ELECTRIC REVOLUTION
A decade ago, the thought of an electric Alfa Romeo seemed preposterous. Only 5 years ago, it seemed an inevitability, and in 2025, the first zero-emission Alfa-badged model was destined to reach all corners of the world as Alfa’s take on electric mobility.
There is a scrappy presence that the Junior Elettrica Veloce exudes. It's small and tenacious and in many ways reminded me of my late Jack Russel terrier. The Brera Rosso-hued model drew parallels to her vivacious presence that once dominated my household. It was ever prevalent from the onset after the zero-emissions compact urban SUV was handed to me before its official South African arrival, to snap a few press-pack-worthy photos.
The thought of a fully electric Alfa Romeo, in many senses, can seem sacrilegious. On the contrary, and as a surprise to what I thought were stubborn and old-fashioned ways, I’ve grown to appreciate EVs over my extensive time testing new vehicles in South Africa, but more specifically as comfortable and convenient commuting solutions. Intertwining the sporty nature of Alfa Romeo, and the associated sounds and visceral vibrations into a form of mobility that has none can seem counterintuitive. But, just as Porsche may have done to the dismay of enthusiasts, the Cayenne served as a saviour of an uncertain time, coming at a crossroads of adaptation, or death.
The Stelvio and Tonale are examples within Alfa Romeo itself, as were the Giulietta and MiTo, and every front-wheel drive sedan and hatchback that came after the introduction of the compact Sud in the early 1970s. An important point here to remember is despite each of their initial criticisms which ‘deviated from a true Alfa’, all of these cars earned their places with endearing enthusiasts and in the annals of the firm’s history books. I’ve had critics claim the 156 is a parts bin Fiat special. There is a degree of truth to this, which makes the final product objectively even more impressive, since it garnered such critical acclaim globally and kept to the engaging core of what an Alfa Romeo should be.
I can’t help but feel that the Junior, despite its precarious start of life as Milano, is set for the same destiny.
In the metal, my first impressions of the Junior far exceeded what they were when I had caught a glimpse of it online, in 2024. Bolstered by the more aggressive stance and 20-inch Venti four-spoke alloy wheels of the Veloce, it has served as quite the neck-snapper. Pedestrians and motorists craned to make out the squat silhouette donned in that sultry red, replete with a black roof and other accoutrements, all of which create quite the visual feast. Granted, it wasn’t a known quantity on local roads considering the launch only happened at the end of October, and after I had my test stint with it, but it seemingly is destined for the spotlight. A story on Alfa camaraderie wouldn’t be complete without the mention of a Stelvio driver, who rushed aside for a wave before disembarking at the next intersection, followed by a Tonale trundling behind with a thumbs up in full show of the rear view mirror.
Welcome to the new age, where it seems none of the ownership experience has been diluted by the Stellantis-based product.
And on the topic of performance and whether it's a rightful benefactor for the Veloce badge, the lowered, stiffer suspension may do little to soak up road impurities like an SUV should, but it certainly instils a good sense of feeling for spirited driving, alongside a mechanical, limited-slip differential. From an outside perspective, it looks more like a hatch than a raised ride height SUV. On the inside, the optional Sabelt buckets are the perfect fit and provide an object lesson in seat bolstering for me, but those on the larger side of life, like my rugby-prop-sized friend Julian, didn’t enjoy the same level of comfort, particularly when the accelerator pedal was mashed down into the floor and the occasional pavement apex was pursued.
A healthy dollop of instant torque and 280 hp means that the silent SUV will shred through the front-shod Pirelli 225s with alarming belligerence if enthusiastic inputs are not reigned in. It is missing that Bialbero or Busso soundtrack, but for the sake of the brand’s newest entry-level offering, which is intended to appeal to the grocery-getting, school-run chaperoning masses, it provides more than enough character and style for those wanting to stand out. The torque-steer with spirited inputs is alarmingly reminiscent of the MiTo of old once it comes onto boost. Scrappy and tenacious are two adjectives that constantly come to mind, and a smile on the face is the result.
Fully fledged performance reviews are readily available from almost every major publication from around the world, so perhaps now would be the opportune time to converse over whether the model will bring the success that the brand yearns for. The world is changing, and the playing field is too. Its key rivals, appealing to a broader audience than just us with international joint ventures and alliances, mean it has its work cut out for it, hoping for the bit of heritage and styling appeal to provide it more substance than its peers. Alfa’s halo 33 Stradale and the continuation of the full-fat V6-powered Giulia and Stelvio prove that the waves of change may ebb slower than the ratifiers initially thought, but as Ivano would always mutter, “Why isn’t there an affordable MiTo replacement?”.
What he would mean by that is an affordable compact, that could very easily put a smile on the face. Alfa’s future roadmap may adapt with access to other Stellantis platforms, but for now, it will be the Junior, which in South Africa, is only available in electric form. As SUVs dominate the market, and mandates require EV production, this will very much have to carry Alfa’s torch into the unknown future and, in time, will earn itself a place in Alfa Romeo’s ever-growing history book.
Watching the Spider-inspired rear end diminish down the road once its test stint had concluded, there was more sense of joy than sorrow, knowing that Alfa Romeo had achieved what some would call impossible, bringing the marque’s sportiness into the world of electric. Its persona is reminiscent of what a Jack Russell terrier has built up, as a perfect, diminutive companion. The peppy personality served as a reminder that dynamite or dynamism doesn’t always have to come in big packages, or fossil-fuel burning packages for that matter, either.
