Alfa Romeo Junior (966) v Abarth 600e

Alfa Romeo is no longer involved in motorsports. Cars like the Giulia and Stelvio are being phased out after a long run. The Tonale is new to the market, and the reborn 33 Stradale is already sold out. Alfa Romeo has gone dark, but it has emerged with another compact crossover: the Alfa Romeo Junior.

2025 Alfa Romeo Junior

Starting at 29,900 Euros plus additional costs, the Alfa Romeo Junior crossover is the replacement for the Giulietta hatchback, which sounds cruel because with Alfa Romeo no longer making hatchbacks, this Fiat 600-based crossover took over the slot and positioned below the Tonale.

Despite being a crossover, the Junior, as the name implies, is sized like a hatchback, making it breathable on city streets and open roads. Design-wise, the Junior's front view looks like it came from the pages of Toyota and Ferrari design catalogs, while the grille is surprisingly a throwback to Alfa Romeo's past, embellished by the Alfa Romeo Legend Shield. Although made in Poland, it still boasts Alfa Romeo's Italian dolce vita.

2025 Alfa Romeo Junior interior

Inside, the Junior's driver-focused interior features a fully digital 10.25-inch TFT screen, a 10.25-inch touchscreen with smartphone connectivity and ChatGPT, Sabelt sport seats, and so on. On the topic of space, the Junior carries 415 to 1280 liters of boot space.

2025 Alfa Romeo Junior

Of course, since electrification is inevitable in the new normal, the Alfa Romeo Junior is offered with the choice of a 1.2 VGT mild-hybrid with 136ps of power while mated to an eDCT6 gearbox, the 156PS Junior Elettrica with 54kWh battery and 592km of driving range, and the cream of the crop; the Junior Elettrica Veloce. The Veloce has 280PS of power and 345Nm of torque through the front wheels, sprinting from 0-100kph in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 200kph. Driving range is around 315km.

To make sure that the Junior behaves like an Alfa Romeo should, it features the most direct steering in the segment while the Veloce's sport-tuned suspension drops the height by 25mm, not to mention sport-tuned anti-roll bars, 380mm front disc brakes, four-piston monoblock calipers, Torsen differential, 20-inch tires, and Alfa D.N.A. system. For a crossover with an electrified drivetrain, the Junior feels out of character for a compact crossover. It may be mild but it's also tangy.

In the topic of safety, the Junior is packed with numerous driver assistance features such as level 2 autonomous driving, 360-degree parking sensors, a 180-degree rear camera, and others.

The Junior may be a cruel thesis in Alfa Romeo's right but despite its crossover credentials, it feels not so bad to drive, although the Veloce is the top shot of the range. In fact, because of the Veloce's electric performance, it didn't take long before another Stellantis relative took advantage of it.

2025 Abarth 600e

2025 Abarth 600e interior

This is the anti-thesis doing the work of Abarth's thesis. It's the first-ever five-door Abarth EV crossover that prefers to be obvious rather than subtle. This is the Abarth 600e and this crossover is also a cruel thesis just like the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce.

The Abarth 600e is a compact crossover based on the Alfa Romeo Junior. It's priced at less than 45,000 Euros plus additional costs. Abarth took the humble 600e and injected it with steroids to make it behave like the vermin it is.

In its Turismo specification, the 600e delivers 240 PS of power. The limited-edition Scorpionissima matches the performance figures of the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce but offers an additional 6 km of driving range. However, it is smaller and slightly heavier than the Alfa Romeo model.

It is said that Stellantis cooperated with Michelin, Sabelt, JTEKT Torsen, and Alcon in the making of the Abarth 600e, giving it sporty performance and dynamics in a compact crossover setting. Such lab rat experimentation worked wonders and with such performance, it became the Abarth too cool to be missed.

The Alfa Romeo Junior is a bit more refined, while the Abarth 600e is a bit more aggressive. If this is the case, which sporty crossover would you choose?

Photo: Alfa Romeo, Abarth

My FM Log: Italian Works of Art

Two Italian works of art, the Giulia Sprint GTA and the Murcielago SV, made their comeback in Forza Motorsport as prize cars in two separate limited-time tours in Update 4.0.

