New Alfa Romeo Junior Coming Soon: Specs, price and release info

Just days after it launched as the Milano the new Alfa Romeo crossover has been renamed the Junior, following an embarrassing last-minute disagreement over whether the brand could in fact adopt the name of its home city for its latest model. While perhaps not the best start the Junior badge is one with some history to the brand and it’s not the first time a manufacturer has had to do something like this, Porsche famously having to rename its 901 sports car the 911 after Peugeot claimed the zero was too close to its own naming conventions. Safe to say that turned out alright in the end for Porsche!
As for the car itself the Junior will be the first Alfa Romeo available in fully electric form. This new compact SUV will be the smallest production Alfa since the Giulietta and the MiTo, itself named after a contraction of ‘Milan’ and ‘Torino’ in an amusing irony. Despite being the baby of the family, the Junior carries a heavy weight of responsibility. More petite than the Tonale Tonale, the Junior will be up against some strong competition from the likes of the Volvo EX30 and Smart #1. Alfa hopes that by blending its sporting heritage with modern Italian design the Junior will secure the brand’s position as it heads into the future. • The Junior is smaller than the Tonale and the first Alfa Romeo to be fully electrified. • By adding its own flavour of Italian design and a sporty driving experience to foundations shared with other brands in the wider Stellantis group the Junior is a more premium alternative to the Fiat 600e and Jeep Avenger • Both electric versions of the Junior will use the same 54kWh battery with the option of 156 horsepower for the Elettrica model and 240 horsepower for the Elettrica Veloce • An Ibrida hybrid version will also be available with 136 horsepower delivered through a petrol engine powering the front wheels and an electric motor driving the rears • Alfa Romeo says the range for the regular Elettrica will be 250 miles in all-round use, or more in purely town driving • The Junior has now been officially unveiled will launch with a Junior Speciale Elettrica limited edition based on the 156 horsepower electric version with a host of special trim features; regular models will then have the option of Technology, Exclusivity or Sportiness options packs with pricing for all to be confirmed

Combining traditional Alfa Romeo styling cues like the signature heart-shaped grille and muscular bodywork with a more modern mix of colours and finishes, the Junior is certainly assertive in its looks with a tall, crossover stance, big wheels and two-tone finish with a black roof. A dramatic, kicked-up rear end with curving rear lights integrating into a prominent lip spoiler are a sporty flourish referencing classic racing Alfa Romeos of the past. In terms of model line-up there’s the petrol/electric Ibrida with all-wheel drive, a front-wheel drive Elettrica and the top of the range all-wheel drive Elettrica Veloce with a host of performance enhancing upgrades to make sure the handling delivers on the promise of the 240 horsepower output.

In the modern style screens dominate the interior, with a digital instrument cluster and central display angled towards the driver. Alfa Romeo hasn’t forgotten its history, though, and the traditional instrument binnacle is a nice retro touch. Ditto the four-leafed clover inspired air vents, referencing the brand’s historic racing logo. Optional sports seats from motorsport brand Sabelt are another desirable feature, while on the practical side Alfa Romeo says the boot is the biggest in its class.

Batteries/range and engines

Underneath the uniquely Alfa styling, the Junior shares parts with its cousins from the Stellantis family, including the Vauxhall Mokka-e and the Fiat 600e. Which is no bad thing in our book, given both are decent to drive with respectable performance and a useful 250-mile range the regular Junior Elettrica also achieves. There’s no word yet on how much of a dent in that the extra performance of the Veloce version will make but you can expect to have to sacrifice some of that range for the 240 horsepower, all-wheel drive and generally sportier set-up. Upgrades include faster, more direct steering, lower suspension, upgraded brakes, bigger wheels and a hot-hatch inspired Torsen limited slip differential to help put the power down. Going the other way a 136 horsepower hybrid is also available, the petrol engine powering the front wheels while an electric motor at the back can cut in when required.

Price and release

The Junior is now listed on the Alfa Romeo customer website with additional information available there. No word as yet on pricing, but Alfa Romeo has confirmed a special launch edition based on the 156 horsepower electric version called the Junior Speciale Elletrica. It comprises a unique combination of colours, trim and other parts based around matt trim alongside Arese red paint and 18-inch ‘Petali’ wheels, a combined vinyl/fabric interior and selection of extras like eight-colour ambient lighting, built-in nav, a 180-degree rear view camera and power tailgate.

What other cars from Alfa Romeo are due this year?

There isn’t another new Alfa Romeo due this year. However, Alfa Romeo promises one new model every year up to 2027, by which time it plans to have a fully electric line-up. If it succeeds with this it will have made the transition from ICE to zero emissions in just six years, having had no electric vehicle as recently as 2021.

What other cars that are upcoming will this compete with?

The Junior with find itself swimming in an ever-expanding sea of small electric SUVs. Though it will be a more premium alternative to close relations such as the Fiat 600e, buyers will also compare it to new electric SUVs like the Volvo EX30 and Zeekr X.