Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2013 News

As the Australian car sales race heads into the final quarter lap for 2013, most eyes are on what will be the top car. But further back in the field, there’s been a big improvement for several European models, which are posting sales lifts of up to 1000 per cent as a result of aggressive price cuts.Leading the charge is Fiat’s 500 which was slashed more than $10,000 in June, and now starts at just $14,000. This resulted in 310 buyers last month, compared to just 86 before the price drop. The little Italian car has increased in sales at the rate of 850 per cent every month since June, in a market that shrank by almost 15 per cent.Fiat as a whole is benefiting too, with the 1765 sales so far this year being more than a 500 per cent increase over the 328 at this stage in 2012. While the Fiat 500 is attracting customers, established competitors like the Holden Barina, Nissan Micra, Suzuki Alto and Swift and Toyota Yaris have meanwhile seen a decline in sales year-to-date.This means that for the first time, the 500 is outselling more than half its competitors. Meanwhile, Alfa Romeo’s small models, which also received price cuts recently, have returned positive results – albeit on fairly low numbers. MiTo has doubled in sales in the premium light car segment from 23 to 45, while its larger sibling, Giulietta – in a field that includes the Toyota Corolla, Holden Cruze and Mazda 3, found 324 new homes compared to just 88 before the new pricing strategy.The local HQ says the surge in sales is due to sharper pricing and specifications and more dealership support. “The success is a result of a combination of factors: an expanded and engaged dealer network, streamlined vehicle spec levels and sharper pricing – as well as strong and smart marketing support,” Fiat and Alfa Romeo spokesperson Karla Leach says.With the international launch of the new Alfa Romeo 4C sport car this week – estimated to cost somewhere around $75,000 when it arrives here -- the Italian brand is buckling up for the challenge of luring customers with a few more dollars to spend. Leach says Fiat and Alfa Romeo have serious intentions to keep strengthening their position here. “We have strong ambition for the continued growth of these brands in Australia,” she says. But it’s not just Italians aggressively tackling the entry level market.Renault last month introduced the cheapest Clio ever, firmly cementing the French brand into the budget light car segment with an entry-level price of under $17,000. Keen to be seen as a viable alternative, Renault has hit hard at competitors, offering five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty and fixed price servicing. Renault Australia managing director Justin Hocevar said at the Clio unveiling last month that the brand has high expectations of the car.“We have a fantastic value proposition in terms of a beautifully designed vehicle with high levels of personalisation, at an extremely competitive price.” he said. Traditional options like Mazda, Hyundai and Toyota still dominate the light and small car segments, but European rivals are fighting hard to gain credibility as mainstream brands.The big winners are the buyers, who may now afford to consider Italian design, French flair or German precision for the same price as more established mainstream manufacturers. The exception to the success story is Opel, which failed to accrue enough buyers in its very short stint in Australia. Despite competitive prices, the German brand disappeared in August, posting less than 1,000 sales this year between the Astra and Corsa small cars combined. 

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Alfa Romeo has expanded their Giulietta range with four new variants, with the base model starting at $25,000 – about $6000 lower than the previous entry level. The new pricing system - part of a new structure for Alfa Romeo and Fiat – is aimed at making the Italian vehicles more affordable for the Australian market and attracting more buyers. “The introduction of an expanded Giulietta range is the next step in our repositioning program for Alfa Romeo,” Fiat Chrysler Australia CEO Veronica Johns says. “We’re confident the significant improvements we’ve made to the value equation for this vehicle line will attract the attention of new car buyers.” The entry level Giuletta will be powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine, outputting 88kW of power and 206Nm of torque. The Progression variant starts with a more powerful 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine, with a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine also available. All Giuletta models come with the Alfa Romeo DNA system, safety features, electric windows, rain-sensing wipers, wheel mounted radio and phone controls, 6-speaker MP3 capable stereo and a ‘start and stop’ economic system. Model Line-Up  

The Giulietta's new oiler aims for spirited performance but cuts fuel consumption to 4.5 litres/100 km on the combined fuel consumption test.  Alfa Australia reckons the new powertrains will account for most Guilietta sales because the market is dominated by self shifting gearboxes and diesels.  They claims the Giulietta's diesel is capable of dispatching the 0-100kmh sprint in 7.9 seconds for the turbodiesel.  Equipped with the next-generation twin clutch automatic transmission with shift paddles behind the steering wheel, the latest Giulietta is available with either the International Engine of Year Award Best New Engine 2010', the petrol 1.4 TB MultiAir 125kW, or the 2.0 JTDM-2 125kW turbodiesel, the ALFA TCT range increases the Giulietta's appeal in both the fleet and consumer sectors. The petrol consumes an average of 5.2 litres/100 km while the diesel betters that at 4.5 litres/100km.  The 2012 Alfa Romeo Giulietta range opens with the 1.4 TB in manual form at recommended retail price of $36,990 and TCT is $38,990. The new Giulietta JTDM-2 with the TCT gearbox as standard has a recommended retail price of $41,990. The range topping Giulietta QV is priced at $41,990 ..

Widely praised in Europe where it was launched early last year, the Giulietta will not gain the Fiat Group's twin clutch TCT transmission until the third quarter of this year.  Even then, the topline Quadrifoglio Verde (QV) remains manual only. Alfa Romeo Australia general manager Andrei Zaitzev admits this is a particular obstacle for a direct competitor to Volkswagen's all-conquering Golf GTI in a market "where three from four buyers choose DSG", VW's version of the increasingly popular twin-clutch auto. The Giulietta is nevertheless expected to sell 500 units this year, 350 of them being the entry-level 1.4 MultiAir, priced at $36,990 plus charges and options. The QV, with an impressive 173kW/340Nm 1.75-litre turbo petrol engine, is priced from $41,990. Zaitzev says a 2.0-litre diesel variant will arrive later in the year. Though equipped with cutting edge Euro 5 compliant powertrains, the Giulietta's task of bolstering Alfa's flagging local sales a paltry 914 in 2010 is made more daunting by the local line-up being reduced to three model lines. With the Spider convertible and Brera coupe in run out, there will remain only the Mito small hatch, the Golf-sized Giulietta and the 159 medium sedan and sportwagon. Zaitzev says the company is "desperate for new product" but the 159's replacement, the Giulia, has been "pushed back until the 2012 and we won't see it before 2013," by which time the range will be eight years old.  A much-needed SUV would be unlikely to see the light of day before that. Would this be of interest? "Hell, yes," Zaitzev says. "You'd be mad not to participate in the sector of the market that grows consistently."  Asked if such a gambit would diminish Alfa's image as maker of sporty cars, he says: "It would only erode its image to a very small number of people but introduce it the best selling segment." The Giulietta is the replacement for the 11-year-old 147 hatch. Though bigger in all dimensions, it weighs in at 1242kg for the 1.4, 1320kg for the QV. The MultiAir returns a claimed 5.6 litres per 100km in combined running, the QV 7.6L. The QV is distinguishable by its traditional four leaf clover badge, lowered suspension and dark 18-inch alloys. Both variants are well equipped with standard features including the Q2 electronic differential and the DNA selective drive switch that enables drivers to choose between dynamic, normal and all-weather modes.