First up is the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA, a motorsport legend obtained after fighting through Update 4's Open Tour until February 14th.

Launched a year after the first Giulia sedan of 1962, the Giulia Sprint is the coupe version styled by Giugiaro, who was part of Bertone then. At launch, the Sprint GT is powered by a 1.6L DOHC 4-cylinder engine producing 104HP of power and 102.7ft-lb of torque.

Three years later, the lightweight GTA version was launched, featuring aluminum body panels, plexiglass rear and side windows, and a stripped-off interior which drops the weight to 745kg for the road version. The 1.6L engine was upgraded with two spark plugs per cylinder, new camshafts, and a pair of twin-barrel carburetors which bumped the power to 115hp, giving it a top speed of 185kph.

500 examples were made between 1965 and 1969 to comply with Group 2 homologation. In the 1966 racing season, the Giulia GTA scored over 200 wins with official team drivers and privateers behind the wheel.

Lastly is the Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV which was obtained by clearing the time-limited Italian Challengers tour until February 28, 2024.

The Murcielago LP670-4 SV served as the "last special edition" before production, as well as its legendary V12 engine traced back to the Miura, ended in 2010 after its near-decade-run tenure. The 6.5L V12 engine was improved to produce 670PS of power. 

It is limited to 350 cars worldwide and costs 450,000 US Dollars. However, only 186 models were built before the factory had to be reserved for Aventador production. In 2010, there was a China Limited Edition launched exclusively in China that comes with the same specs but with a middle stripe on it.

Let's give these Italian works of art around Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and see how legendary these icons are. Let's roll the tapes.

If Forza Motorsport is art, these Italian legends are masterpieces that deserve to be driven. This is the art of driving, the Forza way.

Enjoy your new rides!

My FH5 Log: Rediscovering Italian Nostalgia

The Italian Automotive update on Forza Horizon 5 welcomes back Fiat, Lancia, Abarth, and Alfa Romeo in the game with a total of 16 playable cars. The first half is available on the autoshow while the latter half was prize cars attainable throughout the entire season. All in the name of rediscovering Italian nostalgia, of course.

Focusing on the prize cars, let's check out the hauls of the season...

At the Wet Season Playlist of the Italian Automotive update, I got the keys to the Alfa Romeo 155 Q4 and the Lancia Delta S4. The first one is a potent contender to the DTM while the latter is Lancia's biggest WRC success story since the Fulvia, the Stratos, and the 037.

At the Storm Season Playlist, I got the keys to the Alfa Romeo 4C, a lightweight rear-wheel-drive Alfa Romeo sportscar made by Alfistas for Alfistas, as well as the Abarth 695, the most hardcore version of the Abarth 500 hatchback.

At the Dry Season Playlist, the Abarth 131 Rally and the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione became part of my FH5 fleet. The former is a 3-box saloon car homologated for rally racing and follows the footsteps of the legendary Lancia Stratos for obvious reasons while the latter is Alfa Romeo's first V8-powered supercar which was built in the same factory as the Maserati GranTurismo.

Lastly, in the Hot Season Playlist, the Lancia 037 and the Abarth 124 Spider are under my caring hands in the game. The 037 is Lancia's Audi Quattro killer while the Abarth 124 Spider is the Italian Mazda ND Roadster that does what its Japanese equivalent doesn't.

Having got my hands on the eight prize cars of the Italian Automotive update, it's time to showcase their Italian flair by giving them challenges at the Horizon Badlands and see if these unlimited amounts of torture can bring out the Roman gladiator within them. Roll the tapes.

Guess those torture tests really brought them the Roman gladiator within but hey, this is Italian automotive at its core.

Enjoy your new rides!

My GT7 Log: A tale of two Giulias

Whether it's classic or modern, the Alfa Romeo Giulia has motorsport bloodlines running through its veins and when you take it to the track, it really showcases the classic Alfa Romeo magic from within.

So, what makes the Giulia special in an Alfa Romeo kind of way? The question will be answered by two machines in question; an ancient Giulia Sprint GT and the modern Giulia GTA.

