from Normal to Dynamic makes a dramatic change to acceleration, which we’re told is the result of altering the engine’s electronic mapping and upping the turbo boost. We’re sure that fuel economy must be adversely affected in the Dynamic mode, so around town the sensible driver will stay in Normal.
But with the smile factor that’s produced when “Dynamic” is selected, we’d defy even the most conservative driver not to be tempted on occasion, particularly on twisty back roads where the Giulietta’s great chassis shines.
The Giulietta seems well put together and our car was free of any rattles or squeaks, and a high standard of Italian craftsmanship is evident in the well laid out cabin.
In short, we were impressed by the Giulietta. It offers sports car handling and performance, 5 door hatch practicality and Italian style and X factor at a price that’s not terribly out of kilter with the mainstream.
It’s priced from $46,990 for the 1.4 MultiAir to $54,990 for the 1.8 QV.