Alfa Romeo Giulietta: 2010 Geneva Auto Show

MILAN, Italy — Alfa Romeo will present its all-new Giulietta to the world next spring at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show, with the first cars scheduled to hit the U.S. market in 2011.

Originally christened Milano, the new Giulietta is essentially a five-door companion to the Alfa MiTo, with design cues based heavily on the exotic 8C Competizione. It goes on sale next spring in Europe, filling a gap in the range left by the demise of the Alfa 147.

The Giulietta is built on Fiat's new C-Evo architecture, which also is expected to underpin a larger Giulia sedan that is expected to supplant the Alfa 159.

Both the Giulietta and the Giulia are slated to be sold in North America and one or both may be assembled there as well. In addition, Fiat's partner Chrysler expects to use the C-Evo architecture for one or more future products.

Alfa said the Giulietta will offer two turbocharged gas engines, a 120-horsepower 1.4 and a 170-hp 1.4, and two turbodiesels, a 105-hp 1.6 and a 170-hp 2.0. Eventually it will add a more potent Quadrifoglio Verde edition with a 235-hp direct-injection turbo 1.8.

The storied Giulietta name dates back more than half a century. The original Giulietta, a coupe, was introduced in 1954, and the series was expanded to include a variety of body styles, including an extremely low-volume wagon called Giulietta Promiscua. The series ran through 1965, and the name was revived on a sedan from 1977-'85.

Inside Line says: Good-looking design — but will the troubled Alfa brand survive that much longer? — Paul Lienert, Correspondent