Alfa Giulietta first look

Plenty when you're a legendary brand like Alfa Romeo and naming a new car is as important as the car itself.  So the Italian carmaker has gone back to the future to finally give its 147 replacement a name.  And the Milano is out, Giulietta is back in.

The Giulietta is expected to make its first public airing at the Geneva Motor Show in March.  Intially four engines are likely, two 1.4-litre turbos and a 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.

Of course Alfa would never be Alfa without a high-performance GTA version, rumoured to get around 175kW.  In Europe, the Giulietta will be pitched into the hot small hatch segment against the VW Golf, Opel Astra and Peugeot 3008.

As the photos show the interior gets a twin-glass roof, sports leather seats and plenty of equipment.  Among the standard kit will be Alfa's three-mode DNA system from the MiTo with dynamic, normal and all weather settings.

Other highlight features include LED daytime running lights front and back and concealed rear door handles similar to the 156.  The Giulietta is clearly a stylish hatch with cues from the just-launched locally MiTo, including a striking take on the Alfa family grille.

There are also hints of the 8C Competizione in the car's profile.  As the rear shot shows, the tail-lights extend into the hatch and the reversing lights are integrated into the reflectors.  Few other details are known, except the hatch is expected to be bigger in length and width, close to the previous-generation 156.

The Milano will be available as a five-door hatch initially, but a three-door will follow.  The Giulietta nameplate was last sold in Australia back in the 1980s.