Alfa Romeo Junior: the Biscione Returns to Conquer Europe's Heart

Alfa Romeo had not had a small car to slip through the streets of European cities for years. Since the MiTo and Giulietta were discontinued, the Biscione had abandoned segment B — the most popular on the continent. That's ancient history now: with the Junior, Alfa is making a spectacular return to this strategic territory, and is signing off on its very first electric car. Better yet: it also comes in hybrid form, without the slightest compromise. Here's an Italian that's determined to rekindle the flame.

Milano one day, Junior forever

It's hard to talk about this car without telling the story of its christening, one of the most convoluted in recent history. Unveiled on April 10, 2024 under the name Milano, it was rebaptized Junior just five days later. The reason: an Italian law prohibiting the assignment of a transalpine city name to a product manufactured abroad — yet the beauty is assembled in Poland, in Tychy, on the same platform as the Jeep Avenger and Fiat 600. Rather than dragging it out, Alfa made an elegant choice by bringing back a name dear to its fans: "Junior," a nod to the sports cars of the 1960s-70s. A tempest in a teacup, quickly forgotten once the car hit the road.

Hybrid or electric, without choosing sides

It's one of the Junior's main strengths, highlighted by Alfa itself: it is one of the only cars in its category to offer dual powertrains, hybrid and electric, with no distinction in aesthetics or equipment. In other words, you choose your energy source, not a downgraded style.

On the hybrid side, the 1.2 Hybrid with 145 hp (6-speed eDCT automatic gearbox) accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds with contained emissions around 110 g/km of CO₂ — and an unprecedented Q4 variant with all-wheel drive raises the stakes. On the electric side, the Elettrica with 156 hp draws from a 54 kWh battery for mixed-cycle range of approximately 410 km (up to nearly 590 km in urban cycle). And for those seeking thrills, the Veloce version with 280 hp delivers 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds: enough to reclaim the sporty temperament the brand is known for.

A lineup that builds in crescendo

The Junior comes in five levels, from the most accessible to the most extreme. The entry-level Junior starts at 30,500 €, followed by Sprint, TI and Sport Speciale, which progressively enhance the equipment: adaptive Full-LED Matrix headlights, digital cluster, navigation, semi-autonomous driving aids, Alcantara upholstery… At the top sits the Veloce, starting at 46,900 €, a true concentration of sportiness with its lowered chassis, Torsen self-locking differential, red Brembo calipers and 20-inch rims. The entire lineup shares comprehensive technology as standard: 10.25" digital cluster called "Cannochiale," touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six airbags and DNA driving mode selector.

Italianness down to the finest details

Because that's where the Junior truly sets itself apart from its technical cousins: in emotion. The nose sports the famous Scudetto, the triangular shield emblematic of Alfa, and even the bodywork colors play the transalpine card with names that smell of Italy: Brera Red, Navigli Blue, Arese Grey, Scala Ivory, Sempione White… A real trip to Milan just by selecting your color. The brand even pushes innovation so far as to equip each Junior with a digital NFT certificate, a kind of tamper-proof service record designed to preserve resale value. All wrapped in a compact format of 4.17 m, with a trunk capacity up to 415 liters — enough to live your daily life without renouncing any of the passion.

The volume gamble, Alfa style

With the Junior, Alfa Romeo is not just seeking to seduce a few purists: the brand is targeting the European mass market, on the segment that keeps factories running. The gamble is clever — offering an accessible and desirable entry point into the Biscione universe, without diluting its sporting DNA and sense of style. The challenge now is convincing a clientele courted from all sides. But with its unique hybrid-or-electric offering, its supercharged Veloce and its extra Italian soul, the little Alfa has serious arguments. Want to know more? Find all the brochures for the Alfa Romeo Junior to view and download for free on Brochure Auto.