Beginning with the Giulia Sprint GT, this model is essentially the coupe equivalent of the original Giulia that was marketed from the 60s to the 70s. It became part of the range a year after the original Giulia was launched in 1962. Styled by Giugiaro, who was part of Bertone at that time, the Sprint GT is powered by a 1.6L DOHC 4-cylinder engine producing 104HP of power and 102.7ft-lb of torque.

Fast forward to the 2020s, Alfa Romeo unveiled the Giulia GTA, a track-honed limited edition of the modernized Giulia sedan made in honor of Alfa Romeo's 110th anniversary. In addition to the aggressive aerodynamics provided by Alfa Romeo's Formula 1 partner, Sauber, the 2.9L V6 Bi-Turbo engine was tuned to produce 540HP of power, making it capable of hitting a 0-100kph time of 3.6 seconds. 

The GTAm is the Italian four-door equivalent of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS because of its extensive use of lightweight materials including the deletion of rear seats, giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 2.82kg per horsepower. 

500 of these were made and sold, and those who bought it were eligible for a personalized experience package which includes a special Bell helmet, special racing overalls by Alpinestars, a special car cover by Goodwool, and a driving course courtesy of Alfa Romeo Driving Academy.

Now that I shed light on these two Giulias, let's find out how much the Giulia has progressed from the ancient Sport GT to the modern GTA, and with that, I'm off to Monza to conduct the Italian experiment. This is Darwin's Evolution theory the Alfa Romeo way and it's time to put this theory to the test.

And now the results;

Giulia Sprint GT - 2m49.629s

Giulia GTAm - 2m07.614s

The evolution of the Alfa Romeo Giulia, forty-two seconds in the making. It took about 42 seconds to progress the Giula from the Sprint GT of the past to the GTA of today...in my mind.

From the classic Sprint GT to the modern GTA, the Alfa Romeo Giulia really has motorsport bloodlines running through its veins and it really showcases the classic Alfa Romeo magic from within. 

As the world embraces the new normal, it looks like cars like the Giulia will face the inevitable but nevertheless, it's a clear reminder that the modern Giulia is the best Alfa Romeo at this moment in time because of the style, dynamics, and performance worth upsetting the Germans case to case.

Grazie ragazzi, Alfa Romeo Giulia.

Alfa Romeo Tonale

A concept turned reality, the first-ever Alfa Romeo Tonale is the Italian carmaker's first compact crossover that slots below the Stelvio. Serving as the indirect replacement for the Giulietta is no easy task because being a crossover, the Tonale could become the prime target for bashers and purists alike. The question is, should you want to drive one?

2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale

2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale

Priced at 36,000 Euros plus additional costs, the first-ever Alfa Romeo Tonale is another concept car turned reality, which is rather a pleasing move done by Alfa Romeo, but for some, it's another ad nauseam to add salt to their wounds because...why would Alfa Romeo need another crossover?

2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale interior

Beginning with the exterior, the Tonale stays faithful to the concept car but with a minor alternation involved before heading to the production block such as the doors. The concept car featured secret rear doors reminiscent of past Alfas. The production version, meanwhile, features normal rear doors to avoid people from door-related confusion. Although controversial, it's still enough to match the Tonale's concept.

The interior is modern Alfa Romeo stuff as expected, meaning this compact crossover is driver-focused. On the driver's view, you are greeted with key features such as the 12.3-inch instrumental cluster, 10.25-inch touch screen with smartphone connectivity and Amazon Alexa as well as OTA updates, and the Harman Kardon 14-speaker sound system. In terms of space, the Tonale is surprisingly more spacious than the Giulietta it replaces. What a twist.

2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale

Under the hood, the Tonale offers a choice of two petrol engines and a rather controversial 1.6 VGT-D diesel engine at launch with the first-ever PHEV variant arriving in the summer of 2023. The petrol variants come with 48V mild hybrid tech for the sake of electrification. The one with the 1.5 VGT 48V-Hybrid powertrain mated to a 7-speed TCT produces 160PS of power, 240Nm of torque, a 0-100kph time of 8.8 seconds, and a top speed of 212kph. The one with the 1.6 VGT-D engine has a combined fuel economy of 5.3L/100km, which sounds great but sadly, this is the new normal, and types of diesel are criminalized.

