STYLISH ALFA ROMEO JUNIOR SUV IS THE BRAND'S FIRST EV
- Alfa Romeo has revealed its first EV, the subcompact Junior crossover.
- Two single-motor, front-wheel-drive electric powertrains will be offered, with either 154 or 237 horsepower.
- The Junior is also being sold with a 134-hp turbocharged three-cylinder hybrid powertrain that will come with front- or all-wheel drive.
UPDATE 4/15/24: Alfa Romeo announced today that it is changing the name of its new subcompact EV from Milano to Junior, after the Italian government said the use of the name Milano is illegal. The name allegedly runs afoul of a law that states that "Italian-sounding" products built outside of Italy are misleading to customers; the Milano is set to be built in Poland. Alfa Romeo says it believes the name was in the clear but decided to change it "in the spirit of promoting mutual understanding." This story has been updated to reflect the name change.
Alfa Romeo aims to exclusively sell electric vehicles starting in 2027, and while we've heard reports of a 1000-hp successor to the Giulia Quadrifoglio sports sedan and a large flagship SUV, the Italian marque's first EV is actually quite different. The Junior will be offered with hybrid and electric powertrains when sales start in Europe later this year. This subcompact crossover, measuring a mere 164 inches long, isn't expected to come to the United States.
The Junior is closely related to two other Euro-market crossovers, the Jeep Avenger and the Fiat 600e, but it is undoubtedly the most stylish of the trio. The sportier versions pair the athletic stance with ornate four-spoke wheels and a unique grille treatment that sees a cutout of the brand's serpent-and-cross logo overlaid on a mesh pattern. A classier look is also available with a traditional Alfa Romeo script on the chrome triangular grille and a new take on the company's iconic "telephone dial" wheels.
Inside, the Junior attempts to differentiate itself from its Stellantis stablemates with a sporty steering wheel and a "telescope" design for the gauge cluster housing, which features a 10.3-inch display. The central 10.3-inch touchscreen is canted towards the driver, and the outermost air conditioning vents are shaped like the four-leaf clover seen on the brand's Quadrifoglio badge.
The Junior Elettrica uses a single electric motor paired with a 54.0-kWh battery and is offered with either 154 or 237 horsepower. While the Jeep and Fiat both come with the same battery capacity and the less powerful option, only the Alfa Romeo receives a 237-horse setup. Both versions are front-wheel drive, and Alfa Romeo claims the 154-hp Milano will travel roughly 250 miles on a charge on Europe's WLTP test cycle. Replenishing the battery from 10 to 80 percent should take less than half an hour on a 100-kW DC fast-charger.
The Junior Ibrida (hybrid version), however, will be offered with both front- and all-wheel drive. Only one hybrid powertrain is available, a turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder paired with a 28-hp electric motor integrated into the six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. A 48-volt lithium-ion battery provides the juice, and total output is listed at 134 horsepower. Alfa Romeo says that in urban driving, the Junior Ibrida will stay in electric mode for more than 50 percent of the time.
The sportiest Veloce trim sits 1.0 inch lower and packs revised front and rear anti-roll bars to provide a more athletic feel. The Veloce also includes 15-inch front brake discs clamped by four-piston calipers that hide behind 20-inch wheels, while a mechanical self-locking Torsen differential helps distribute torque. Orders have begun in Europe for the Junior Speciale launch edition, but the U.S. market will have to continue its wait for an electric Alfa Romeo.
This story was originally published April 11, 2024.
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