The Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint may not be such a total knock-out for the eye and the senses as the 1954 beauty that was the first to bear the name but…
..even so, it makes most other hot hatchbacks on the road look as inspiring as yesterday’s half-eaten boiled egg.
even so, it makes most other hot hatchbacks on the road look as inspiring as yesterday’s half-eaten boiled egg.
“This is one I really don’t want to see taken away,”said my wife at the end of the week’s loan.Apart from special badging, modifications to this model from the standard Giulietta include anthracite door mirrors and door handles, burnished grey alloys, sill extensions and privacy glass. Alcantara seats and a sports steering wheel supplement the interior.
All the females in my ludicrously gynocentric household approved. “This is one I really don’t want to see taken away,” said my wife at the end of the week’s loan.
Not just pretty. The 1.4-litre MultiAir petrol turbo engine with 148bhp is a delight – smooth, willing, energetic and satisfyingly growly. Connected with a snicky gearchange on the six-speed manual transmission, the powertrain invites enthusiastic driving.
As does the chassis, with sharp turn-in and reassuring levels of grip. Steering is ho-hum. Noise levels in the cabin from road and wind are tolerable. Space for passengers in the back seat and for luggage in the boot are barely acceptable.
Would I want one? Not so long the wounds are still fresh from the Fiats I owned in the 1970s. But my wife would buy it tomorrow; and I’d be happy to drive hers. So long as it held together.
Price £20,490; 0-62mph 8.2 sec; Top speed 130mph; Economy 49.6mpg; CO2 emissions 131g/km; Kerb weight 1290kg; Engine 4 cyls, 1368cc, turbocharged, petrol; Power 148bhp at 5500rpm; Torque 184lb ft at 2500rpm; Gearbox 6-speed manual
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