Alfa Romeo Ibrida review: Trish Whelan, Irish Car

Alfa Romeo ignited passion among motoring enthusiasts when it introduced the new Junior fully electric SUV/crossover on Valentine’s day this year. The electrified model was designed to inspire a new generation of drivers with its unmistakable Italian flair, cutting-edge technology and offering a thrilling performance. Still, you miss the legendary ‘song' of past Alfa Romeo engines. 

A petrol-hybrid Alfa Romeo Junior named Ibrida (meaning hybrid in Italian) has since joined the line-up priced the same as the electric version. ‘Junior’ is built on the same Stellantis platform as are many Citroen, Fiat, Opel and Jeep models. 

My review car looked swell in an exterior colour that resembled a deep-sea green. The small and interestingly designed 17-inch alloy wheels added to the car’s overall style. The Ibrida has a slightly different grille than the BEV version, with the iconic Scudetto V-Shield featuring Alfa Romeo lettering taking pride of place. Still, to my mind, it doesn’t stand out enough, as the slanted grey letters merge into the dark background. The same applies to the name on the rear. A bit of chrome wouldn’t go astray, as the only brightwork on the exterior is the twin exhaust pipes at the rear. Rear doors handles are located high on side doors, and there’s a big rear wiper. 

The cabin is beautifully designed and mostly quite dark. Interior trims are in blue. The dash is busy with lots of features, especially the 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment screen, angled towards the driver for easy viewing. It comes standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and navigation. Thankfully, you don’t have to go through screen menus for all controls, as there are physical buttons and knobs below for volume, climate control settings, air conditioning, and defrosting the windscreen or rear window. There’s a separate, same-size customisable digital instrument cluster ahead of the steering wheel. There are two C-type USB ports, one on either side of the wireless phone charging pad. We are very familiar, and like, the switch-type transmission selector on the central console, along with the drive mode switch for Dynamic, Natural, and Advanced Efficiency modes, and the electric handbrake. The big three-spoke synthetic-leather steering wheel controls include voice control and a volume button. 

Sporty front seats with a massage function were well bolstered and looked good in dark and red fabric. The driver’s seat has 6-way manual adjustments, the front passenger’s 4-way adjustments. Cubbies are a divided glovebox, large door bins (none in the rear) and two deep cupholders; the slidable front armrest has a deep space. Three adults could be a big cramped for space in the rear for long trips, especially if seated behind tall people in front, but two adults and a child would fit fine for long journeys. The middle seat back is fixed, so there’s no arm rest, but you have pockets on the backs of the front seats and a USB port. My car had a power tailgate, a height-adjustable floor and 415 litres of luggage space that can expand to 1,280 litres with rear seats folded. 

Many of the features come in optional packs. The Technology Pack includes traffic sign information, Adaptive Cruise Control and Traffic Jam Assist, auto folding/heated/power door mirrors, Blind Spot Detection, hands-free power liftgate, LED Matrix Projector headlamps, the charging pad and USB ports, and all-round parking sensors. The Premium Pack (€3,000) added the adjustable three-level cargo floor, a black-painted body kit, sports pedal, premium heated seats, and power adjustments. 

The Junior Ibrida hybrid powertrain combines a 1.2 three-cylinder engine delivering 136hp and 230Nm of torque with a 48-volt electric motor and a smooth six-speed DCT automatic transmission. The Ibrida hybrid can be driven around town in electric mode for 50 per cent of the time. I found the steering nicely weighted and responsive, and there was plenty of oomph from the familiar 1.2 engine; the car handled beautifully, also with good grip when cornering, all of which contributed to my enjoyment of driving. 

This gorgeous car, which can accelerate from 0-100km/h in a respectable 8.9 seconds, and has a top speed of 205km/h. An e-Boost function provides extra performance and power during acceleration. It's economical too, with a combined fuel consumption of around 4.8 L/100kms and road tax of €180. Thickish B-Pillars somewhat impede over-the-shoulder and rear visibility due to the high rear window line. Euro NCAP hasn’t yet tested the Junior Ibrida hybrid, so no safety ratings are available. Prices are from €34,995: my car as tested €42,595.

