AN ELECTRIFIED SPORTY SPIRIT
The new Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce Elettrica.
Everybody asks me, "How does it drive?" "Does it have real Alfa Romeo DNA?" "How does it compare to the Tonale?" "Do you like it?". There is one simple answer to all of that: Yes, my dear friends, we have a true Alfa Romeo here as their first fully electric car. Are you guys happy with this answer? Of course not, so I have some details to prove my honest opinion, that I really enjoyed driving the little Junior Veloce Elettrica. I don’t want to delve into the naming history with this report, as I’m more interested in how cars drive and feel from a driver’s perspective. So let’s start with my actual and honest review of the new Alfa Romeo Veloce.
The Design - Yes, we are all still discussing and talking about that since the car was introduced. It’s different from anything Alfa Romeo has done before. Bold experiments in design were not something they were afraid of in the past. These experiments set standards and established new design languages. Maybe this does too? It is less Italian than we are used to, maybe not as timeless as the current Giulia. But it comes with sophisticated and typical Italian details, which one appreciates and likes if you inspect it closely. And you have to consider, the brand wants to find new clients (maybe they even target some from their French sister brands) so we can see the brand grow and navigate through the fast-changing times in the automotive economy unharmed.
The Important Technical Driving Aspects - It’s a compact B-SUV with a sporty Alfa Romeo heart. Its 280 hp and 345 Nm torque move the car forward very easily, as the Junior Veloce Electric is just under 1,600 kg; it’s properly powerful. The electric drive pushes from 0-100 in 5.9 seconds and reaches up to 200 km/h. Not driving full throttle all the time, you might even reach a 400 km distance with the full capacity of its 54 kWh Lithium-Ion battery. Furthermore, the Veloce comes with a lowered 25 mm sports suspension and enhanced body stability, which got its fine-tuning on the Balocco proving grounds from the same engineers that worked on the Giulia GTA & GTAm. A torque-sensing mechanical differential distributes the power as needed to avoid wheel spinning. It also comes with large 380 mm brakes and a direct steering setting combined with 20-inch wheels.
The Driving - Now we are talking. It’s simple, as the suspension setup just works perfectly in curves. The car's body feels surprisingly stiff when accelerating with the 345 Nm. Thanks to the special sports stabilizers and the good suspension, you gain confidence regarding higher driving speeds in curves. Also, the precise feeling through the easy-going steering wheel enhances that, and you get surprisingly direct feedback through the chassis. Thanks to the Sabelt seats, the car communicates with the driver, just how I like it. Driving at a certain speed into a corner, you can accelerate smoothly through the corner and out of the apex, always exactly aware of what the 20-inch tires are doing. The direct steering lets you adjust your driving line, and in combination with the suspension, you never feel like you lose contact or get unbalanced. Even some decent slides are possible with the front-wheel drive when provoking it in narrow corners while the road was still wet - an all-wheel drive will join the party later this year.
My Conclusion - To summarize this review: Yes, it’s an Alfa Romeo. Though I’m still not convinced by the overall design and I will never admire it like I do with the Giulia, it grows on you. I can see its tweaks, as I am a designer myself. But while driving the Junior Veloce Elettrica, it truly impressed me. It is indeed a true Alfa Romeo in its driving DNA, its dynamic, agile and has a very good handling. And as I just love to drive, I can say it’s a great compact driver’s car where you barely feel that it’s a B-SUV.
Photos & Story by Daniela Bay.
