Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Out to steal the new Ford Focus' thunder, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta brings a bit of Latin glamour to the C-segment, with 8C-supercar-influenced styling and the Fiat group's new MultiAir engines.
Of course, Alfa Romeos have always tended to be beautiful. But can the Giulietta really hope to take on the mighty Focus, consistently one of Europe's best-selling cars and here in its swoopy new third-generation form?
The proof will come when we've had the chance to drive them. But at the Geneva Motor Show, the Giulietta's looks — not the only eye candy here on the Alfa stand — certainly score well.
There's substance backing up the style, too. The five Giuliettas on the stand showed the various engine options, including two of the feisty-sounding 235-horsepower Quadrifoglio Verde versions fitted with the 1750 TBi engine.
Equally impressive is the 170 horsepower 1.4TB MultiAir gasoline engine, a downsized turbocharged engine that punches well above its weight while delivering 134g/km CO2 emissions and fuel economy of 61.4 mpg thanks to Stop/Start technology.
Two diesel Giuliettas are also on display here in Switzerland: the flagship 170-horsepower 2.0-liter and a 105-horse 1.6.
At this time Alfa Romeo has not announced any plans to bring the Giulietta to North America.
