The Alfa Romeo Junior will arrive in Australia in the third quarter of 2025 with the option of both all-electric ‘Elettrica’ and mild-hybrid ‘Ibrida’ powertrains, the Italian carmaker’s local division announced today.
Pricing is yet to be announced for the Italian brand’s small SUV and its new entry-level model in Australia, where it will fill the void created by the departure of the MiTo and Giulietta hatchbacks.
However, while the Elettrica will be the first Alfa Romeo electric vehicle (EV) available in Australia, the Ibrida will be positioned below the Tonale small SUV, which is currently priced from $50,900 before on-rod costs.
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The Junior Ibrida – which we spied arriving in Australia in February – will be powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder Miller-cycle petrol engine and a 21kW electric motor built into the six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, fed by a 48V lithium-ion battery.
Total system outputs are listed at 100kW of power and 230Nm of torque, and combined fuel consumption at 4.1L/100km (NEDC), while the mild-hybrid Junior is claimed to hit 100km/h in 8.9 seconds on its way to a top speed of 206km/h.
Ibrida vehicles will come with e-Launch, e-Creeping and e-Parking modes, and can drive on electric power alone primarily during parking and at low speeds.
The pure-electric Junior Elettrica, meantime, is powered by a 115kW front-mounted electric motor and a 54kWh battery, delivering up to 407km of driving range (WLTP).
The electric version of the Junior can be DC fast-charged at up to 100kW, which Alfa says provides 100km of range in about 10 minutes and a 10-80 per cent charge in approximately 30 minutes.
Claimed 0-100km/h acceleration for the relatively lightweight (1545kg) EV is 9.0 seconds.
Both the Elettrica and Ibrida powertrains will be available in a single equipment grade in Australia, and so far Alfa Romeo has confirmed only front-wheel drive Ibrida and the regular Elettrica powertrains for local release.
That means that, at least for now, Australians won’t have access the Ibrida Q4 all-wheel drive, which produces 108kW thanks to the addition of a 21kW electric motor on the rear axle, or the more powerful 209kW Veloce version of the electric SUV, which employs the same 54kWh battery and slightly longer 410km WLTP range.
However, new technical specs released today by Alfa Romeo Australia show all locally delivered Juniors will come standard with ‘3+3’ adaptive LED matrix headlights, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and a matching 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, DAB+ digital radio, Alfa Connected Services and Connected Navigation.
Level 2 autonomous driving aids will include autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, drowsy driver alert, and high beam assist, alongside six airbags, a surround-view camera with bird’s-eye view, and rain-sensing wipers.
Other standard features will include ‘Spiga’ seats blending leatherette and cloth trim with red accents, a six-way power-adjustable and massaging driver’s seat with lumbar support and massage function, ambient lighting, aluminium pedals, and ‘Quadrifoglio’ (four-leaf clover) shaped air vents.
All Juniors will also come with 18-inch Petali diamond-cut alloy wheels, a gloss-black body kit including wing mirrors, two-tone black roof, LED tail-lights, privacy glass, leather-clad steering wheel, heated front seats, keyless entry/start, hands-free power tailgate, front/rear floor mats, aluminium pedals and doors sills, 60:40-split folding rear seat, rear USB port and a height-adjustable cargo floor.
Ibrida versions come with paddle shifters and dual exhaust outlets, while Elettrica vehicles will be supplied with a Mode 3 charging cable for the 11kW AC onboard charger and 100kW DC Charger via a CCS Combo Type 2 charge port.
Six exterior paint colours inspired by districts in Milan will include White Sempione, Black Tortona, Reed Brera, Blue Navigli, Arese Steel, and Galleria Light Grey.
In addition to its five-year, unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, Alfa Romeo will offer an eight-year/160,000km battery warranty for Elettrica vehicles.
The Junior was revealed in April 2024, initially with Milano badging before the Italian government opposed the use of an Italian place name for a vehicle produced in Poland.
Under the skin the Junior is based on the Common Modular Platform (CMP) originally developed by the PSA (Peugeot, Citroen) half of Stellantis, and which forms the basis of a range of small SUVs including the Jeep Avenger.
Measuring just 4170mm long, 1780mm wide, and 1500mm tall, the Junior is 360mm shorter than the Alfa Romeo Tonale.
Although it’s easily the smallest Alfa Romeo currently offered, the Junior is longer and taller than the 4.06m MiTo hatchback that was available until 2018, while being shorter and lower than the Giulietta hatch axed in 2020.
The Junior should help boost Alfa Romeo sales volume in Australia, which fell in 2024 despite the launch of the Tonale the year before.
Overall, Alfa Romeo sales slumped 21.6 per cent to 561 units last year, following sales declines for all models apart from the Giulia sedan.
