ALFA ROMEO unveiled its light-segment Milano SUV and was promptly pressured to rename it Junior after the unique identify was deemed deceptive and subsequently illegal given manufacturing will happen in Poland.
Now obtainable in Europe, the Junior is anticipated to reach in Australian showrooms in the course of the second half of 2025. Pricing and native specs will likely be introduced nearer to that point.
The Italian model’s smallest automobile since manufacturing of the Mito hatch concluded in 2018, the Junior is predicated on Stellantis sister model Peugeot’s CMP petrol and petrol-electric structure.
Related in dimension to the Lexus LBX, the Junior will sit beneath the Tonale SUV in Alfa Romeo’s line-up. It shares underpinnings with the Fiat 600e, Jeep Avenger, Peugeot e-2008, and Opel Mokka to call however a number of within the Stellantis steady.
The Junior measures 4710mm in size, 1780mm in width, and 1500mm in peak.
At entry stage, the petrol-powered Milano Ibrida encompasses a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 48-volt delicate hybrid help. It develops 100kW of energy, put to the entrance wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. An all-wheel drive variant is anticipated later.
Two battery electrical (BEV) Milano Elettrica variants can even be provided from launch, a 115kW normal possibility and a high-output 177kW Veloce variant.
Each are front-wheel drive and characteristic a 54kWh lithium-ion battery pack. WLTP vary is listed at as much as 410km with a 100kW DC charging time of half-hour detailed for the 10-80 per cent normal.
Sporty steering and suspension (lowered 25mm on the Veloce) promise an agile driving expertise, the high-performance Veloce grade additional including 380mm entrance brake rotors with four-piston calipers, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a Torsen limited-slip differential.
As seen elsewhere within the Alfa Romeo vary, the Junior options the model’s uniqe DNA drive selector providing Dynamic, Pure and Superior Effectivity settings.
The Junior is visually characterised by various grille designs between grades – every with the famed Leggenda script – Guilia TZ impressed taillights, and Matrix LED headlights (on high-grade variants).
Within the cabin, a ten.25-inch digital instrument cluster sits forward of the motive force with a second 10.25-inch set central within the dashboard for infotainment duties. The infotainment display screen controls a lot of the Milano’s ancillary capabilities, together with the local weather management.
The air vents are formed within the Quadrifoglio (four-leaf clover) motif, whereas high-grade fashions rating Sabelt sport seats. LED ambient cabin lighting, sat nav, massaging seats with digital adjustment, keyless entry and ignition, aluminium pedals, and Alcantara upholstery are additionally obtainable thoughout the Junior vary.
Cargo house is listed at 400 litres with a hands-free powered tailgate obtainable.
Security options embrace adaptive cruise management, AEB, entrance and rear acoustic parking sensors, lane centring help, and a reversing digital camera.
Naming controversy
The Italian authorities stated it’s unlawful for the littlest Alfa Romeo to be known as Milano as a result of will probably be in-built Poland, contravening native legal guidelines concentrating on merchandise with “Italian sounding” names that aren’t really Italian.
Stellantis chief govt Carlo Tavares says the transfer permits the model to promote the Milano for €10,000 ($A16,430) lower than can be the case for an Italian-built automotive, the Italian authorities’s business minister Adolfo Urso stated the choice is illegal.
“A automotive known as Milano can’t be produced in Poland,” stated Mr Urso. “This legislation stipulates that you just can’t give indications (names) that mislead shoppers. So, a automotive known as Milano should be produced in Italy, in any other case it provides a deceptive indication which isn’t allowed below Italian legislation”.
Mr Tavares countered Mr Urso’s argument, saying that manufacturing each ICE and BEV variations of the Milano is Poland versus Italy has allowed Stellantis to slash €10,000 ($A16,430) from the asking worth of the mannequin – which is able to change into the one Alfa Romeo to be constructed outdoors of Italy.
“If in-built Italy, a Milano would have began from about €40,000 ($A65,730) as an alternative of €30,000 ($A49,300), limiting its potential on {the marketplace},” he informed Automotive Information Europe.
Alfa Romeo subsequently backed down, issuing an announcement headlined “Milano identify is just not okay? Junior then!”
The corporate cheekily thanked the Italian authorities “for the free publicity introduced on by this debate”.
“Regardless of Alfa Romeo believing that the identify meets all authorized necessities, and that there are points far more necessary than the identify of a brand new automotive, Alfa Romeo has determined to alter it from Milano to Junior within the spirit of selling mutual understanding.”
Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato stated curiosity within the Junior generated by the naming controversy resulted in “an unprecedented variety of visits to the web configurator, inflicting the web site to crash”.
The corporate’s assertion continued: “It was a pleasure to go over the record of names chosen as favourites from the general public’s options, certainly one of which was Junior.”
Use of the Junior nameplate by Alfa Romeo dates again to 1966 with the GT 1300 Junior at a time when the corporate was attempting to “entice a brand new, youthful viewers anticipating an excellent, unique automotive with out extreme buy and working prices”.
The outcome was a automotive that “might ship high-level efficiency and driving pleasure,” says Alfa Romeo.
“The bodywork was additionally up to date with a devoted and younger trim.”