Alfa Romeo Ibrida Review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

When Alfa Romeo adopted the Junior name for one of its 1960s 105 series coupes, it designated a lower-powered version, and therefore a cheaper car than its more powerful variants, writes Brian Byrne. It was a good move, as the version sold in big numbers, showing that a car that looked the part is what most drivers really want, rather than raw performance. Ford did the same thing with the Capri around the same time.

So, looks have always meant a lot to the average car buyer, even those with sporty-image aspirations. In that, the 2025 Junior Ibrida I'm discussing the week does tick all the visual boxes.

Red may be the traditional colour of choice for Alfas, but the petrol blue (they call it Navigli) in the review car is distinctive enough for me, and suits the sporty theme just as well. Alfa have rarely done styling badly, and the Junior design is right up there with much of what they have done very well before. The ultra-modern redesign of the traditional shield-shaped grille is a fitting centrepiece for what is a very coherent and attractive overall fascia. The muscular curves over the wheel arches give the overall package a boost, nicely setting off the well-cut alloys. Even as a B-segment small car, the whole deal exudes the kind of presence that an Alfa Romeo should have. It replaces the 'baby' Alfa MiTo, which was shorter and narrower but taller, and it is in or around the same size as the Opel Mokka and the Fiat 600, no surprise, as it shares its underpinnings with those models, as well as with Peugeot and Citroën models.

Inside, stylists have created a new version of the Alfa double-cowl shape over the driving instrumentation, a little exaggerated, but it honours tradition. The centre screen is set relatively low, and it also requires fairly firm finger pokes to operate the virtual buttons, in part because of the angle you have to attack it with. Key heating-ventilation controls are proper switches, but seat heating required an additional double-tap through the screen menus. I also want brighter graphics on the switches, which are hidden in shadow. The sturdy steering wheel looks the part, the big Alfa logo on the boss making sure you remember what you're in. There's good room front and rear, and a decent boot capacity, way beyond the tiny one on the MiTo. 

My car has the 1.2 petrol mild hybrid powertrain familiar from its Stellantis Group cousins. It clocks in at 145hp, which represents a 65 per cent increase over the motor used more than six decades ago, and offers 0-100 km/h performance of a bit over 9 seconds. Not particularly fast, but it does much better than the 12.6 seconds of that 1960s Junior. If you want real performance from the Junior today, pick the 280hp Veloce in the car's electric version, which will sprint in under six seconds. Go for the basic Elettrica version — which sells at the same price as this Ibrida — and you've got 156 horses in harness. The hybrid is matched to a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic, so there will be no mad ripping through a stick-shift gearbox. 

We have to be blunt. Alfa Romeo sales in Ireland are abysmal at the moment. Not even in the top 30 brands here. Part of that is because for several years before Gowan Auto took up the franchise, the marque wasn't on sale. The good news is that since the Junior arrived, and it has been mostly available only in Elettrica form until the summer, sales are substantially up, albeit from a low benchmark. But the Junior is the model responsible for that boost. And it's a model that I'd be very happy to have, with either powertrain. It looks good, it feels good, and, as that first Junior proved, even an Alfa is not all about performance.

PRICE: €34,995. WHAT I LIKED: The style is the substance. 

Alfa Romeo Junior review: Trish Whelan, Irish Car

The new Alfa Romeo Junior crossover SUV was unveiled here by Irish importers Gowan Auto on Valentine’s Day this year, surely a good omen for a car launch with all that love around. The car is the first 100 per cent electric model from the Italian brand that marked its 115th anniversary in June of this year. The Irish distributor believes it will capture the hearts of drivers who crave style, performance, and innovation — an accurate summary of the new model, which is certainly one of the most stylish cars on our roads. 

It looks premium and sporty, especially in the vibrant Brera Red exterior colour that refers to a specific shade of red used by the brand for their Brera 2+2 coupe, and contrasting black roof and pillars. The front end is quite aggressive looking with the special Scudetto V-Shield standing out on the grille. LED Matrix headlights provide superior illumination for enhanced visibility on the road, and gorgeous Petal 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels certainly added to the overall look. Sleek black LED taillights and the black spoiler ensure the rear design looks almost as good as the front. Rear door handles come integrated into the black C-pillars and, in a nod to icons of its past, the laser-etched ‘Biscione’ grass snake also features on the C-pillars. The front registration plate has been repositioned to the centre of the car to comply with new EU pedestrian safety regulations. 

The beautifully designed and mostly dark cabin with the wrap-around dash cocoons you nicely. The sunroof certainly helps lift the dark look. My mid-spec Speciale trim was equipped with some extra special features like the luxurious suede/leather Sabelt bucket sports seats that hold you in snugly while offering good back support, have integrated headrests, and some open areas. They were part of the Performance interior pack, as was the leather-wrapped steering wheel. My driver’s seat had 6-way power adjustments. Front seats can be heated. 

The recessed 10.25-inch instrument cluster offers intuitive information and customisable controls, while the same-sized touchscreen, located lower on the dash than in many other cars and angled slightly towards the driver, provides a smartphone-like user experience and is fully customisable to match your preferences. The transmission selector on the centre console is similar to that used by Peugeot, as both brands are part of the Stellantis Group. The Start/Stop engine button is here also, along with a wireless charging pad and two USB ports. 

Tall people will find the rear on the tight side, especially with a similarly sized person seated in front, and there’s a tunnel on the rear floor to manoeuvre feet around. Rear storage is very limited with no pockets on front seat backs and there are no rear door bins, but you do get a Type C USB. The boot features a hands-free power tailgate; luggage space of 400 litres can expand to 1,280 litres with the rear seats folded down. The high floor offers three levels of versatility, and you can store the charging cables beneath the floor. 

Features included sports pedals, a small but high-definition rear-view camera and a 6-speaker sound system, blind-spot detection, and all-around parking sensors. The onboard technology included adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, and traffic sign information. Trims are Elettrica, Elettrica Speciale and Veloce. All use the same 54kWh battery. 

Two power variants are offered: the 156hp with a claimed range of up to 410km WLTP and peak torque of 260Nm, and the high-powered 280hp Veloce with 345Nm torque is capable of doing from 0-100km/h in 5.9 secs, but has a lower range of just 322km. My car was the Elettrica Speciale 156hp version, with a claimed power consumption of 15.3kWh/100km and road tax of €120. The urban electric range is around 574km. Drive modes are Dynamic, Natural, and Advanced Efficiency. AC charging from 0-100pc takes 5hrs 45mins; DC fast charging from 20-80pc is 24 minutes. 

The Junior Speciale was a pure joy to drive with instant torque. While it excelled on motorway driving, it was also very well behaved in urban driving. I found the ride on the firm side, but never uncomfortable. Steering was direct and well balanced, and little road noise came through with the car’s good insulation. The Alfa Romeo Junior is a thrilling fusion of innovation and performance, faithful to the sporty Alfa Romeo DNA. 

The Junior electric entry price is from €41,083; my Speciale from €38,950; 280hp from €51,405. Prices include SEAI grant and VRT relief. The Junior Ibrida petrol hybrid version retails at €34,995 (no grants available).

 

 

Hybrid Alfa Junior now on sale

Orders will open soon in Ireland for the hybrid version of the Alfa Romeo Junior, the Junior Ibrida, writes Brian Byrne. It will sell for the same price as the electric version, from €34,995.

The powertrain provides 136hp from the combination 1.2 turbo petrol engine and electric motor, with a claim that town driving can be in electric mode for 50pc of the time.

A 4WD version with 145hp available will be available later this year.

The electric version of the Junior is available with 156hp and 280hp power. 

New Alfa Romeo Junior is ‘unmistakably Italian’

Alfa Romeo Ireland ignited passion among motoring enthusiasts with the official Irish launch of the new Alfa Romeo Junior, unveiled to us at Gowan Auto on Valentine’s Day, with the advertising tagline ‘Learn to Love Again’, writes Trish Whelan. 

‘Junior’ was designed to inspire a new generation of drivers with its unmistakable Italian style, cutting-edge technology and ‘exhilarating performance’. The Junior is the first fully electric model from Alfa Romeo. It will soon be joined by a hybrid version. 

The Junior Elettrica is now on sale at the brand’s dealerships nationwide priced from €34,995 - €51,495 which includes SEAI grant and VRT relief. 

At launch, Ciaran Cusack, Communications and Brand Manager at Alfa Romeo Ireland, said: “The Alfa Romeo Junior represents a bold new chapter for the brand, combining iconic Italian design with modern electrification. We believe it will capture the hearts of drivers who crave style, performance, and innovation.” 

