Alfa Romeo will raplace the nine-year-old 147 range next year with the striking new Giulietta five-door hatchback in 2010.
The Guilietta will be offered with a choice of 120bhp or 170bhp 1.4-litre turbocharged MultiAir engines, while the diesel choice at launch will be either a 105bhp 1.6-litre or a 170bhp 2.0-litre.
Alfa plans to keep CO2 emissions and fuel consumtpion down by fitting its Start&Stop technology as standard, which cuts the engine when stopped in traffic and restarts as soon as it is needed.
At the top of the range there will be a 1750 TBi model producing 235bhp in an exclusive Quadrifoglio Verde (Green Colverleaf) equipment grade.
Alfa is confident the car will achieve high ratings in the Euro NCAP independent crash tests, while electronic stability control is fitted across the range.
All models are also fitted with Alfa's Q2 electronic imited slip differential for the front wheels to improve traction and performance under hard acceleration, along with the DNA (dynamic, normal and all-weather) system which allows drivers to select different levels of responsiveness accroding to road conditions.
Front and rear light clusters use LED elements while at 350 litres, minimum boot capacity is on a par with the Volkswagen Golf.
The car will receive its first public showing at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March. Expect prices to start at about £16,000 when the car arrives in the UK in the summer.