A few days ago, according to overseas reports, under the strong protest of Italian politicians, Alfa Romeo Milano will be renamed Junior. The car is named after the Italian brand's hometown, but is built at Stellantis' factory in Tihei, Poland.
"Poland cannot produce a car called Milano, which is prohibited by Italian law. Italian Industry Minister Adolfo Urso said.
Commenting on why the name Junior was chosen as the brand's first mass-produced electric car, Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato said that it was closely linked to the brand's history, citing the 1966 GT 1300 Junior, the best-selling at the time, as an example.
The Junior is the first all-electric model under the Alfa Romeo brand, positioned as a small SUV, lower than the Tonale. The new model will be built on the e-CMP2 platform together with the Jeep Avenger, and will be the first to be available as an all-electric version, followed by a plug-in hybrid version, and is scheduled to be launched in the European market in September.
Looking back at the exterior of the new car, the front face adopts a new design style, but the grille still retains the family characteristics and embeds the brand logo in it. The shape of the headlights on both sides has changed greater, and the flat light clusters and the lower trim form a boomerang shape, creating a sharper visual effect. The lower bracket has a through-line design that helps lower the center of vision, and air vents on both sides to help dissipate heat from the braking system.
On the side of the car, you can see that the new car has a fastback styling design, although it is an all-electric model, but it does not use hidden door handles, and the 20-inch wheels are equipped with front four-piston calipers for outstanding performance. The tail lights echo the headlights, with black accents to create a ducktail shape, and the D-pillar is embossed with the brand's logo.
In terms of interior, the new car is also equipped with a new design style, two 10.25-inch displays provide a sense of technology, the instrument panel shape is quite peculiar, and the air conditioning vent is also equipped with a light-up LOGO to enhance the sense of refinement. In terms of equipment, the new car will be equipped with the latest infotainment system, leather and Alcantara panelled seats, wireless charging for mobile phones in the front seats, Level 2 driver assistance functions, and more.
In terms of power, the entry-level model is equipped with a 156 hp electric motor and a 54 kWh battery, with a range of 410 km in WLTP mode, and the maximum power of the electric motor in the top-of-the-line version has been increased to 240 hp, while the car is also equipped with sports suspension and the vehicle height will be reduced by 25mm. The hybrid version, which is expected to be launched in 2025, will be powered by a 1.2-liter engine with a 48-volt electric motor with a maximum power of 136 hp mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, and will be available in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions.