Fiat is going to have to play a delicate game so as not to step on the toes of any Chrysler models in the US. According to reports from Autocar, the Fiat 500 will be followed by another of the brand’s compact cars - the Fiat Bravo. For us, that’s a dubious choice as even in its home market of Italy, the more upmarket Bravo has been outstripped by sales of the very utilitarian Fiat Punto. When buying a Fiat, most Italians themselves are more prepared to purchase lower in the line-up because once they’ve got to a Bravo, they’re more likely to switch to a German-branded car.

The British mag quotes Fiat’s brand head Laura Soaves as saying: “Fiat will be the small car brand. It will never have anything larger than a C [segment].” We can’t help wondering if that isn’t extremely limiting for the brand on the US car market. A big deal was made of debuting with the Fiat 500 but its successful sales must surely be put down to its style and image, and not its size. We’re in America after all.

According to the report, the model won’t necessarily be the Bravo as such, but rather a larger car that will replace it. Sergio Marchionne has said that it will be radically styled car and “not a traditional offering”, but we’d ask if the job of a larger Fiat Group vehicle isn’t better left to Alfa Romeo. Meanwhile, with the redesigning of the Alfa Giulia, apparently we’re still heading to the US for that brand with the Alfa 4C. It will still have to be good, though, and not just good looking.

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The new Alfa Giulietta has been released and first impressions from the world’s press are starting to come through. We’ve gathered some of those impressions in one place so we can check out just what the Giulietta promises and whether it might deliver.

As is the fate of many an Alfa Romeo, the focus is on style - how good does it look? I don’t know whether that means there’s nothing special to bother about under the bonnet, or whether the presence of the best Fiat technology is taken for granted. To be fair, the new Giulietta will get Fiat’s Multiair engines, Alfa DNA and dual-clutch transmission so it’s no slack on the technology front. And it will have between 120 and 170 hp, before the Quadrifoglio Verde version turns up with 230 hp.

So far, the new Giulietta is a very nice looking car. Yesterday I said I appreciated the sloping, elegant rear and overall there is plenty of classic Alfa sports style. It’s managed to keep its Alfa Romeo class without falling into mediocrity or appearing like just another, bigger 147. Given the brand image and style of Alfa, I also think it stands apart from other offerings in the Fiat Group range.

Continue reading: Alfa Giulietta first impressions: lining up the Giulietta competitors

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According to reports, the Alfa Milano is officially on its way and has already been presented to potential customers for an initial introduction. A positive reception is essential to the success of the car, though this report refers only to the style.

The first impressions apparently reveal a car that reflects the Fiat Bravo, both in terms of platform and chassis, but dressed up in Alfa systems and style, with the new look being born from the 8C competizione, and followed by the MiTo. There are no big differences in Alfa style with the new Milano, but a five-door reminiscence of the MiTo.

While we’re not talking an unattractive car, first impressions lead us to believe that the Alfa Milano is of conservative design, less innovative when the 147 first appeared in 2000. The original 149/Milano designs were based on the longer and more slanted style of the Alfa 159, and with the new Milano, we’re likely to see a rounder and more compact car.

Continue reading: Alfa Romeo Milano: leaked reports on style after secret showing

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