Alfa Romeo Mini Killer En Route

[LeMans GTR]

After acquiring plans and sketches for a new MINI Cooper killer AutoWeek magazine in the Netherlands published these artist's renderings of the future model. The Alfa Romeo Junior will be unveiled to the public at the next Geneva autoshow.

Alfa Romeo is expected to produce 75,000 of the model per year, putting it in direct competition with the Audi A1 and the MINI Cooper.

Priced in the 20,000 Euro range - quite a bit more than its competition - the Alfa Romeo Junior should get a 1.4 liter engine with an optional turbo charger, producing between 104 and 178 horsepower, according to the magazine. A 1.8 liter turbo maxing out at 227 horespower shuould see production come up as well as a 1.6 liter JTD diesel engine banging out anywhere from 118 to 148 ponies. We had hoped this car would have rear wheel drive, but that is likely not the case.

The three-door Junior should be in the area of four meters long, making it 22.3 centimeters shorter than the Alfa Romeo 147. As the magazine points out, the renderings also show some styling touches from the 145, with tail lights originating on the 8C Competizione.

The car is expected to hit production in Spring 2008, and land on Italian showroom floors in June. Other European countries should be able to take deliveries in the fall. Rumor has it a convertible Alfa Junior may be on the way as well.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9071211....iller-en-route

[pfrocker]

By the way it's not actually called Junior, Alfa had a competition to name the car and you get a free Alfa Romeo Spider. I haven't heard who won or if the competition is still going.

[Labcoatguy]

OMG I DUN LIKE THE RENDERED SPYSHOT

et al

[No Boss]

Like the idea, and the front has to grow on me (if that's what it's gonna look like)... but if we got them here, come my purchase time in March I would definitely consider one next to the Mini.

/already considering a Cooper S.

[Aston Martin]

Eww Peugeot headlights.

[eddysdaman]

It's nice, but it's not beautiful

The front just doesn't do it for me, and since I guess this is a hot hatch, it has to compete with some pretty cool cars.

For the moment: Alfa 147 > Alfa Junior

[Ottobon]

whoever made that render has been looking at too many peugots and too many mkv golfs

[tigger]

Man, anyone know when Alfa's going to start sending cars to the US? The render looks decent, I like the profile and the rear end at least.

[Elmo187]

Originally Posted by tigger

Man, anyone know when Alfa's going to start sending cars to the US?

by 2009 they'll be sending Fiat's and Alfa's over here.

[Silverstar]

It's like a, guess how many cars there is in this...car game again

Given the circumstances it looks pretty interesting

[_HighVoltage_]

If the story is true - Wohoo! A 1.8 litre 227bhp mini car weighing (I'm guessing) about a 1000kg. That should be quite fun...and dangerous. I've felt the torquesteer on a 100bhp Alfa and can only imagine the wildness of this thing

[MadCow809]

front looks good, coupe body looks good.... but the back is horrible.

[wooflepoof]

all they need to do is make the headlights more cutesey and its perfect

[Prost264]

Back looks like a 599 hatch. I'm in.

[kaBOOMn]

Yay!

The Alfa Sud is back baby! Still the best FWD car bar none......just hopefully it wont rust and fall to bits within 3 years.....

[Donington]

What Alfa needs to make is a new tiny boat-tail spider.

Or maybe another big Zagato coupe.

[Ottobon]

Originally Posted by Donington

What Alfa needs to make is a new tiny boat-tail spider.

Or maybe another big Zagato coupe.

I kind of agree but

A. They might muck it up and give us FWD

B. The Montreal was cooler then any Zagato that comes to mind.