Lucky Europe!
For various reasons, Europe has many wonderful cars that never make it to our shores, thanks to a lot of our niggly USA safety standards. Also, gas is more expensive over seas, streets are smaller, parking even worse, which has always led to Europe designing much smaller means of transportation.
Case in point is the all new Alfa Romeo Junior. This sub-compact fits nicely into the crowded and cramped streets of the Continent, and trying to find parking in most countries abroad should be televised as a game show.
The Junior is small, tiny in fact, at just 13.7 feet in length or 164 inches, which means it’s almost a foot shorter than a Mercedes GLA 250 SUV and only 10 inches longer than a 2024 Mazda Miata MX-5. This makes the Alfa Junior the automotive equivalent of an espresso.
Given Alfa Romeo’s racing heritage in building performance automobiles, the Alfa Junior is going to be an absolute ball to drive, targeted to those wanting something smaller, but not willing to give up the handling that makes you want to smile. Cute, performance and fashion oriented, The Alfa Junior is for those seeking an escape from the dull of day to day life while waiting for their Ferrari Purosangue to be delivered.
Photos can only hint at the driving experience, both the sporty looks are what draws you in. I’ve always been amazed at how Italy can take something ubiquitous and turn it into art, and this is an example of why all things Italian are so sought-after around the world. Every angle mixes engineering requirements with the Italian passion of elevating the everyday into something beautiful.
The Alfa Romeo Junior is available with both hybrid or all-electric powertrains, including the top of the line Veloce, sporting 240 horsepower.
According to an Alfa Romeo news release today, the Alfa Junior SUV sadly, isn’t headed to our shores for now, as consumers here are still bent on bigger means better. IF the Junior makes it to America, I expect it will sell well with those as interested in looks as in driving.
Photos courtesy: American Lifestyle Magazine