Alfa Romeo: New Cars 2012
The Giulietta takes centre stage in 2012 as Alfa Romeo’s only model to benefit from serious upgrades. The following 18 months will be relatively quiet for Alfa in Australia, but strap yourself in for an exciting ride after that. The 4C will kick things off, with the production version due at the 2012 Frankfurt motor show in September and a local launch expected in around Q3 2013. It will be followed by a five-door version of the MiTo and a mid-life update to Giulietta, as well as an all-new SUV, the mid-sized Giulia (159 replacement), and a large rear-wheel drive car (based on the Chrysler 300C).
ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA TCT
Vehicle type: Small car. Timing: February
The appeal of Alfa’s small car will increase exponentially in 2012 with the launch of the six-speed ‘TCT’ dual-clutch transmission and a diesel engine. The new gearbox will be teamed with the existing entry-level 125kW/250Nm 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine as well as the new 125kW/350Nm 2.0-litre JTDM diesel powerplant. The TCT-equipped petrol variant will use around 5.2 litres of fuel per 100km, while the diesel TCT promises economy of around 4.5L/100km. Expect prices to slot in at a similar point to the current two-vehicle line-up, which ranges from $36,990 to $41,990. Alfa Romeo’s Australian distributor Ateco Automotive believes the new drivetrains will help it sell around 3500 Giuliettas in 2012, up from approximately 530 in 2011.
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