Alfa Romeo Junior 2024 preview: specs and full details of the car that used to be Milano

It’s nearly six years since Alfa Romeo axed its child mannequin, the Mito – however the iconic Italian model is now returning to the small car market with this new SUV, known as Junior. The Alfa Romeo Junior was unveiled on April 10 2024 as the Alfa Romeo Milano. It took lower than every week for the car to be renamed as the Junior in an unprecedented transfer that adopted a authorized storm in Italy over the Milano being named after Milan but in-built Poland.   

Putting that all-time nice automotive PR gaffe to one aspect, Alfa Romeo Junior is the firm’s twist on the system already used by Stellantis stablemates Opel/Vauxhall (Mokka), Fiat (600), Peugeot (2008) and Jeep (Avenger). It makes use of the group’s e-CMP2 modular structure and will be supplied with a alternative of two electric-motor variations or a 48-volt petrol hybrid.

What powertrain choices and efficiency can we count on?

The Alfa Romeo Junior EVs will share the traditional Stellantis battery and charging configuration, with a 54kWh (50.8kWh usable) capability and refills at up to 100kW, however there’ll be two motor choices. The Junior Elettrica will get the typical 154bhp motor set-up, permitting up to a claimed 255 miles of vary and delivering a 0-62mph time that’s seemingly to be round 9 seconds.

The Junior Elettrica Veloce, in the meantime, includes a punchier front-mounted 237bhp motor (nearly actually shared with Abarth’s forthcoming 600e, since that car has an identical quoted determine) and a bespoke chassis calibration that features a Torsen mechanical differential, a sooner steering ratio, a widened observe, totally different entrance and rear anti-roll bars, stiffer suspension that lowers the journey height by 25mm, beefed-up brakes (380mm discs at the entrance) and 20-inch alloy wheels.

The petrol-powered model of the car will be known as the Junior Ibrida. It will get a 134bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol set-up that incorporates a 28bhp electrical motor built-in into the six-speed automated gearbox, permitting the car to run on electrical energy alone round 50 per cent of the time on the town.

The Ibrida will be initially supplied with front-wheel drive, however Alfa says a four-wheel-drive This fall model will arrive “at a later stage”. It hasn’t launched any technical details on the This fall, past saying it’ll ship “automated rear-wheel drive axle management”, nevertheless it’s seemingly that it’ll share no less than some parts with the forthcoming Jeep Avenger 4xe, which locations a further 28bhp electrical motor on the rear axle. Auto Express understands that the Ibrida isn’t but confirmed for the UK, and that even when it does make it to showrooms right here, it’s seemingly to be in two-wheel-drive kind solely.

What can we learn about the effectivity and working prices? 

The electrical Alfa Romeo Junior’s 54kWh battery can cost at up to 100kW and the vary is quoted as 255 miles. Alfa says that each Elettrica editions will get a Free2move charging card that consists of entry to over 600,000 charging stations throughout Europe, and a wallbox as commonplace.

What is the exterior and inside design like?

The Junior is definitely one of the greater e-CMP2 creations; at 4.17 metres in size, it’s just a few centimetres up on each the Avenger and Mokka, although just about equivalent to the Fiat 600 and a good bit shorter than the Peugeot 2008. The Alfa manages to look distinct, although, thanks to some usually sharp styling components. The entrance finish options stacked ultra-slim headlights and daytime-running lights, with a darker consumption decrease in the bumper and Alfa’s ‘shield grille’ set in textured plastic beneath a badge mounted on the forefront of the bonnet.

The aspect options cleaner surfacing, with a easy crease decrease down and one other greater one that curves over the rear wheelarch to intensify the rear shoulders of the car. The aspect profile appears to be like extra hatchback than SUV, with a comparatively massive glass space and a door deal with that, as on the Jeep Avenger, is built-in into the C-pillar. The rear has a swept-up tail, with a one-piece lighting factor that incorporates a slim LED signature, plus the Alfa Romeo script badging. 

Inside, the Junior stays true to Stellantis’s e-CMP2 {hardware} with a pair of 10.25 shows – one for the digital instrument panel and the different a touchscreen for infotainment. The designers have tried to give the Alfa’s fascia its personal distinct id, although, with a extra pronounced cowl form round the dials and ‘cloverleaf’ air vents.

The central display, in the meantime, sits a little bit decrease than in different e-CMP fashions, with slim air vents above it. There’s a extra typical decrease centre console, too, with acquainted Stellantis switches current however not the foldable cubbyhole cowl that we’ve seen in the Avenger and 600e.

What can we learn about the infotainment system? 

