One of the most exciting new projects being anticipated both by Alfisti and car enthusiasts in general is the new Alfa Romeo B-segment coupe, which is commonly referred to as the "Junior". After much rumour about the project throughout the summer it was confirmed by senior management that the project had been given the go-ahead during the Fiat Auto Investor Day at Lingotto in Turin at the beginning of last month.
 
The exciting new B-segment "coupé" will be a spiritual successor to the much-loved Alfasud, a model that was built in both hatchback and coupé guise and which featured a highly innovative flat four cylinder engine. The Alfasud, along with its 'Sprint' derivative, changed the face of the Alfa Romeo rand forever when it arrived in the early 1970s. Now Alfa Romeo believe they can recreate the magic created by the Alfasud and build an evocative car, fused with all the passion of the brand.
 
Alfa Romeo described the Junior in the Lingotto presentation last month as an "innovative concept of a 3-door sporty car". Based on the versatile floorpan of the highly-successful new Fiat Grande Punto, it will be just under 4 metres long and competitively priced to start at 16,000 euros. It will feature Fiat Auto's new range of punchy smaller cubic capacity turbocharged engines.
 

The new Junior will also form a key plank of Alfa Romeo CEO Antonio Baravalle's strategy of targeting younger cars buyers and lowering the age entry level of its existing models including the Alfa 159, 159 Sportwagon and Brera. The Junior will be pitched at drivers from 18 years old to their mid-30s, helped by the attractive styling penned by Alfa Romeo Centro Stile. The design team have focused on giving it a sporty appearance, the looks of a coupé, and have taken styling cues from the Alfa 8C Competizione, including the sweeps of its overall flowing body shape and detailing such as the front spoiler cut-out sections.
 
The car is scheduled to arrive on the main European markets during the early part of the second quarter of 2008, after its production at the Mirafiori plant in Turin commences around March 2008, although with the whole project now very well advanced its first public appearance could come as early as next autumn.