The full EV ‘Electric’ with a 54-kWh battery comes in two power variants with 156hp and a range of up to 410km WLTP as well as the sportier 280hp Veloce and 345Nm torque that can do 0-100km/h in 5.9 secs - the epitome of Alfa Romeo’s sporting DNA. Annual road tax is €120. Charging the batteries from 10pc to 80pc takes less than 30 minutes when using a 100-kW DC fast charging station. 

A petrol hybrid option ‘IBRIDA’ will be available later this year in a 136hp 48-Volt Hybrid VGT (Variable Geometry Turbo). It will be available both in a front-wheel drive and a Q4 all-wheel drive variant with automated rear-wheel drive axle management, a first in the segment.

 

 

Alfa Romeo Junior review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

The Alfa Romeo brand has three distinctive elements, writes Brian Byrne. Sporty styling, a shield logo incorporating a cross and a grass snake and a heritage of success in motor racing beginning when one of their drivers was an ambitious young man named Enzo Ferrari who later went on to manage the company racing team and eventually left to build his own cars. Alfas were raced well between the world wars, and also in the 1950s when Formula One was inaugurated and subsequently in various international sports car championships.

The company also has a heritage of periodically hitting financial rocks and its ownership, including by the Italian State, has shifted several times. It nearly became merged with Nissan at one point, and Ford also pitched a bid, but eventually Fiat took over. Today Alfa Romeo is part of the 14-brand Stellantis automotive conglomerate, which has brought a certain amount of sneering today about Peugeot switchgear and powertrain mongrelisation in current Alfas. That doesn't doesn't really matter a damn, because the sniffing is either from the cigars and brandy brigade now browsing mobility scooter catalogues or others too young to remember 'real' Alfas but who want to sound knowledgable beyond their experience. What's really important is whether the cars suit today's potential owners.

The Junior is the new smallest Alfa Romeo, a B segment crossover-SUV replacing the MiTo 3-door hatch which finished a decade of existence in 2018. The Junior name has a 1960s sports coupe heritage, the body styling is attractive Alfaesque, and for those who like to sniff the relations are Peugeot 2008, Opel Mokka and Jeep Avenger among others.

I liked the shape of my review car and the styling details that weave well classic and modern. I loved the colour, which is the defining red of the brand. The latest shield motif built into the fascia is an intriguing black modern interpretation of the traditional badge.

Inside the cockpit stylists have created what could some might figure as a mish-mash of angles and lines, but most elements work well to me. An Alfa double-cowl shape over the driving instrumentation is a little exaggerated but I suppose it honours tradition. The centre screen is set a little lower than we're used to, and did require fairly definite finger-pokes to operate virtual buttons. Key heating-ventilation controls are proper switches, but seat heating required an additional double-tap through the screen menus. None of which was problematical, but what I would like are brighter graphics on the switches rather hidden in shadow.

The seats in my mid-grade Speciale were suitably sporty and for me very comfortable. The non-adjustable integrated head restraints were, fortunately, perfectly angled. The SUV designation in B segment cars can be a little ambitious in terms of rear passenger space, and in the Junior that space is about passable.

The Alfa ethos is about performance. The Junior is powered with either the familiar Stellantis 1.2 mild hybrid petrol that I'm fond of (not available here in the car yet, but promised soon), or the battery-electric of my Elettrica review car. This had the 156hp version which offers acceleration to 100km/h in a fairly leisurely 9s, but the Veloce variant extracts 280hp and a sub-6s sprint. Both electrics have the same 54kWh battery, so the more powerful version gets a lesser rated range of 347km compared to the other's 410km. Both ranges will be actually less in cold weather — my car used an indicated 90km over an actual 56km journey, for instance, with outside temperature at 4deg and sticking at 100km/h on the motorway part. A lowered suspension and tweaks to the handling and steering settings differentiates the Alfa from the other branded cousins.

A gimmick in the Junior Elettrica is an artificial engine note going up and down 'through the gears' to simulate what those older sporty Alfas sounded like. It's only inside, though, so there's no impressing the onlookers outside.

Taking the car as a whole, does it measure up to its pedigree? It looks the part. It has the interior feel-good part. It even, gently, can sound the part. 