 Alfa says the infotainment interface will be simply customisable, thanks to app ‘widgets’ that can be dragged round the display and saved in place. The system will get over-the-air updates and related navigation, too. Based on our temporary expertise with the software program, it’s very comparable in idea to the interface in the Jeep Avenger and Fiat 600e. 

That’s not essentially a foul factor, since the tile-based structure makes it fairly straightforward to prod buttons for key capabilities. We’re advised the {hardware} beneath all of it is barely totally different, however we’ve but to see how large a distinction this makes in on a regular basis use – or how the promised customisation works in apply.

How sensible is the Alfa Romeo Junior and how large is the boot house?

The Alfa Junior is definitely a small SUV – so that you shouldn’t count on full family-car house inside the cabin. There’s respectable room for 2 adults up entrance, albeit with the stylised centre tunnel providing comparatively little cupboard space between them. Things tighten up in the again seats, although, with solely common legroom for taller adults; this might be affected additional when you decide an version with the thick plastic-backed sports activities seats. Headroom is much less of a difficulty, no less than.

The boot measures up to 400 litres, though we’re awaiting details on how this determine fluctuates relying on which powertrain you select. The load bay itself is an honest form and barely longer than in the likes of the Avenger, thanks to further rear overhang. The boot flooring has a pair of height settings, and there are a pair of moulded plastic hooks for buying baggage in either side of the boot.

Alfa additionally says that electrical variations of the Junior may have a further cable-storage space beneath the bonnet, though it hasn’t specified a precise capability for this house.

What security tech does the Alfa Romeo Junior have? 

We’re nonetheless ready for exact specs on the Junior’s security equipment, however we’d count on its tools listing to embody up to three Isofix child-seat mounting factors, and six airbags. Alfa additionally says that level-two autonomous driving tech will be accessible through the Techno pack – a bundle of choices that can be added to any of the variations.

What will the Alfa Romeo Juniorprice be?

Alfa Romeo has but to verify that the Ibrida hybrid model of the Junior will make it to the UK in any respect – and even when it does, it’ll solely be in two-wheel-drive kind, not This fall spec. If the petrol-based model does attain British showrooms, we must always count on a beginning determine roughly equal to the equally powered Jeep Avenger’s, at round £26,000.

Equally, there’s no phrase but on pricing for both of the confirmed electrical variations – the Elettrica or the Elettrica Veloce. However, the extra modest of the pair ought to price from round £35,000, whereas the high-performance model may nicely be priced at greater than £40,000.

Regardless of powertrain, the Junior will be accessible in a alternative of three trim packs. Techno brings matrix-LED headlights, a powered tailgate with gesture management and navigation, whereas Premium will get an uprated inside end and electrical adjustment and massaging perform on the driver’s seat. Sport, in the meantime, will get exterior styling tweaks, plus Sabelt sports activities seats and Alcantara upholstery.

In addition, the Elettrica and Ibrida fashions are being supplied with a launch version, known as Speciale. It mixes many of the key capabilities from the three packs, so it consists of pink paint and 18-inch alloy wheels, plus a singular upholstery end, a leather-covered steering wheel, eight-colour ambient lighting and keyless entry and begin.

Q&A With Jean-Philippe Imparato, CEO Alfa Romeo

We grabbed a while with the Alfa Romeo CEO at the launch occasion again when the car was known as Milano… 

Which bit of the Milano are you most proud of?

“I’m very proud that we are launching it with the sport version, the Veloce. I personally fought a lot to be able to say, ‘I’ve launched it with the sporty version first – 20-inch wheels, etc.’ The way we’ve worked on this car is really cool.”

Is there something you’d like to have added, given limitless funds?

“It’s not a question about having a blank cheque but if I had no regulations, I’d bring in a 300bhp engine. But I’m working within the rules. I already have the engine, in fact, but what do I tell my kids when it is 46 degrees in Sicily this summer?”

What will Milano do in your buyer base?

“In some countries it could be more than 40 per cent of our sales. Traditionally our customer is 53 years of age, a petrolhead and quite rich. We have already seen this change with Tonale, which has brought in more female customers and more business-to-business (fleet) buyers. And you bring that below an average of 40,000 euros. With Milano, everything will change – you will have an important effect on gender mix, and average price paid, depending on the countries and region.”

What about the UK? You’re nonetheless undecided on whether or not to promote the petrol hybrid right here. Why is that?

“I don’t want to disclose information that we’re not absolutely sure on. But you’re not an easy country to deal with; I love the UK, but it’s not easy! One minute I’m being told we have to hit a certain percentage of EV sales in March, the next there is maybe some movement or flexibility. It’s the same in other places too, of course. I will try to face the expectations of the customers and I know they are not black and white – they can be grey as well.”

Now, what do you assume of Alfa’s newest arrival? Tell us your ideas in the feedback part under…