Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce 280 hp test drive: my Alfist opinion will surprise you

Note: if you think of electric cars as vacuum cleaners, don't read this essay.

A new Alfa Romeo is always an event, because until now, it wasn't often! A 4C, in 2013, Giulia in 2015, Stelvio in 2016, and Tonale in 2022. The Junior, in 2024, is the first 100 % model to emerge from the Stellantis group. And I absolutely had to try for the readers of this site the most powerful version of this new model, the Junior Veloce 280 hp electric.

I won't go into detail about theIt's all about the car's interior and exterior design, you can read my article from the car's presentation in Milanwhen it was called Milano, to get my opinion. Nevertheless, in red, in black, in Veloce finish, the car has a very sporty look. Perhaps it's just a shame that there aren't more visual differences inside and out between the Veloce 156 hp and 280 hp. It's something I've already criticized the Tonale Veloce MHEV 160 hp and Veloce PHEV 280 hp for, even though the price difference is very substantial. For my personal taste, with a Leggenda scudetto, and without the Matrix LED lights, the Junior's front end is more interesting.

For this test drive, Alfa Romeo invited me to the the Balocco circuit. An emblematic location for the brand, where development cars such as 4Cs and 124 Spiders, as well as Abarths, Jeeps and Maseratis, can be seen in the parking lots. Another interesting point was brought to my attention by Junior's head of product, the Balocco circuit is also used extensively by Maserati and Ferrari. The Prancing Horse brand prefers the Balocco track to develop its models, while the Fiorano track is more for communication purposes. During the day's testing, I came across Maserati Folgore, Ferrari 12 Cilindri, Ferrari SF90 and Ferrari 250, all camouflaged and testing on the track. Stars in my eyes.

The Balocco circuit is also the Autodelta site, a legendary car tuner who has created some of the world's finest racing Alfa Romeos. I won't see more than a poster on a wall, but it adds an authentic atmosphere to the day.

Before starting the tests, I would like to thank the people at Alfa Romeo who made themselves available and accessible to chat and answer my questions, the head of product Alfa Romeo, head of product Alfa Romeo Junior (with whom I had already had a chance to chat in Milan last April), and the performance manager. All passionate Italians, proud to work for Alfa Romeo.

This was followed by a press conference at which everyone presented the Junior Veloce 280, a model not yet homologatedwhich is currently in the final stages of development and will be available on the market by the end of 2024. Alfa Romeo's head of product, Daniel Guzzafame, focused his presentation on the car's target audience, a new generation of Alfisti, and also those who are not "car enthusiasts". As for the head of performance, Domenico Bagnasco (who worked on the 4C, 8C and Giulia GTA), he explains what makes the difference: the weight, around 200 kg less than the competition, suspensions lowered by 25 mm, anti-roll bar, steering work that is the most direct in the segment, acceleration, high-performance braking with 380 mm discs that promise to stop the Junior launched at 100 kmh in 35 meters.

In fact, one of the interesting points I could test later is that the car's brake mode (which allows the car to recharge itself by braking alone) has a different sensitivity in dynamic mode, to give the sensation of engine braking. In this mode, energy is regenerated only when braking.

Another very interesting point is the introduction of a Torsen-type limited-slip differentiallocated on the front axle, which modulates torque to the drive wheels according to driving conditions. A system already seen on a certain Alfa Romeo 147 Q2 in 2006. This is an Alfa Romeo exclusive in the Stellantis Group, called TorSen D.

As far as the engine is concerned, although it was originally planned as a 240 hp unit, the Junior has now been upgraded to 280 hp! From what I understand, it's still the eMotors M4 motor, but here in M4+ version (unofficial name), which delivers 280 hp of power for a torque: 345 Nmand rises to 15,200 rpm. It would be a motor developed for Alfa Romeo, jointly by Alfa Romeo Engineering and eMotors (which will eventually find its way to Lancia and probably Abarth). The 54 kWh battery would also be of the latest generation, compact, but I don't really know more.

After all that teasing, now it's time to try it out. Everyone is invited to take possession of their allocated Junior. As far as I'm concerned, it's a white Junior. Not my favorite color, too stormtrooper looking, but who cares, I'm here to test drive the car, not to take nice pictures (plus I'm a lousy photographer). Climbing aboard, I adjust the famous Sabelt bucket seat, very snug and comfortable.

Excitement goes up a notch. We're going to follow a 280hp Giulia Veloce in a small group of cars on the 20km Balocco circuit!

