“THE arrival of the Alfa Romeo Junior marks a historic moment for our brand in South Africa,” says Janus Janse van Rensburg, Alfa Romeo South Africa Brand Head.
He was addressing media corps at the Alfa Romeo Junior EV launch, held at the luxurious Avianto hotel, Muldersdrift, on a wet Wednesday.
Measuring under 4.2 metres, it comes in both Electric versions (Elettrica and Veloce), engineered to deliver a dynamic yet efficient driving experience for urban lifestyles.
We had a pleasure to fiddle with both versions as we took to the streets of Krugersdorp, towards Haartebeespoort Dam and back, thanks to a rainy weather conditions of which this beau stood its ground, having to negotiate our way with my coordinator -Mr Maharaj- the potholes that at times prohibited us to go full-throttle and test what South Africans are up against.
On the curves it showed its mettle, as we hit 0-100km/h, but being mindful of littered potholes and traffic officers- who were not on sight, thanks to the unassuming weather.
Combining unmistakable Italian design with advanced electric technology, the Junior extends Alfa Romeo’s legacy of performance and craftsmanship into the compact urban segment.
“For the first time, Alfa Romeo is introducing fully electric models to our market – a defining step in our journey toward electrified performance. The Junior combines over a century of Italian design and engineering excellence with advanced electric innovation, embodying our dynamic, distinctive and emotionally engaging spirit.
We’re confident it will resonate strongly with urban drivers who value style, performance and individuality,” says the bespectacled Van Rensburg.
Each features a single front-wheel drive motor that balances efficiency with signature Alfa agility.
The Elettrica delivers 118 kW and 260 Nm, achieving 0–100 km/h in 9 seconds and a top speed of 152 km/h, while the range-topping Elettrica Veloce produces 207 kW and 345 Nm, sprinting from 0–100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds and reaching 200 km/h.
The Junior’s exterior reflects the brand’s unmistakable design language, featuring the iconic scudetto grille, the signature trilobo front, and a sleek coda tronca tail that enhances aerodynamic efficiency.
A laser-etched biscione emblem on the C-pillar connects Alfa Romeo’s rich heritage with its electrified future, although concerns were raised on the expansion of Gridcars (charging ports) and that both versions are not fitted with a spare-wheel.
The interior a driver-focused cockpit where premium materials meet modern technology such as the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment system, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ensure seamless connectivity and intuitive control.
Both models are fitted with Alfa Romeo’s most advanced driver-assistance technologies, including Level 2 ADAS with lane centring, adaptive cruise control with stop & go, LED matrix headlights, emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist recognition, and blind spot detection, as we experienced during the test.
Showing off its sportiness: the Junior Elettrica features 18-inch alloy wheels, a Heritage front grille, blue-and-black ‘Icona’ seats and a premium 6-speaker audio system, while the Elettrica Veloce adds 20-inch alloy wheels, a Progresso grille, black-and-red ‘Spiga’ seating, a contrasting black roof, Veloce decals and red brake calipers for a more assertive stance.
Yes, it took a bit of mission before we took off since there’s a ‘hidden’ button to press that allowed us to get into motion- as per the marketing gimmick ‘some make, we create’.
Globally, the Junior has already generated significant attention, with more than 22,000 orders placed and a battery electric vehicle (BEV) share of 21%, reflecting strong demand for sporty, eco-conscious compact vehicles.
Following successful launches in Europe and the Middle East, and with upcoming debuts in Japan and Australia, South Africa now joins the next wave of markets to welcome this new era of Alfa Romeo design and performance, as part of the world’s top selling automotive Stellantis group.
It will only be fair to ask: is it a cross-over, compact or SUV, albeit no direct response was provided by the manufacturer.
The Alfa Romeo Junior EV retails from R799 900 to R999 900 and available in various colours of your choice…
To wrap up the ‘Italian job’ a wife and husband Opera duo (Papi Musa and Bongi Musa) marinated us by going down memory lanes as they belted popular classical songs, much to the standing ovation from hard to please journos! Bravo…
Images SLM (The brand new Alfa Romeo Junior that was unveiled on a wet Wednesday in mzansi).
