Subtle styling enhancements to the Giulietta offer up-to-date competition to rivals and show the shared genetics with the achingly beautiful Giulia.
There is no doubt that Alfa Romeo offer unique Italian style and elegance at an affordable price and the new Giulietta is available to order now from UK dealerships, starting from £18,450 for the entry-level trim.
New styling features include a new honeycomb grille and revised headlamp and fog lamp surrounds which show the bloodline to the new Giulia sports saloon. There are 13 body colours to choose from, including two new colours – Alfa White and Lipari Grey.
A new 120hp, 1.6 litre turbo diesel engine combined with the Alfa TCT twin dry-clutch transmission is available on the new car among eight other powertrains, which includes the range topping 240hp 1750cc turbo petrol engine paired to a specially calibrated TCT gearbox in the Giulietta Veolce.
The specification and equipment of the Veloce is similar to that of the Giulietta Speciale, which has as standard: sports suspension, sports bumpers with red Alfa profile, 18-inch alloy wheels, Brembo brakes with red four-piston callipers, an anthracite finish on the door mirror caps, door handles and grille and fog lamp surrounds.
Inside the Speciale and carried over to the Veloce, leather and Alcantara seats welcome you in, with aluminium pedals and a flat-bottomed steering wheel, complete with red contrasting stitching shouting “Bella Bella”. Petrol engine choices are: 150hp 1.4-litre turbo and 170hp 1.4-litre turbo with TCT gearbox. The turbo diesel engines are 150hp 2.0-litre and 175hp 2.0-litre with TCT.
Contrasts to look out for which will set apart the two models are a unique set of 18-inch alloy wheels, oversized tailpipes and perhaps a slightly lower stance than the Speciale, due to the specific suspension set-up on the Veloce.
I have always admired Alfa Romeo, who offer an exciting and stylishly different model line-up compared to their European cousins.