I'm old enough to be cigars and brandy, but I'm actually a non-smoking wine man, so I'm not sneering or sniffy. The Alfa Junior's proposition is for today, and all the better for that.

PRICE: €43,768. WHAT I LIKED: Remembering that sporty cars don't need to be powerful. 

Alfa Romeo forced to change name of new car

Alfa Romeo have had to change the name of their new compact car less than a week after revealing it, writes Brian Byrne.

The new Milano will now be called the Junior, resurrecting a 1960s nameplate for the brand's sports coupes of the era designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro.

The Italian government complained about the name of the new car because it is not to be produced in Milan but in Poland. Italy's industry minister Adolfo Urso cited a 2003 law that says using Italian-sounding names for products not manufactured in Italy misleads consumers.

The Junior is a B-segment SUV that will be the sporty brand's first EV. Petrol engines will also be available later.

Alfa Romeo, which started in Milan, previously used the Milano name in America when it sold the Alfa Romeo 75 saloon there.

 

New compact Alfa unveiling next month

Alfa Romeo teaser of the new Milano.

A new Alfa Romeo compact car, the Milano, is to be unveiled globally on 10 April, writes Brian Byrne. The car will come initially as an all-electric model, but will be followed by hybrid variants.

The 150hp electric motor will be powered by a 54kWh battery and an expected range rating will be around 400km. 

The Milano will be on the same Stellantis platform that currently underpins the Jeep Avenger.

The Alfa Romeo franchise in Ireland is now operated by the Gowan Auto group. 

Alfa Romeo Tonale review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

With 113 years of history and a strong motorsport pedigree, Alfa Romeo is one of the world's iconic automotive brands, writes Brian Byrne. The company's badge, the cross and serpent representing Milan where it was first established, is one of the most recognisable. The biggest motorsport name in the world, Scuderia Ferrari, was originally founded by Enzo Ferrari as an Alfa Romeo racing team. Away from the road and track, the company built a strong business making aircraft and marine engines. And some of us still remember the movie starring role of the 1966 Alfa Romeo Spider in 'The Graduate'.

So there's a very special cachet to the Alfa Romeo name, even though through its more than ten decades the carmaker has had its ups and downs. Italian state ownership after its backing bank folded. Ownership by Fiat, later by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and sales declines to an almost terminal level in the first ten years of this millennium. Now a part of the Stellantis automotive giant formed with Peugeot-Citroen and Opel, there's a sense of impetus which hasn't been evident in Alfa Romeo for quite some time.

The Tonale crossover is the newest Alfa, a compact family car that is as far from the Dustin Hoffman character's graduation present as you can get. Maybe the one for a grandchild in a sequel for today, who needs something more practical for a metro-centric world with weekend forays to the country?

The Tonale does look the part. Especially in the red of my review vehicle, a traditional Italian racing colour. The triangular grille meshes well with the fully 21st century hooded headlights, and the overall effect visually lowers what is quite a high bonnet line. A crossover sameness in the profile is successfully sportified by the distinctive alloys and red Brembo brake callipers. The rear is a class act hatch design, with the scripted-font Tonale name sitting proudly under a repeat of the front end Alfa logo. There's enough distinctive presence here to set the car off from the neighbours' less legendary makes.

The inside proved well presented enough to excite a car-mad early teen who asked to sit in. Red stitching in the leather trim is subtle enough to suggest upmarket — and it's thankfully not everywhere. The steering wheel was a good heft to my hands. The rather massive aluminium-effect shifter paddles are for me a bit of overkill, but that afore-mentioned kid loved them. The main instrumentation has a 'heritage' style option that mimics the old analogues, but I preferred a more digitally modern choice. The centre touchscreen worked sensitively and there's a pleasing selection of real switchgear for climate and radio volume. Two distinctive controls are the Start-Stop button on the steering wheel, and a drive mode selector on the lower console which, along with eco and comfort settings also manages the suspension setting for sporty driving. From my driver's perspective, the whole setup felt good, including supportive seats that were yet easy to get in and out of. There's good room in the rear, and a substantial boot space.

The Tonale comes with powertrain options different from equivalent models in other Stellantis brands. There's a mild-hybrid 1.5 with 160hp that advances the MHEV system somewhat, and the 280hp combined output from the 1.3 plug-in hybrid which underpinned my car's performance — and also provided AWD through the e-motor's connection to the rear axle. We can expect an all-electric version at some stage, and in other markets there is a diesel.

