Alfa Romeo to take on Volkswagen Golf with Giulietta-sized family car next year
When it was on sale, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta (pictured below) was a stylish alternative to some of the more pedestrian options in the family car class, but it fell short in some key areas. However, the Italian brand will be hoping to redeem itself with the launch of a new mid-size hatchback that will need to offer both style and substance if it wants to compete with the best.
While Alfa Romeo hasn’t revealed a timeline of when its upcoming models will arrive, it’s likely that the new family hatchback will arrive to complement a new family SUV in a relationship similar to other models from parent company Stellantis, such as the Peugeot 308 and 3008.
The new family car will be based on the same underpinnings as its upcoming SUV sibling, meaning it’ll use the STLA Medium platform, now known as STLA One. That architecture can support “multi-energy” power options, which means the new model will likely come in both combustion and all-electric forms. Indeed, it’ll be closely related to next-generation Stellantis siblings like the 308 and Vauxhall Astra.
For reference, those models are currently available with petrol, mild hybrid, diesel, plug-in hybrid and all-electric power. Electric models based on the STLA One architecture will be equipped with 800-volt architecture, which means they should be able to charge quickly, potentially accepting more than 300kW. Stellantis also confirmed that the new platform will offer new battery choices, featuring cell-to-body integration, which should bring reduced costs, weight and complexity.
Meanwhile, combustion versions will likely use a variation of the mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines already available in other Stellantis models. Mild hybrid versions of the 308 and Astra use a 1.2-litre engine and tiny electric motor for a combined 143bhp, while PHEVs use a 1.6-litre unit and 17kWh battery with 193bhp.
Unveiled last year, the Peugeot Polygon concept featured steer-by-wire tech that will be introduced onto production Peugeots from next year – so it could also feature on other upcoming STLA One models, such as the Alfa Romeo family hatchback. This is where the wheels are controlled using electrical signals rather than a physical link directly from the steering wheel. In a nutshell, it’s designed to bring quicker, more precise steering with fewer vibrations.
It’s likely that Alfa Romeo’s family car will arrive after the new family SUV, which is due to be revealed at the end of next year. Pricing is a long way from being confirmed, but if it’s slightly more expensive than the current Junior Ibrida (Alfa Romeo’s small SUV), the hatchback could be priced from around £33,000.
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