What about dynamics, while being offered only as a front-wheel-drive vehicle at launch with the PHEV later on with its Q4 four-wheel-drive system included, the Tonale feels somewhat easy to drive despite being a crossover SUV. With the most direct steering ratio in the segment, perfect weight balance, brake-by-wire braking, Brembo brake calipers, Alfa DNA, and e-LSD, the Tonale behaves like a hot hatch, which is surprisingly unorthodox in a car like this. Again, what a twist.

In terms of safety, the Tonale is classified as Level 2 autonomy thanks to its front camera, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Centering, and Traffic Jam Assist systems. Combined with Blind Spot Detection, Emergency Braking, Attention Assist, and a 360-degree view monitor, among many others, the Tonale is all about getting concerned on the road, although speedo boys may end up running scared when autonomy kicks in.

Why would Alfa Romeo need another crossover? Truth be told, it's all about profits and the arrival of the first-ever Tonale made a clear statement that with its shock demand, it's becoming the Alfa for the masses due to its reasonable starting price. Whichever path it chooses, the Tonale is all about taking things seriously like every crossover should. Although not a decent alternative for the defunct Giulietta, it's still worth driving it on a daily basis.

Photo: Alfa Romeo

Forza Horizon 4 - The best of Series 30

Forza Horizon 4 made a milestone when it hit thirty series updates since its launch and the big 3-0 introduced us the new Horizon Super7 feature where users can create unique challenges and then upload it for the chance to get featured in the Super7 roster. Have you guys tried it out yet?

More importantly, Series 30 brought us four new prize cars to win by clearing specific Playlist challenges. I know, I'm a bit late but having won all of the four featured cars of Series 30, how's about the time to take a look at these machines that I've won throughout the Series Update?

First up is the cult classic midship Fiat sportscar, the X1/9. Styled by the famed Marcello Gandini of Bertone, the X1/9 is a lightweight Italian sportscar that is as close as you can get from the legendary Lancia Stratos, although it's still one of the most enjoyable cars to drive in ages.

Second is the Hoonigan Bronco. Based on a 1974 Ford Bronco, it was built for Ken Block's wife as a daily driver. It's got numerous off-road mods to this iconic Blue Oval offroader as well as loaded with the Mustang-derived Coyote 5.0L V8 engine at the front for some added muscle.

Third is one of our favorites; the Koenigsegg Jesko. Named after the founder Christian von Koenigsegg's father, the Jesko is the evolution of Koenigsegg's pursuit of speed that picks up where the now-legendary Agera left off. It's powered by a reworked V8 twin turbo engine that produces up to 1600hp of power and 1500Nm of torque while running on E85 fuel and it is mated by a bespoke 9-speed Light Speed Transmission, which delivers benefits of a double clutch gearbox without the weight penalty imposed. Apart from the power it delivers, the Jesko features the most advanced aerodynamics and track-focused dynamics that also works on the road.

Lastly, the Alfa Romeo 155. In its racing form, the 155 is one of the most successful touring cars in its history with the V6 TI raking up 38 race wins. In its normal form, it's a bit of a disappointment compared to its 75 predecessor because of its transition from the former's rear-wheel drive layout to front-wheel drive layout. The Q4, meanwhile, features a four-wheel drive layout similar to the legendary Lancia Delta Integrale.

Now that I got my fills on the Series 30 cars, let's give these cars a twirl and whirl, shall we?

Enjoy your new rides!

Forza Horizon 4: The King's Treasure!

Having managed to purchase the Edinburgh Castle, one of the most expensive properties to buy in Forza Horizon 4, a treasure fit for the king awaits for those who gain control of the Edinburgh Castle and it's one of the most iconic racecars ever to emerge in the pre-WWII era. It's an Alfa Romeo P3.



So, what is the Alfa Romeo P3? Following the footsteps from its P2 predecessor, the P3 is the first single-seat racing car for use in Grand Prix racing. It's powered by a 2654cc straight-eight engine with Roots supercharger, producing around 215bhp of power with a bore X stroke of 65 x 100mm. It is capable of reaching top speeds of over 140mph. Its first year in 1932 saw some dominance with Nuvolari and Caracciola behind the wheel and despite being handed over to Scuderia Ferrari a year later, there's no stopping the P3 from scoring wins. It most famous feat is when Tazio Nuvolari crushed the Germans in their home turf; the German Grand Prix at Nurburgring, using the P3.