My car's performance had a brisk potential of 6.2s to 100km/h. I experimented with it from standing start a few times, and even without accurate timing it certainly seemed peppy. But it did it without the kind of fuss that I would associate with Alfas of yore, when a floored pedal would excite some wheels scrabble and a rising engine note that was very distinctive to the marque. The Tonale's progress under pressure was all very civilised ... maybe too much so. On twistier passages, the short-turns steering felt good, and switching to Dynamic tightened up handling very well. But back to that metro-centric aspect for today's motorists, the all-electric capability of up to 60km or so is useful in urban commuting. A technical glitch in the fuel consumption readout in my review car means I can't offer my own accurate experience for hybrid-only general motoring, but a 7L/100km seems to be an accepted long-term average.

PRICE: From €49,995; review car €55,495. WHAT I LIKED: Practicality with the flavour of an authentic icon (though I really do miss the Alfa sound).  

Review: Alfa Romeo Tonale - Brian Byrne, Irish Car

Alfa Romeo has been in the doldrums in Ireland for a few years now, primarily because the Irish distribution was in the same becalmed state as has been the parent Fiat Chrysler Automobiles operation, writes Brian Byrne. Partly too because of a dearth of new models due to underinvestment in the famous Italian sporting brand.

That’s changing. The merging of FCA and PSA Peugeot-Citroen in 2021 established what is becoming a global automotive powerhouse as Stellantis. Locally, the distribution for all Stellantis brands has been acquired by Gowan Auto, a highly invested subsidiary of the Irish family-owned Gowan Group.

The potential for positive change in Alfa Romeo fortunes was illustrated at the recent launch of the new Tonale compact SUV in Gowan Auto’s brand new HQ on the outskirts of Dublin. With this car here there are now three Alfa models, the large Giulia saloon, the Stelvio mid-sized SUV being the biggest seller, and the Tonale launched in other markets last year.

The time I spent in a first drive with the Tonale brought out some very positive vibes. The car looks good, essential for a marque that has always depended as much on sexy styling as their proven expertise in engineering innovation. The shield-shaped grille with the unmistakeable Alfa cross-and-serpent logo is flanked by some very high tech-looking lights, with the number-plate offset to the left just like the most successful Alfa model of modern decades, the 156 of the late 1990s.

While dubbed a crossover, the Tonale has very much a sporty hatchback style about it, the designers opting not to use any cues suggesting offroad aspirations. Inside, there are tilts back to traditional Alfa interiors, including a double binnacle shaping over the main instruments, which themselves are fully digitised and formatable in several traditional or modern styles.

The interior fittings and trim are very much at a premium level, and there’s a real sense of strength in everything you touch or hold. If there once was an iffy reputation about Alfa build quality, it won’t be found here.

The new Tonale comes with a choice of two petrol-based powertrains, and represents the first car in the brand to be electrified — and Stellantis is on record as saying that Alfa Romeo will be its first marque to be producing only battery-electric vehicles by 2027.

But for now, a 1.5 petrol with a 48v mild hybrid system and a fully plug-in hybrid based on a turbo 1.3 petrol are the options. Both are automatic, with outputs of 160hp and 280hp respectively, the latter being AWD thanks to the electric motor on the rear axle. The PHEV includes a 15.5kWh battery thats some 36pc bigger than that used in the Jeep Compass PHEV, to which the Tonale is closely related.

Initial impressions are of a car where the driver is very much catered for, with a well thought out driving position and good placing of all controls. The seats are firm but seem comfortable and I’ll be interested to see how I fare on the kind of cross-Ireland journey that this car will encourage when I get it for a full evaluation.

There’s a sporty feel to the steering, and the car is said to have the very latest in driving assists on board across all versions. At launch there are two grades and a ‘Speciale’ version in the PHEV only.

While the sound of Alfas in action is rapidly changing from a sophisticated exhaust crackle to a powerful hum, there’s a promise of real Alfa Romeo driving feel even in the electric age. It’s good to see the brand back active again.

PRICE: From €49,995. WHAT I LIKED: It’s nice to be back behind a steering wheel with a Milan Cross and Visconte serpent badge. 

