New Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce 280hp is a Genuinely Engaging Driver’s Car.
New Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce is a Genuinely Engaging Driver’s Car.
The Alfa Romeo Junior was designed to inspire a new generation of drivers with its unmistakable Italian style, cutting-edge technology, and exhilarating performance. A true embodiment of Alfa Romeo’s racing heritage, the Junior offers a dynamic and sophisticated driving experience, reawakening the joy of the open road. The Junior is the first Alfa Romeo to essentially showcase the brand’s shift towards offering global vehicles, so it was conceived to appeal to a very broad cohort of buyers in lots of different markets worldwide. It is also the very first Alfa Romeo to feature a centrally-mounted front registration plate in order to satisfy new pedestrian safety regulations.
Sporty Detailing.
The performance-oriented Junior Veloce 280hp is a genuinely handsome car, with beefy proportions and sporty detailing in the form of red accents and striking 20-inch ‘Perfo’ diamond-cut alloy wheels as standard. The Scudetto shield front grille with the famous Alfa Romeo logo cut into it is a nod to the brand’s racing heritage, and the hidden rear door handles add to the car’s sleek profile. The ‘Performance Interior’ consists of Corsa Black/Red suede/leather racing seats by Sabelt™, heated front seats, 6-way driver electric seat, Alcantara & leather steering wheel, aluminium pedals and sills, floor mats, a 3rd rear headrest, and an adjustable cargo floor with 3 height options.
Class-Leading Agility.
The Junior Veloce 280hp boasts segment-leading agility and best-in-class road handling. This is made possible by two unique features of the Junior Veloce: the new 280hp/207kW electric motor and the latest Torsen “D” mechanical limited-slip differential. The new car also adopts exclusive technical solutions, including the most direct steering in the segment of 14.6:1, specially calibrated to enhance its exceptional road-holding qualities. Additionally, the suspension has been lowered by 25 mm, and the extra sporty anti-roll bars ensure quick, precise cornering. The braking system includes 380-mm discs at the front with 4-piston monobloc callipers, while the 20-inch performance tyres are specific for high-performing electric vehicles.
DNA Drive Modes.
The Junior Veloce 280hp features three distinct drive modes: Dynamic (D) for spirited driving with sharper throttle response, Natural (N) for everyday balance, and Advanced Efficiency (A) for maximising range. Each mode adjusts multiple vehicle parameters including power delivery, steering weight, and regenerative braking intensity. In Dynamic mode the brake regeneration is switched off altogether so that the driver can enjoy a more consistent, natural brake response. However, well-judged and non-intrusive brake regeneration does feature in Natural and Advanced Efficiency drive modes, or drivers can select the ‘B’ mode on the gear selector in order to access heavier brake efficiency for ease of drivability in urban settings.
Test Car.
My test car was a Junior Veloce 280hp, which was finished in bi-tone Bera Red & Tortona Black metallic paintwork for maximum visual impact from the very first glance. Key standard equipment in the Junior Veloce includes: LED headlamps, LED rear lights, electrically-adjustable door mirrors, rear parking sensors, red brake callipers, 20-inch ‘Perfo’ alloys, ‘Perfo’ style kit with diamond black scudetto shield, rear privacy glass, automatic air-conditioning, electric parking brake with auto hold, BEV interior vibe sound, keyless start, antitheft alarm, leather steering wheel, heated front seats, aluminium foot pedals, and a 6-way electrically-adjustable driver seat with lumbar function, along with a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, and a 10.25-inch configurable colour TFT information cluster. Optional equipment fitted to my test car consisted of a Sport Pack (‘Perfo’ steering wheel, and Alcantara ‘Sabelt’ front seats), and a Tech Pack (LED Matrix projector headlamps, Traffic Sign Recognition, Auto-dimming rear view mirror, rear camera with dynamic gridlines, Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centring & Traffic Jam Assist, Passive/ Keyless Entry, auto-folding door mirrors (heated) with Blind Spot Detection & Puddle Lamp, hands-free power tailgate, 6-speaker sound system, Navigation with Wireless Smartphone Mirroring, Wireless Smartphone Charging Pad, USB-C port, and Front, Rear & Side Parking Sensors). Similarly to the less powerful models in the Junior Elettrica range, the Veloce is front-wheel drive, and it utilises the same 54 kWh battery pack, allowing it a 347km range on a WLTP combined cycle. Take a seat in the classy cabin of the Junior Veloce, and it is clear to see that every effort has been made to ensure the interior design is equally as striking as the exterior. The charcoal-coloured upholstery looks and feels upmarket, and the Sabelt™ racing seats up front really do add a sense of occasion to every journey. The relatively-slim Alcantara & leather steering wheel looks gorgeous and is great to hold. The touchscreen infotainment system is easy to use, with access to all of the system’s functions available through the ‘application drawer’. The screen’s positioning is optimal for driver visibility without requiring excessive eye movement away from the road. For security and vehicle monitoring, the Alfa Connect Services app provides real-time information about the vehicle’s status, including charging progress, location, and the ability to precondition the cabin temperature while still connected to grid power. Thankfully, a row of physical buttons underneath the touchscreen relate directly to the heating and ventilation controls. The start/stop button is located on the centre console, and it is angled towards the driver, with the gear selector, electronic handbrake and DNA Drive Mode selector also located within easy reach of the driver. The electric motor in the Junior Veloce is powered by a 54kWh lithium-ion NMC battery, and it produces 278bhp and 345Nm of instantaneous torque, with power delivered in a smooth, linear fashion. As a result, the car can sprint from 0-100km/h in just 5.9 seconds, and it is capable of consuming as little as 18.6kWh of electric energy for every 100km driven on a WLTP combined driving cycle. Efficiency is enhanced by a heat pump that comes as standard across the entire Junior range – a feature that is a costly optional extra with some of the Junior’s competitors – and it minimises the range loss typically associated with heating an EV cabin in winter. The lower powered Elettrica and Speciale version both have softer suspension and less power than the Veloce, but the stiffer suspension set-up in the Veloce pays dividends on smooth motorway surfaces. However, hydraulic bump stops prevent the taut suspension from getting uncomfortably bumpy on rutted road surfaces, and when driving over speed ramps. The Veloce is adorned with proper sports car levels of body control, and its agile steering provides excellent levels of feedback to the driver. All in all, the Junior Veloce 280hp is a genuinely engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable car to drive. Thanks to a maximum fast-charge capacity of 100kW, the Junior Veloce can be charged from 20-80% in as little as 24 minutes. With AC charging (11kW), the Junior Veloce reaches a full charge from 0-100% in around 5.5 hours using the Mode 3 cable that comes as standard.
Verdict & Price.
The Alfa Romeo Junior may be the smallest Alfa Romeo currently on sale, but it definitely punches above its weight in the highly competitive B-segment market – especially in performance-oriented Veloce guise. The Junior Veloce 280hp is priced from €51,495 – including a €3,500 SEAI Grant for private buyers.
Visit www.alfaromeo.ie for further information.
