Originally it should have been Alfa Romeo Milaninstead, after a hint of controversy, comes the name change: Junior. The story is certainly fascinating, given that the name of the new car was chosen by consumers following a survey. Moreover, the Milanese city is inextricably linked to the Alfa Romeo brand, and would have been a tribute to the historical roots of the company, dating back to 1910. However, a representative of the Italian Government declared that the use of this name is prohibited by lawthen change of plan.
In reality, it is not even the first time that the brand relies on the public to choose the name of a new model. A precedent occurred in 1966 with the Spider 1600when the name “Duet” was selected through a popular poll.
It is Alfa Romeo itself that clarifies the situation, trying to extinguish any hint of controversy. In fact, an official press release states:
“Despite believing that the name Milano complies with all legal requirements, and in consideration of the fact that there are strictly topical issues more relevant than the name of a new car, Alfa Romeo decides to change the name from Milano to Junior, with a view to to promote a climate of serenity and relaxation.”
Not only that though, Alfa Romeo also writes:
“We thank the government for the free publicity induced by this debate”
What you need to know about the new Alfa Romeo Junior
In expressing gratitude for the abundance of feedback received from the public, Alfa Romeo also explained the origin of the name Junior (this too comes from the pool conducted among the brand's fans). In this case too, it is a return to the origins.
This time the homage is toAlfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior, presented on 26 September 1966 in Balocco. This model, which abandons the “Giulia” name, becomes the precursor of a generation of cars aimed at a young and dynamic audience, eager to own a prestigious car without putting an excessive burden on the budget.
The GT 1300 Junior stands out for its 1290 cc twin-cam engine, capable of delivering 89 HP and reaching a top speed of over 170 km/h, figures which place it just below the 1600 version but which still guarantee excellent performance and an exhilarating driving experience. The exterior design reflects a fresher and more youthful approach.
With almost 92,000 units sold, the GT 1300 Junior established itself as the most successful model in the range, becoming a true status symbol of its time.
“We are perfectly aware that this episode will remain engraved in the history of the Brand. It's a great responsibility but at the same time it's an exciting moment. The choice of the new name Junior is completely natural, being strongly linked to the history of the brand and having been among our favorites and among the public's favorites since the beginning. As a team we choose once again to make our passion available to the Brand, to give priority to the product and customers. We decide to change, even though we know that we are not obliged to do so, because we want to preserve the positive emotions that our products have always generated and avoid any type of controversy. The attention paid in recent days to our new sports compact is something unique, with an unprecedented number of accesses to the online configurator, which caused the website to crash for a few hours”
Jean-Philippe Learned – CEO Alfa Romeo
“Alfa Romeo is an inclusive brand, which welcomes and generates passion and positive emotions. This can be seen clearly by looking into the eyes of our customers when they come to see, test, purchase and collect Alfa Romeo cars in our dealerships. For this reason we welcome the decision taken by the company to change the name of the car from Milano to Junior in light of the latest news, which could influence the climate of enthusiasm and the enormous attention that the new car is receiving in recent days from our clients. Junior, like Milano, are beautiful names, which have their roots in the history of the brand. It is no coincidence that they were immediately among the public's favorites.”
Stefano Odorici – President of the Italian Dealers Association (Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia, Jeep)
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