Alfa's Guiletta gets a midlife makeover to bring it closer to the new Giulia, is this the car it should have been !

• Alfa Romeo Giulietta styling is enhanced with design elements of the new Giulia to highlight close genetic ties
• Interior upholsteries and finishes are revised and specification levels improved across the range
• Making its debut is the new 120hp 1.6 JTDM-2 turbo diesel combined with the Alfa TCT twin dry-clutch transmission
• Uconnect system with smart-phone enabled LIVE services now standard across the range
• Five new trim levels for the UK: Giulietta, Giulietta Super, Giulietta Tecnica, Giulietta Speciale and Giulietta Veloce
• Nine powertrain options, eleven body colours – including two new colours – and new alloy wheels available on all versions

The new Alfa Romeo Giulietta has been unveiled simultaneously in five locations across Europe, with the main event taking place in the Alfa Romeo Museum, Arese. Further enhancing the range, following its extensive revision in 2014, the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta features revised front-end styling that includes a striking new honeycomb grille, piano black bumper inserts (with red highlights on sporty models) and revised headlamp and fog lamp surrounds.

The new look emphasises the Giulietta’s close genetic links with the new Alfa Romeo Giulia sports saloon and is complemented by new badge designs (both the “Alfa Romeo” and “Giulietta” logos), new alloy wheel designs, revised tail pipes, new colours (Alfa White and Lipari Grey) and a new engine and transmission combination which should prove a popular addition to the range for UK customers.

Inside the new Giulietta there are revised seat upholsteries, dashboard and door panel finishes, a Uconnect infotainment system now with smartphone-enabled LIVE services (music streaming with Deezer and TuneIn, news with Reuters, Facebook Check-In and Twitter, plus eco:Drive and my:Car services and traffic updates for navigation-equipped models) and, of course, the new Alfa Romeo logo on the steering wheel boss and upholstery (depending on version).

Also debuting on the new Giulietta is Alfa Performance, a new service specifically created to enhance the driving experience. Using an array of digital gauges and instruments, drivers can control the main parameters of the car, measure their performance using special timers and see driving statistics on their smartphone, in addition to receiving real-time driving tips. The service is available on Uconnect 6.5” Radio Nav LIVE.

Under the bonnet there’s now the option of combining the 120hp 1.6-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel engine with the Alfa TCT twin dry-clutch transmission. 

Employing second-generation MultiJet technology with a variable geometry turbo charger, this engine produces 120hp at 3,750rpm and an impressive 320Nm of torque from just 1,7450rpm and, when paired with Alfa Romeo’s quick-shifting and smooth Alfa TCT transmission, it can be used as a full automatic (with its responsiveness and shift patterns adjusted via the three-mode Alfa DNA drive selector, along with the power steering assistance, ESC and Q2 electronic differential settings and throttle and brake responsiveness) or as a full manual, either by slotting the gear selector into its sequential gate or by using the steering wheel paddle shifters.

This engine and transmission combination has a top speed of 121mph and can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in 10.2 seconds, while its official combined cycle fuel-economy and emissions figures matches those of the manual version, returning 74.3 MPG (3.8 l/100 km) and producing just 99 g/km of CO2.

In the UK, the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta’s model range features five trim levels: Giulietta, Giulietta Super, Giulietta Tecnica, Giulietta Speciale and Giulietta Veloce. 

The entry-level Giulietta now benefits from burnished headlamp surrounds, satin-finish door handles and new oblique tailpipes, while inside there are new grey and black fabric seats with Alfa Romeo logo on the head restraints, new matte black dashboard insert and luxury floor mats.

The refreshed style elements are accompanied by a comprehensive standard equipment list which includes a leather steering wheel with audio remote controls, air conditioning, five-inch Uconnect LIVE with Bluetooth connectivity, the Alfa DNA selector, six airbags, 16-inch ‘Turbine’ alloy wheels, one-touch electric windows all round and steering-wheel paddle shifters on TCT-equipped models. The engines available in this trim level are the 

• 120hp 1.4-litre turbo petrol and 
• 120hp 1.6-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel, 
• 120hp 1.6-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel TCT, 
• 150hp 1.4-litre turbo petrol  
• 150hp 2.0-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel.

The Giulietta Super trim level adds dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, a front armrest, new 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights and upgraded seat upholstery and the engine range comprises the 120hp 1.6-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel, 

• 120hp 1.6-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel TCT, 
• 150hp 1.4-litre turbo petrol, 
• 150hp 2.0-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel, 
• 170hp 1.4-litre turbo petrol TCT 
• 175hp 2.0-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel TCT.

A new Lusso pack can be added to the Super model to enhance the elegant look of the car and includes leather upholstery, front and rear armrests (with third rear headrest), aluminium kick plates and the 6.5-inch Uconnect LIVE system with voice-operated satellite navigation and 3D mapping.

Giulietta Tecnica replaces the Business Edition and includes the 6.5-inch Uconnect infotainment system with navigation, automatic lights and wipers, electro-chromatic rear view mirror, front and rear parking sensors, new 16-inch wheels, side skirts and rear privacy glass. 

The available engine range includes the 

• 120hp 1.6-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel, 
• 120hp 1.6-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel TCT, 
• 150hp 2.0-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel,
• 175hp 2.0-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel TCT.

The Giulietta Speciale offers customers the option of combining the sporty look and feel of the high performance Veloce version with a broad selection of engines. Standard equipment includes a sports suspension, sports bumpers with red Alfa profile, classic five-hole 18-inch alloy wheels, Brembo brakes with red four-piston callipers, tinted windows, new carbon-look headlamp surrounds, an anthracite finish on the mirror caps, door handles, grille and fog light surrounds and the 6.5-inch Uconnect LIVE system with navigation.

Leather and Alcantara seats, aluminium pedals, a flat-bottom sports steering wheel with red stitching and the carbon-look dashboard surrounds and door panels complete the comprehensive 

Speciale package and engine choices include the 

• 150hp 1.4-litre turbo petrol, 
• 150hp 2.0-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel, 
• 170hp 1.4-litre turbo petrol TCT  
• 175hp 2.0-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel TCT.

Finally, the new Giulietta Veloce tops the revised line-up and in terms of equipment is similar to the Speciale but with stylish new 18-inch alloy rims, specific sports suspension tuning, oversized tailpipes and, of course, the most powerful engine in the Giulietta range – the 240hp 1750 turbo petrol engine combined with a specially calibrated TCT transmission.

The official debut of new Alfa Romeo Giulietta was staged simultaneously yesterday at an international event called “Fuel your Instinct” in five cities across Europe. 

The central event was held in the Alfa Romeo Museum (La Macchina del Tempo / The Time Machine) in Arese, headlined by a special DJ set by British singer and songwriter Skin, with simultaneous musical events in Turin, Paris, Madrid and Frankfurt, all featuring high-profile local DJs, musicians and celebrities. 

More than 5,000 employees were invited to FCA’s HQ in Turin to enjoy  the preview reveal of the new car followed by an unforgettable evening of music and dance, while the videos employees made with the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta have taken Facebook and Instagram by storm and turned the employees into the faces of the new model.

The new Alfa Romeo Giulietta goes on sale on April 1 with prices starting from just £18,450 OTR. Full pricing details will be announced closer to the car’s UK launch.