The Alfa Romeo P3 is by no means one of the all-time greats in Grand Prix racing and since this attainable for those who saved enough money to take over the Edinburgh Castle in-game, it's a grand prix car fit for a king or queen. In celebration, I was going to take this legendary Grand Prix car for a spin round Edinburgh but sadly, it's snowing outside and looks like this car's having trouble getting through freezing temperatures on the streets of Edinburgh, but hey, no retreat, no surrender, right? So, despite the snow, it's challenge accepted for the king's treasure.



That was quite challenging and when combined with this condition with this ancient performance the P3 delivers, that's something I might get my hands full but I managed to get away with my head up high as the P3 cleared its challenge.



The king's treasure lying in dormant in Edinburgh Castle. Whatever the reason is, getting my hands on the P3 is like having a golden crown in my head because it really is the crowning glory in Grand Prix history and I reckon you are having a blast with this ancient Grand Prix car.

If you got your hands with this crowning glory of Grand Prix racing once you took over Edinburgh Castle with an insane amount of cash, take good care of it. This machine deserves to be in better hands.

Forza Horizon 4: Meet the Stelvio

At the time of Alfa Romeo's renaissance, the 4C sportscar and the Giulia sports saloon made the Italian carmaker great again but as times changed, one of the most charismatic carmakers in the world went on with the flow with the launch of their first-ever crossover utility vehicle known as the Stelvio. I managed to get behind the wheel in Forza Horizon 4 to see what's like to be in its hot seat.



Named after one of the greatest driving roads in the world, Alfa Romeo's first ever SUV, the Stelvio, is based on the same underpinnings as the Giulia saloon and it promises all-weather capability with sportscar-like dynamics that stays true to the Alfa Romeo lineage.

At launch, the Stelvio is offered with a choice of either a 2.0L petrol or a 2.2L diesel engine, mated to an automatic 8-speed transmission and Q4 all-wheel drive.

The Quadrifoglio variant is powered by the same 510HP 2.9-litre V6 BiTurbo Petrol Engine as the hot Giulia and thanks to this engine as well as its Q4 all-wheel drive (a first in the Quadrifoglio lineage), and unmatched performance and dynamics unheard for a high-performance crossover, it's no wonder why the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is labeled the "fastest SUV around the circuit", blitzing the Nurburgring in 7 minutes and 51.7 seconds.

The Stelvio features the world's first Integrate Brake System which is an electromechanical system that combines stability control with a traditional servo brake, which not only makes it smoother but also quick enough to brake at a shorter distance.



Most people are joking that a Ford F-150 Raptor is much more better to drive everywhere than the Stelvio but if they cross out questionable influence caused by a certain motoring show with three middle-aged men on it (don't ask which), saddling up with the Stelvio really means business for Alfa's first SUV and even if you're not in the mood to do serious driving, the Stelvio is the kind of crossover you would really come back for more in the same way drivers experienced with the Giulia saloon and since this is the Quadrifoglio variant, it delivers the same enjoyment as the Giulia's but with added all-wheel drive to make it an all-weather, all-rounder that can hop, skip, and jump about like cowboys and equestrians.



Speaking of cowboys and equestrians, it's time to saddle up with Alfa's first SUV by giving it a little challenge in a middle of extreme icy conditions we're having. Strap yourselves, ladies and gentlemen because this is going to be a bumpy rollercoaster ride, literally.



Although questionable to see, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio managed to smile itself even with some smirk on its face after several leaps and bounds later.



There's no doubt about it that while this is basically a sport utility vehicle, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio still has some Alfa Romeo magic most petrolheads clamor for.

While the 4C and the Giulia can easily overshadow the Stelvio for being proper Alfas that work their charms rather well, the Stelvio is all about being the jack of all trades. It may have room for some laid-back camping trips but in terms of dynamics and performance, it's too impossible to ignore the Stelvio's quirkiness not as an SUV but as an Alfa Romeo. That is the bottom line.