Alfa Romeo Tonale on sale here

The new Alfa Romeo Tonale has gone on sale in Ireland at a starting price of €49,995, writes Brian Byrne.

The compact crossover is available with mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, and in two grades along with a 'Speciale' extra launch version. 

All versions are automatic, with outputs of 160hp and 280hp respectively, the latter being AWD thanks to the electric motor on the rear axle. 

The PHEV includes a 15.5kWh battery thats some 36pc bigger than that used in the Jeep Compass PHEV, to which the Tonale is closely related.

The car kicks off the new Irish distribution by Gowan Auto, based in a purpose-built HQ at City West, Dublin. Currently there are three Alfa Romeo dealerships, in Dublin, Cork and Waterford. Plans are to increase this to a network of eight.

Two other models are currently available, the Giulia large sedan and the Stelvio SUV which sits above the Tonale.

Alfa to show PHEV Tonale at Brussels

The new Giulia front.

The electrification of the Alfa Romeo brand will be the keynote theme at the company's stand at the Brussels Motor Show, opening tomorrow, writes Brian Byrne.

The highlight model on display will be the Tonale Plug-In Hybrid Q4 SUV, with an 80km range on EV power alone. The car is also claimed to be the sportiest version of the range.

There will also be the Tonale hybrid which was the first electrified SUV from the brand, which also features an electronic suspension.

Changes to the other Alfa models, the Giulia saloon and Stelvio SUV include new headlights and grilles, the introduction of the latest connectivity systems, and a completely new digital instrument panel.

Alfa Romeo is one of the Stellantis Group brands and is distributed in Ireland by the Gowan Group Motor Division. 

Alfa reveals production Tonale crossover

Alfa Romeo has premiered its Tonale small crossover, which will come with a mild-hybrid engine for Europe and a PHEV for North America, writes Brian Byrne.

It sets Alfa up for its first all-electric car planned for 2025, and the brand becoming all-electric two years later. The production Tonale was concepted back in 2019 at the Geneva Motor Show, before the pandemic disrupted everything.

Alfa owners Stellantis group are targeting the Tonale at BMW's X1 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA. It will arrive as a 2023 model.

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Alfa to expand models portfolio fast

Tonale Concept.

Iconic Italian carmaker Alfa Romeo has announced plans to introduce four new models between now and 2026, beginning with the Tonale compact SUV in 2022, writes Brian Byrne.

The company, which has been struggling in recent years, has already committed to being an all-electric carmaker by 2027. It is now planned to be a key premium brand from owner Stellantis, formed by the merger of the PSA Group with Fiat Chrysler Auto.

The Tonale will be Alfa's first plug-in hybrid. A concept of the car was revealed at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. A smaller all-electric SUV is also expected later next year.

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Alfa will lose its sporty sound

The days of nerve-tingling exhaust sounds from the iconic Alfa Romeo sports car maker are numbered, writes Brian Byrne.

Parent company Stellantis, formed from the merger of PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Auto, announced this week that Alfas will be all-electric by 2027. It's thought that the first model may arrive in late 2023, and in the meantime a PHEV will arrive next year.

Stellantis has already committed its Opel brand to be all-electric by 2028, and its Fiats and Jeep by 2030. The group revealed some weeks ago that four electric platforms in development will underpin most models over 14 brands. Range capabilities will be from 480-800kms.

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Review: Alfa Romeo Giulia

The new Alfa Romeo Giulia was a long time coming, writes Brian Byrne. I remember seeing it at several motor shows in prototype and final production form long before it actually hit showrooms in Europe. So when it finally got to launch in Ireland in March, it just didn't seem like a new car.

The name recalls a series of mostly well-considered saloons built by the sporty-oriented brand between 1962-1977. And the model was at the time aimed at the ordinary family motorist.

The new one isn't. It has moved up in size, and aspiration. And even though it could be considered the spiritual successor to the 156 that arguably saved the brand from extinction in 1996 and the following decade, it is beyond the owners of those cars too.

Veloce version of Alfa Giulia goes on sale

Alfa Romeo Ireland has released details of its Veloce grade for the brand’s newest car, the Giulia, writes Trish Whelan.

Priced from €53,895, it is powered by a 280hp 2.0 turbo petrol engine, with an 8-speed automatic transmission. A 5.7s 0-100km/h is claimed.

