The first thing to say about the Alfa Romeo Ibrida that I drove last week is that it was gorgeous. It came in a lovely shade of dark blue, which I think added to the overall classy look of the car.
In the motor industry, Alfa Romeo is a legendary brand with great history and they have been producing classy cars since 1910, but while they have their admirers in Ireland, the brand has not been a big seller here in recent years.
However, Alfa cars are now distributed here by the ever-expanding Gowan Group, who are based in Citywest campus in Dublin, and I think they will be able to provide much needed marketing for the brand. You can expect to see a growth in sales figures in the coming years.
Milan is the headquarters of Alfa Romeo and the company, which is now owned by the Stellantis group, wanted to call the Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida the Milano. But as the car is manufactured in Poland, the Italian government would not allow. Only cars assembled exclusively in Italy can use an Italian name.
The Junior version first went on sale here as a fully electric model and was badged as the Elettrica, with a range of approximately 400km. Now in Ireland, Alfa Romeo has introduced a 1.2-litre hybrid version which is called the Ibrida.
Last week with a full tank of petrol on board, the range said 780km, and while it’s frugal in motorway driving, I found the engine a bit thirsty around town. I took a trip from Dublin to Athlone, and I could see the range gradually rise as I passed through the flat midlands, but in urban driving it’s definitely not as frugal.
The official WLTP figure for the car is 4.8 litres per 100km, which works out at 57mpg. Really much depends on whether you are driving on a motorway or a traffic-clogged city with several traffic lights to navigate.
There are some lovely branding touches on the car to let people know this an Alfa Romeo, starting at the front where you get the famous logo on the bonnet and then the name Alfa Romeo is spelled out on the grille. You also get the name on the boot, and the logo is used on the steering wheel, seats and alloys. Alfa were one of the first companies to have discreet rear door handles and this tradition continues with the Ibrida.
In the majority of new cars I drive, the interior is dominated by a large screen on the dash; not so in the Alfa where your information screens blend in with the stylish décor. The seats get a nice touch of red which adds to the classy look. In the back, leg room is a bit tight.
The boot is a decent size, but no spare wheel, which is normal now with the majority of new cars.
Many famous people have driven Alfa Romeo cars down through the years, and naturally, Italians are still very proud of the brand, even if car is now made in Poland. But we now live in a different era, and Eastern Europe seems to be the area where car companies can now achieve best productivity.
Prices start at you €34,005, the same price as the cheapest fully electric version. Road tax is €180.
Take a test drive and I think you are certain to get a lot of envious glances passers-by with all that Italian style on show. It really looks great and maintains the famous Alfa Romeo look. But I suppose using the name Milano would have sounded a bit more fashionable.
