2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Revealed Further In New Gallery, High-Performance Model Reported

ALFA ROMEO has issued a new gallery for its upcoming 2010 Alfa Romeo Giulietta today, offering the most comprehensive look yet at the stylish new hatch. The new images also provide the first full look at the Giulietta's dash.

Until late last year, the Giulietta was to be known as the Milano, but employee protests over the use of the name saw Alfa swiftly change tack, reviving the Giulietta name.

Following the new styling language of the smaller MiTo and the 8C Competizione, the Giulietta enters the Alfa line-up as Fiat's answer to the Audi A3.

The Giulietta's headlights feature LED technology and the nearly ubiquitous (in Euro cars)  Daytime Running Light system.

The rear door handles are hidden in the rear window return, giving the new model a stylish three-door look.

Inside, the Giulietta has been designed to recall the feel of the 8C's interior, featuring aluminium accents and rocker controls modelled on the 8C.

The new hatch will be launched with four Euro V-compliant turbo-charged engines, two of them petrol and two diesel.

The 1.4 TB and 1.4 TB MultiAir petrol engines produce 90kW and 127kW respectively. Alfa Romeo says the 1.4 TB engine uses just 4.6 l/100km of petrol on the combined cycle.

The diesel 1.6 JTDM produces 78kW and the 2.0 JTDM diesel engine 127kW. The 1.6 JTDM engine lists a fuel consumption figure of 3.7 l/100km, while the 2.0  JTDM uses 4.1 l/100km.

All four engines are teamed with a manual six-speed transmission, while the MultiAir and 2.0 JTDM engines will also be offered with Fiat's new TCT twin-clutch automatic transmission.

Alfa will later add the 175kW TBi Quadrifoglio Verde model to the Giulietta line-up, and while specific details and performance figures are still to come, Alfa says the special model will be offered with 17-inch and 18-inch alloy wheels.

On the safety front, the Giulietta features Vehicle Dynamic Control, Dynamic Steering Torque, Q2 electronic differential and Alfa DNA selector, allowing drivers to choose the setting best suited to the driving conditions.

Daniel Cotterill, Public Relations Manager for Australian Alfa Romeo importer Ateco confirmed to TMR recently that the stylish hatch will come to Australia later this year, replacing the 147 in the local line-up.

"Without official launch dates for overseas markets announced yet, it's difficult to say, however our best indication at this point is that the Giulietta will arrive in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2010," Mr Cotterill said.

"It's a stunning car. Our service manager returned from Italy this week where he joined a group of international Alfa managers to be briefed on the Giulietta, and he said it's many times more beautiful in the metal than the photos can show."

Alfa Romeo Working On High-Performance Giulietta Variant

A report recently by British magazine Autocar suggests Alfa Romeo is developing a high-performance version of the Golf-sized Giulietta.

The hot hatch would reportedly maintain its existing front-wheel-drive layout, drawing power from Fiat's new 1750 TBi turbo-charged Multiair petrol engine, developing around 175kW.

Other features expected to appear in the rumoured Giulietta GTA or Cloverleaf model include Alfa's Q2 electronic differential, active dampers and the new TCT twin-clutch automatic transmission.