Revealed: 2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta

By Drew Johnson - Posted March 2nd 2010

Alfa Romeo has a long history of making beautiful vehicles, and its latest creation is sticking to that theme. The Italian automaker used the 80th Geneva Motor Show to unveil its newest offering, the stylish Giulietta hatchback.

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The Giulietta is particularly interesting because it is believed to be a critical part of Alfa Romeo’s future North American lineup. The car also serves as a replacement to the Alfa 147, which is presently sold in Europe.

The nameplate was first used in the 1950s for the company’s first truly affordable coupe model.

Giulietta has an all-new platform — dubbed Compact — and a new take on Alfa’s trademark exterior design language. Some parallels can be drawn to the looks of the Alfa 8C Competizione, which has a similar front end.

Four turbocharged engines will be available at the European launch. The two available gasoline turbo motors both displace 1.4 liters, with the entry-level version delivering 120 horsepower, and the more premium MultiAir unit offering 170 hp. On the diesel side, the 1.6-liter version cranks out 105 hp, while the 2.0-liter model churns out 170 hp.

After the initial launch, a fifth motor will be added to the mix — Alfa’s 1750 TBi. The gasoline mill will deliver 235 horsepower with an exclusive Quadrifoglio Verde (Cloverleaf) configuration.