First impressions: the Sabelt seat, the alcantara steering wheel, the dynamic mode running through the entire dashboard in a dominant red color, we're in the mood. Aluminum paddles behind the steering wheel would have been a nice touch, for example, to adjust regeneration power. Junior doesn't have a pervasive artificial sound. Unlike an Abarth 500e, a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or even a BMW i4 (with orchestral sound by Hans Zimmer), the Junior's artificial sound is sober and quickly forgotten. A wise choice on the part of the brand. At 40 km/h, the direction is firm, seems preciseBehind the group, I try to warm up the tires like before the start of an F1 race, the shock absorbers are very firm and when I release the throttle, it feels like "natural" engine braking. The first few seconds feel good and I can feel that there's power in reserve under the accelerator pedal.

The 280hp Giulia Veloce starts off with a bang, in the same way as a safety-car start. Junior Veloce 280 hp accelerates just as fast as if we were going to have to gain positions in the first bend. I have to admit that it's already very exhilarating, the 0 to 100 km/h is announced in 5.8 sec, the car weighs 1,590 kg, much less than the Tonale, less than a Stelvio, and barely more than a Giulia, and you can feel it! In my opinion, many electric cars are still too heavy, which has a negative impact on efficiency and driving dynamics.

Pause, I'd like to clarify two important points for this test. First, I've had a Giulia for 3 years (extraordinary car, buy one), I was able to try out the Giulia 280 bhp and Stelvio 280 bhp for a short time, I was able to drive a Giulia Quadrifoglio on a trackday (manual gearbox for enthusiasts), I have a good memory of what these cars can offer. Secondly, I've had a BMW i4 286 bhp for 1 year as an everyday car (if you watch my youtube videos you already know that) and even though it's a sedan and not a compact SUV, I have a good point of comparison since the power ratings are similar.

I'll come back to the test. We all drove hard, very hard, on the Balocco circuit. The 20 km circuit is varied, a mix of winding roads with guard rails on both sides, and a track with vibrators. Luckily for me, as I was last in the group, I was able to let it slip away a few times and go for the win. almost to the limits of the car.

I had a lot of apprehension and doubt before this trial. And yet.., I really enjoyed this Junior! I enjoyed braking hard without being afraid of the weight and therefore of understeering, taking corners and metering the throttle to the limit of wheel traction (thanks to the Torsen), making the tires scream (because they're not mine). Good steering feel and doesn't let you be surprised. I'd never driven a front-wheel drive car on the track, only a rear-wheel drive, but I found the sensations provided by the car really good. I think the weight of the car has a lot to do with it, The Junior weighs in at 1590 kg, compared with the Tonale's 1835 kg or the i4's 2065 kg... This is still an eCMP base, but it's a million miles from the behavior of a Fiat 600 or a Peugeot 2008. A 280 hp electric Junior with rear-wheel drive... that would have been very cool.

Yes, the engine noise is gone.Yes, there's no longer the gearbox, which are ingredients we've all come to know. And of course, this Junior is no match for the Giulia and Stelvio, which will remain benchmarks in their respective segments for a very long time to come.

I may surprise you. If I had to choose between the Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV 280 and the Alfa Romeo Junior BEV 280 bhp, I'd choose the latter without hesitation: better interior styling, better handling, more fun behind the wheel. It just goes to show that a good electric car can be better than some thermics. And let's go back a bit (without going as far as the V6 Busso), just before the excellent Giulia and Stelvio. If I had to compare it to the Giulietta 240 hp, which was also a front-wheel drive, in terms of driving dynamics, I sincerely believe they're on a par. Inside, the Junior is a cut above. The Giulietta will keep for itself the noise of the 1750 tbi and the behavior of the TCT gearbox. And that, without trying to imitate artificially, is difficult to compensate for with an electric motor.

Will this Junior seduce me back to Alfa Romeo? For the driving sensation, yes, for the I was quoted around €48,000 for the well-equipped 280 hp Junior Veloce (the iX1, in the higher segment, is currently priced at €47,000 in 204 hp BEV), so yes. The design is very personal, While the Brera red color is very attractive, it's, in my opinion, in black that Junior is most pleasing. Massive black elements like the new Scudetto or the Coda Tronca are better integrated. In the end, it's a more mixed bag, while a Giulia or a Stelvio are beautiful no matter what the color, red, white, black, blue, green... Go in black, with 280 hp, with the Leggenda scudetto, yellow calipers, without the Matrix LED lights, I consider the buy

Video test

Some photos