ALFA ROMEO JUNIOR VELOCE
More often than not in living memory, the underdog, working time and a half to prove its worth against the competition in the public’s eye, Alfa Romeo takes on another challenge with its newest model, Junior. It will have to convince its fan base, the core group of supporters embracing the love for the house of Biscione almost with a religious zeal: the alfisti. Never wanting to embrace the easy way, with the Junior, Alfa Romeo seems to bring about a radical reset and reshuffle the cards that were dealt with the Giulia and Stelvio. An electric B-SUV built outside Italy… isn't the young Junior just a tad too audacious in breaking with traditions to be to the alfisti’s liking?
After witnessing its world premiere and getting acquainted “Under The Skin” at the Centro Stile in Turin, we’re in Balocco for the first drive of the initial examples leaving the factory ahead of the type approval. Operating since 1962, the lands of the Balocco testing complex were second home to generations of technicians, engineers, and test drivers developing all the legendary Alfas covered in motorsport glory, but also the regular production ones, up to the most recent 8C, 4C, Giulia, and Stelvio Quadrifoglio. We’re off to a good start hearing that the same engineers who developed the current Alfa range took on the Stellantis platform on which the Junior is based and tweaked it according to the Alfa philosophy. Junior presents itself in its most vivacious version, also the world premiere of this powertrain: the all-electric 280 HP Veloce featuring the Sport trim, complete with bucket-style Sabelt seats, 380 mm Brembo brakes inside the gorgeously reinterpreted 4-spokes/4 bolts teledial style wheels and, for the first time on a front-wheel drive 100% electric vehicle, a Torsen differential of the 4th generation. The only thing left to do is choose a color that fits the rebellious attitude of this young Alfa…
It’s a mix of familiar feelings and excitement to discover what’s new about it when getting inside the car. The Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel with its three spokes awaits to be grabbed, but it has lost the start & stop button, relocated to the stylish and thin central console. The dash hosts two 10.25-inch screens, one doubling as a “cannocchiale” directly under the driver’s line of sight and the other one (a touch screen) on the dash, home to the infotainment operations also slightly angled towards the driver. But it’s not all digital: the main commands are still pleasant to touch and click physical buttons. It’s surprisingly spacious (still managing to score a record for its class boot capacity of 400 L) and, needless to say, the sport seats are as embracing and comforting as they are good-looking. It’s a silent start, but it's a confident one: we're swiftly on the move towards the track powered by the same energy that comes to Earth in the form of lightning and thunder!
For the first time since 1962, the 20 km long Langhe circuit in Balocco is open to “outsiders.” It’s like an all-time best winding road, with different tarmac surfaces and undulating stretches. The kind of road that would have you quickly pushing for more if you’re the spirited driving kind of motorist. I’m selecting the Dynamic mode, after all, it’s the default mode for anyone who finds the challenge of controlling a car to be one of life's greatest pleasures. And this is where the Junior proves itself irrevocably to be a revelation. Despite the airy space inside, while on the move it feels like a sort of compact block pushing forward, without transverse or longitudinal strains. It’s the lightest of its category at 1590 kg but feels lighter than that. It zip zaps through the bends, and behind the telepathic feel of the direction changes lies a physical explanation: Junior also has the most direct steering in its segment, the Veloce’s suspension is lowered by 25 mm compared to the other versions, and the anti-roll bars are on the sporty side. On the frequent level differences encountered on the Langhe track or sharp bends, the Junior doesn’t lose composure. It’s as if there’s absolutely no body roll, but without being hit by the hard shock as you’d feel in traditional sports cars.
I started driving it with a serious face, concentrating on getting as much information about the car in the shortest available amount of time on the track, but soon I’m smiling and just pushing it to my limits only to feel a slight, barely noticeable but very satisfactory slip that feels like a drift. This car drives, and it drives extremely well! This might be Junior Veloce’s ace hidden up its sleeve: it’s an incredibly fun car to drive. Not so much hooligan-ish as in the 147 GTA, it’s more mature, but if the rocket pocket genre was to evolve for our world of today, Alfa has pulled off the great deed of taking what it had at its disposal and making the most of it. A new generation of alfisti is ready to be brought into the fold, while the existing ones can rest assured: old habits die hard. This Junior Biscione, behind its groundbreaking styling, will reward its drivers with the same exalting driving dynamics one expects and demands from an Alfa Romeo.
Photo gallery by Luca Danilo Orsi
