Fiat is still up-beat on Alfa's prospects, and has targeted a five-fold increase in sales by 2014, from last year's unviable 100,000 units. A brave forecast. Even foolhardy in these times. But one car brought Alfa back from zombieland before, the 156 a dozen years ago, so maybe the feat can be repeated.
The car I drove last week gave me the same kind of optimism I remember feeling when I first got into a 156, and which has been missing since that was replaced by the 159, still Alfa's biggest seller here.
The Giulietta truly has style. A slightly coupe look though the car is a full 5-seater and is also a 5-door hatch. The front end is, of course, unmistakeable: that Alfa triangular grille could not be imitated by anyone. Dressed in sharp alloys, and preferably in either black or red, it is as smart a 'different' car as you could ask for.
Inside was a revelation, even though I had seen the car before at the Geneva Motor Show. Certainly, the typical dark ambience is there, but leavened by lighter detail work on the dashboard and instrumentation. There is also a strong sense of good build, and quality materials. Leather and metal touches are well done. And the review car had a couple of grand's worth of leather seat covering that both looked and felt good.
The 156 was a car that a driver felt good in. With my first decent stretch in the Giulietta, it feels the same. It also carries passengers in decent space and comfort and there's a reasonable boot for their stuff.
The underpinnings are tough but lightweight thanks to liberal use of aluminium and high tensile steel in the structure. The car achieved five stars and an overall 87 percent rating in the ENCAP crash tests, and that's at the top of the league. There's a sophisticated multi-link rear suspension which offers a good mix of sporty and comfortable handling.
There are three petrol engines available, ranging in output from 120-235hp, and a brace of diesels at 105hp and 170hp. In the diesels, my recollection of the 1.6 105hp in the smaller MiTo isn't positive, but the 170hp JTD in the review Giulietta is quite superb. It's a B rated unit for Irish CO2 tax (as is the marginally thirstier 170hp MultiAir 1.4 TB petrol option, by the way), and grunty enough that I didn't feel the need to much use the 'Dynamic' switch which offers sharper responses from engine and steering. This latest version of the JTD is also a much more refined animal.
I enjoyed driving the car, which in this version was entertaining on the open road as well as an easy trundle in traffic. I liked the feel and the look of the car. Overall I had my perception of current Alfas changed.
There are annoyances. The glare on the instruments is a design beginner's mistake. And the thickness of the B-pillar meant that my habit of taking a quick look back before changing to an overtaking lane was of no benefit. I'm also iffy about the racy aluminium pedals, off which my left foot skidded once on a rainy day. And there's not enough room to the left of the clutch pedal, either, so my size 10 has to be parked under it.
In the big picture, probably flaws any Alfista can live with. Even ones which won't worry those whom Alfa hopes will desert the more mainstream compact hatches to try a bit of Italian racing heritage.
The original Giulietta in the 50s was designed as the first 'affordable' and family car Alfa. This one aspires to the same positioning but there are complex decisions to endure. With three grades plus the high-power Cloverleaf, 10 different price points and four tax bands, it ranges from €19,995-€33,995, the entry being a C-band petrol. The review car was €27,570 and with extras the total stood at €31,260.
The 'Giulietta' name is probably from Juliet in the Shakespeare play 'Romeo & Juliet'. I hope this time the story has a happy ending.
