Fiat announces pricing and specification for the new updated QUBO, the ultimate in passenger travel ?

• New FIAT Qubo now available in the UK - offering MPV versatility with a footprint no larger than a supermini’s
• New front and rear end designs combine with completely revised interior to refresh new FIAT Qubo for 2016
• New trim levels – Pop, Lounge and Trekking – offer more features including new Uconnect touchscreen audio system with optional sat nav
• Trekking version offers additional all-weather traction without the complexity and costs of a full 4X4 system
• Priced from £11,695 OTR for the FIAT Qubo 1.4 Pop

The new FIAT Qubo MPV is now available to order in the UK, demonstrating once again the expertise and experience that FIAT has in designing and building cars that are compact on the outside but larger-than-life in terms of both personality and interior space.

Part of the functional family, alongside the popular Panda, versatile Doblo and all-new Tipo hatchback and station wagon, the new FIAT Qubo retains its 3.96m long and 1.7m wide dimensions meaning it continues to mate the footprint of a supermini with the interior more like that of an MPV with ample room for five adults and a capacious 250-litre boot – which grows to 650 litres when the parcel shelf is removed or an astonishing 2,500 litres with the rear seats removed. Equipped with the optional folding of the front seat passenger, the FIAT Qubo is even able to accommodate long objects of up to 2.5m in length.

A large hatchback tailgate not only allows easy access to the boot from every angle for loads of all shapes and sizes, it also provides useful shelter in inclement weather making it ideal for shopping trips on rainy days. In total, there are 16 different seating configurations with the rear seats accessed by practical sliding doors – perfect for tight parking spaces!

For 2016, the FIAT Qubo gets a new exterior look which, in keeping with the character of the car, combines Italian style with everyday practicality. The large, high-mounted headlamps, for example, help define the Qubo’s friendly face - now augmented by a new “smiling” front grille and chunky new front bumper - also offering improved night-time visibility and limiting the likelihood of damage in the event of a minor accident. Trekking versions also get new skid plates panels in the front and rear bumpers, as well as special side mouldings, both with silver inserts, and special Trekking alloy wheels with mud-and-snow tyres.

The tailgate is also revised, with the large circular recess giving way to a straight, flat panel with a more elegant location for the FIAT badge, while the gloss black trim is redesigned to accommodate tailgate release, illumination for the relocated number plate and bolder Qubo badge. The choice of exterior colours is enriched with two new hues, Magnetic Bronze and Azure Blue, while new wheel cover and alloy wheel designs complete the exterior revisions.

Inside, the new FIAT Qubo, the stylish and functional cabin benefits from a new steering wheel design; black mirror-finish detailing on the steering wheel spokes and centre console surround; new instruments; new seat upholstery and new infotainment options; including a new Uconnect system with a five-inch colour touchscreen and Bluetooth connectivity, USB and aux-in ports as well as the option of satellite navigation.

The new FIAT Qubo is available in three trim levels: Pop, Lounge and Trekking. Standard equipment on the entry level Pop model includes remote central locking, electric front windows with one-touch lowering, electrically adjusted and adjustable door mirrors, body coloured bumpers and mirror covers, height-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support and an arm rest and opening rear quarter-light windows. Safety equipment includes ABS with EBD, ESC with ASR, HBA, Hill Holder system and front and side airbags. The Pop version is powered exclusively by FIAT’s reliable and robust 77hp 1.4-litre petrol engine and is priced from £11,695 OTR.

The Lounge version adds air conditioning, front fog lights, the colour five-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, steering wheel remote controls, steering wheel and gear shifter trimmed in leather and 16-inch alloy wheels, all for a premium of just £1,000. It is available with the 77hp 1.4-litre petrol engine, priced at £12,695 OTR, and the 80hp 1.3-litre MultiJet II turbo diesel, priced from £14,695 OTR. FIAT’s Dualogic automatic transmission is available on the diesel version.

The new FIAT Qubo Trekking, with its raised suspension and Traction+ electronic front differential, builds on the impressive Lounge specification by adding special bumpers, side mouldings and alloy wheels (as mentioned previously) as well as dark tinted windows, roof bars, rear parking sensors, cruise control and the 95hp 1.3-litre MultiJet II turbo diesel as standard. Pricing for the FIAT Qubo Trekking starts at £15,695 OTR.

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.