pumadog

Maybe it's whiskers now. 😼 After the single long fangs it turned to three claws already.

They made some questionable decisions. Why the black bumpers, the black bar below the windshield, the bold frame around the rear window? The original didn't have any of that. The design could be so much cleaner. I'd also prefer filled lights. And it looks very cheap inside. I get the love for this out of nostalgia, but somehow the Renault retro design team lost their mojo after the R5.

I post this here because the logic should apply to different brands: CEO Huettl: Opel's 25,000 Euro electric car will be the next Corsa "You have to make a few decisions that affect costs, including battery chemistry and drive technology, but also a fully optimized body architecture." As I thought, the entry version of STLA Small will make "Smart Car" obsolete over time. At least in Europe. Remember that the B segment cars will be BEV only in contrast to the later C crossovers. Do we have info about the B crossovers? STLA Small should be US compliant, while CMP and Smart Car are not. Jeep got promised a 25,000 $ BEV (= Renegade) last year, though plans might have changed under Trump.

Italian style and sportiness in the new Alfa Romeo Junior Sport SpecialeThe new special series makes its debut, expressing the dynamic character of Junior with a distinctive design, premium materials, and a wealth of high-level technological features. Alcantara interiors with “ice” details, a glossy black body kit with silver inserts, 18” diamond-cut wheels, and a dedicated badge create a sporty yet refined look. … Italian style and sportiness in the new Alfa Romeo Junior...The new special series makes its debut, expressing the dynamic character of Junior with a distinctive design, premium materials, and a wealth of high-level technological features. Alcantara interiors Sort of follow up to the Intensa but this time the tech pack stays an extra and you can get any color. Fori wheels are matte in this version. I like the style choices but a version where all the Alcantara parts have a specific (non black) color would be nice as well. 😀

Huh? They'll have electric versions.

The new generation for USA will be built in Belvedere, Detroit. Instead of Brampton, Canada due to tariffs. Together with additional capacity for the Cherokee that starts in Mexico.

You really like this? I think the side view is butt ugly. Looks more A than B segment to me and I agree that it resembles the 2CV in some views.

Can we call this a Twin Spark? Hopefully back at Alfa soon. The video features a Maserati.

That's an interesting question since already the next Tonale is supposed to be more dynamic, not so tall. Nobody needs a rugged offroad C segment Alfa. This would make more sense for Alfa's brand position secondo me: • B Crossover (SUV) Junior • C Hatch/Fastback Giulietta • C Crossover (SUV) Tonale

So the source article offers nothing substantial beside axing DS No. 3 and 4. The bit about Alfa can also refer to E-Jet. Everybody with a working brain knows that the bigger DS and Lancia models will only burn cash, when already the small models don't sell. Do we have numbers for DS No. 8? A takeaway if true: the variants of STLA Small: SP1 for B hatch, electric only (because it's first) SP2 for B crossover (because, well …) SP3 for C segment, multi-energy (mentioned in article)

What does Project Launch Manager mean? Starting the MCA project or launching the MCA result? As the sister cars were launched roughly every 9 months I wonder if the others will benefit early: New (and exclusive) door cards for all, enhanced middle tunnel also for 600. Maybe more individual switches (gears, drive modes) for all. When new 2008 and Mokka start, the Tychy trio can't be left behind appearing old. We know a 210 hp EV might appear and a 1.6 HEV would be great. Do you think there's power reserve in the 1.2?

The numbers will be tiny though.

I disagree. It's simply too early to judge that. Mito startet in June 2008 and had a much faster ramp up with popular powertrains. In 2009 it sold extraordinary well in Germany thanks to the "Abwackprämie". Sales fell down after that. Mito prices started under 15k Euro while Junior prices start at 30k Euro. Like for Avenger and 600 the Junior ramp up has been rather slow since the Elettrica arrived at dealers 12 months ago. People report about orders taking up to six months. So the contrast between more than 55k orders (worldwide since launch) and less than 30k deliveries (in Europe, this year) should shrink. You can see at the 600 (launched 9–12 months before Junior) that the monthly sales are still climbing. Just found this extensive analysis about the Junior, might be interesting:

Not a good idea, if true. It harms the brand image, because you can directly buy a cheaper Chinese brand then. Better alternative: Use know-how and components of Leapmotor if beneficial, but in proper European vehicles. And if there's a hole in the Opel SUV lineup, it's rather a compact crossover than another SUV in the tiny gap between Frontera (438 cm) and Grandland (465 cm).

Do you think the Fiat Grizzly will make it to Türkye?

So far only PHEV reviews, right? Wonder if they fine-tuned the MHEV as well. Didn't see reviews in other languages yet.

I'd expect some aftermarket tuner to offer alternative Scudetto designs for the Junior. Can't be so hard with a 3D printer?

Giorgio BEV is possible, but laborious, expensive and simply not competitive. Just compare Grecale to new iX3, Macan or GLC. There is a reason Maserati killed the Giorgio projects for new Levante and Quattroporte. If you want, STLA Large is the proper BEV evolution of Giorgio. And Alfa/Maserati don't have the volumes to justify splitting their models on two different platforms for ICE/BEV versions.

I wouldn't bet too much on PHEV. Recent studies show that they deliver only 19% emission reduction in real life – in contrast to theoretic 75%. Outside of WLTP the combustion engine is running much more than claimed, even if you always charge. So there are EU plans to base taxes more and more on real consumption over the next years. Article about it: n-tv.deSo dreckig sind Plug-in-Hybridfahrzeuge wirklichPlug-in-Hybride gelten als solide Kompromisslösung: Hersteller bewerben sie als saubere Alternative zum reinen Diesel- oder Benzinmotor und als Antwort auf begrenzte Batteriereichweiten. Eine Studie wImparato mentioned upcoming FHEV and REEV possibilies several times as Europe COO …

How safe is the plant in Serbia with its ongoing lack of manpower? As the EU and single members are planning BEV support and the E-Car class for "Made in Europe" products only, which Morocco cars wouldn't get – how likely is the shift of some production into EU countries?

As Tonale 160/175 and Junior 135/145 have more or less the same performance (because Tonale is 300 kg heavier, Junior 1.2 surprisingly faster than official numbers in different tests) — Tonale 130/145 would be Alfa's entry powertrain below Junior. Production wise it's not cheaper but adds expense. They should rather offer something between 175 MHEV and 270 PHEV. PHEV adds so much weight and complexity.

Like the Stelvio 2026 leak? I prefer the plate at the bottom. This way they can also switch to non-centered plates for export markets like with the Junior:

Can this really be the case? For Junior 136 + 29 makes 145. How can 160 + 20 make 175 then? With the same logic it should be more like 170 combustion plus 5 electric now. And is the official power reduction of the Plu-In from 280 to 270 maybe a mathematical change as well or real because of the latest emission standard like 70 to 65 for Panda/500? I like the updates, from photos/videos the Tonale looks better planted to the ground now, front appears shorter with the wider air inlet. Has anything changed at the rear, apart from the black/silver logo? I love the Giallo Ocra! 😎

This recent article explains it a bit: https://de.motor1.com/reviews/773417/alfa-romeo-giulia-q4-2025-test/ If they can build the generations paralelly I wonder why they don't start with the new Giulia/Stelvio Elettrica and bring the Ibrida when ready. The old generation will sell close to zero as petrol only anyway. Makes only sense if the whole base has to be modified or the electric version isn't just good enough yet.

Twingo will be built by Ampere in Slovenia. If the E-Car class by EU gets reality I can imagine A segment Citroën and even Peugeot/Opel in Pomigliano. Recently some brand managers indicated the option to go into A segment again.