Hey. this is a great party?
Pardon? I can't hear you over the DJ.
I SAID THIS IS A GREAT PARTY!!!!
About half past three, I think.
NO! THIS IS A GREAT PARTY!!! IS IT FOR A NEW CAR?
I think so. It's a bit hard to say. This is just one party - at the Alfa Romeo museum in Arese, near Milan. There are others taking place in Frankfurt, Turin, Paris and Madrid too.
MUST BE A BIG DEAL, HUH?
Well, I'm not sure. You see it looks to be basically the same Alfa Romeo Giulietta as before. They've tweaked the headlights, grille and bumpers at the front and you can now get sporty red highlights on the outside for some models. Plus there are some new colour options.
Inside, there are new seat and door trims, and there's an updated uConnect touchscreen infotainment system that now has LIVE internet connection stuff, including music streaming, Facebook, Twitter and traffic updates.
Oh, and the 1.6-litre 120hp diesel version can now be had with the seven-speed DCT dual-clutch transmission, which Alfa says can return 74mpg and emits 99g/km of CO2 - yet it's got a 10.2-second 0-62mph time.
Alfa has had a go at the equipment levels too. The line-up now runs from Giulietta to Giulietta Super, Giulietta Tecnica, Giulietta Speciale and Giulietta Veloce. Standard equipment has been improved across the range to include a leather steering wheel, the DNA system, remote audio controls, air conditioning, five-inch touch screen with Bluetooth and 16-inch alloys. Plus there's a new optional Lusso pack that has leather trim, aluminium bits and a 6.5-inch uConnect touchscreen with satnav and LIVE services.
Sales start on the 1st of April (ahem) and prices kick off at £18,450 on the road. Not many changes then, but they've certainly put on a big party for it...
ALMOST LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO DISTRACT FROM THE FACT THAT THE NEW GIULIA SALOON HAS BEEN DELAYED AGAIN!!!!!
Yes. Almost...
Neil Briscoe - 25 Feb 2016