Standard features include 25W Bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, front and rear parking sensors, a rear view camera with dynamic gridlines, power folding exterior mirrors, and heated 6-way electric front seats.

New Alfa Giulia for those who want 'different'

Potential owners with 'an appetite for something different' are part of the target market for the Alfa Romeo Giulia, which sells in Ireland from €39,995, writes Brian Byrne.

MD of Fiat Chrysler Auto Ireland Paul Hunt says the car is aimed at those who want a premium car, 'but not what their neighbour has in the driveway'.

Speaking to Irish motoring journalists today, he said volume aspirations for what is a key model for the brand 'are conservative', but the company is expecting conquest sales from German rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz as well as selling to the core base of Alfa Romeo lovers.

The Giulia's key competitors are the BMW 3 Series, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Jaguar's XE, and the Audi A4. The Alfa Romeo strategy is based partly on having the Italian car stand out in terms of specification against these, and also building on the sporting heritage of Alfa Romeo, which goes back to the 1920s.

The original car with the Giulia nameplate was launched in 1962, and was the fastest car in its segment. In its range-topping Quadrifoglio version, the new Giulia is also the fastest car in its class ... albeit costing almost €100,000.

The engines in the new car are all brand new — 2.2 diesels in 150hp/180hp versions, a 200hp 2.0 turbo petrol, and the 510hp 2.9 V6 with a stunning 3.9s sprint capability to 100km/h. In RHD markets the car is only available with a 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox.

There are four grade options, the entry plain Giulia, the Super, Super Sport, and Super Lux. The price 'walk' from entry to Super is €2,000, while a special promotion of €171 extra to that for either Super Sport or Super Lux offers sporty or luxury trim and fittings extras.

A 2.9pc APR finance offer with a 30pc deposit on the ordinary grades provides PCP payments from €436p/m.

Alfa Romeo has six dealerships in Ireland. Paul Hunt said the brand will be focusing on raising the standards within the existing network for the moment, rather than expanding it. He added that the dealerships will be selling both Alfa Romeo and Jeep brands.

Alfa Romeo Giulia available with 2.9pc PCP

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Ireland Ltd have announced a 2.9pc PCP APR finance campaign available across the Alfa Romeo Giulia models until 31 March 2017, writes Trish Whelan.

This limited time offer can also be used in conjunction with the option to upgrade to the Super Sport or Super Lux trim for €171, offering a saving of over €4,900.

Giulia prices start from €39,995 or from €436 per month. 

All Giulias come complete with a comprehensive list of standard equipment including 17-inch alloy wheels, LED rear lights, cruise control, dual-zone conditioning, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, and rear parking sensors.

The mid-range Super trim, available from €41,995, or €458 per month, adds Alfa Connect 8.8-inch 3D navigation system, techno-leather and cloth upholstery, aluminium door sills, chrome exterior window surround, auto-dimming rear view mirror and a 7-inch TFT colour cluster display. 

The Super Sport and Super Lux trims are currently available for €171 more than the comparable Super version, or from €460 per month with 2.9pc PCP finance.

From the outside, the Super Sport trim adds 18-inch alloy wheels, painted brake calipers, privacy glass and distinctive Bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights.

Inside, the sporty look continues with leather seats, aluminium sport pedals, brushed aluminium effect centre console and door moulding inserts, and steering column-mounted gear shift paddles.

The Giulia Super Lux adds adaptive cruise control, a rear view camera, power folding door mirrors, leather upholstery, Bi-Xenon headlights and 18-inch ‘Luxury’ design alloy wheels.

The Giulia range is now available to test drive at Alfa Romeo dealerships nationwide.

Alfa Stelvio breaks cover today

Alfa Romeo’s first crossover, the Stelvio, debuts later today at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and will go on sale in its first markets in early 2017, writes Brian Byrne.

An exceptionally stylish iteration of the genre, the Stelvio is built on the same platform as the Giulia premium saloon.

Powertrains will include 2.0 four and 2.9 V6 turbocharged petrol units generating 280hp and 505hp respectively. We can expect that there will be a diesel option for Europe. AWD will be standard.

Alfa Romeo is anticipating that the Stelvio will account for a big proportion of sales of 400,000 Alfas it hopes to achieve globally by 2018.