ALFA ROMEO Alfasud Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

In 1980, Alfa Romeo brought the last refresh for its front-wheel-drive Alfasud on the market and paved the way for other FWD cars built by the Italian carmaker.

It was the last chapter of the Alfasud, a car born to decrease the southern part of Italy's unemployment rate. Despite all the odds, rust, and unskilled workers, the Alfasud was almost ten years old. During that time, the technological discoveries were big enough to convince Fiat's management that they must be applied to the car. Moreover, some safety measures led to other aesthetic changes.

For starters, Alfa Romeo kept the car's shape. It was still a five-door hatchback with a coupe-like tailgate. Maybe it wasn't the best idea for rear passengers' headroom, but it worked well for the vehicle's shape. Starting with the 1980 model, the Alfasud sported wrapped-around plastic bumpers, which were supposed to protect a pedestrian better if hit by a car at low speed. At the front, the big, rectangular headlights featured corner-mounted turn signals, and the grille looked more refined with its slim horizontal slats and the big Alfa Romeo shield in the middle.

Inside, the dashboard made a clear distinction between the driver's side and the passenger's, with the instrument cluster and the center stack combined. Its binocular-style dials featured white lettering and needles on a black background, and the warning lights filled the gap between the speedometer and tachometer. Thanks to the flat floor, the Alfasud offered true five seating positions where adults could actually sit well.

Under the hood, Alfa Romeo installed a choice of two boxer engines. Each of them was offered a choice of two power outputs. Apart from the base version, which was paired to a four-speed manual, the other three sent their power to a five-speed gearbox.

Five years after the successful introduction of the first front-wheel-drive Alfa Romeo in 1972, the Italian car-maker decided that it was the time to refresh the range.

There was more than a profit story with governmental money. It was a success tale for those who found a workplace in the Southern part of Italy, an area where the unemployment rate was high. The Alfasud was one of the pillars that saved the country from an economic disaster.

Back in the 70's the name "facelift" was nonexistent yet, but the Alfa Romeo management knew that a refresh was needed. The designers worked on the front fascia by installing new headlights with rounded edges. The Alfa Romeo shield was chromed in contrast with the black radiator grille. The car was also known as the Alfasud Super, and its smoother lines showed a better quality on the assembly line. Since the original model was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, it was the same company that helped Alfa Romeo to refresh the lines.

The interior was enhanced, and the materials used were plastic, rubber, and metal. The man-made leather seats were on the options list, while the standard versions featured cloth upholstery. But most of the interior was carried over from the non-facelifted version.

Under the hood, Alfa Romeo installed new bigger engines that offered more power. The 1.2-liter unit from the non-facelifted version was kept, but a new 1.3-liter and a 1.5-liter were added to the lineup.

The Alfa Romeo Alfasud was the first front-wheel-drive hatchback built by Alfa Romeo. It was the biggest commercial success for the Italian company for more than a decade.

The Alfasud was a challenge for the Italian car-maker. On the one hand, it tried to get more customers. On the other hand, it was a governmental program to decrease the unemployment rate in the South part of Italy. For that, a new factory was built in the Campania region. The result was one of the most successful Alfa Romeo in history. Since it was the Alfa built in the South, it received the name Alfasud (Alfa from South).

The small hatchback was designed as a practical vehicle, good for a family. The rectangular headlights were preferred. Due to a relatively tall greenhouse, the car was good to fit up to five adult passengers inside. The car was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro from ItalDesign. Its look was appealing. The boxer front-engine allowed a narrow front and the raked-back led to a very good aerodynamic coefficient. Its design was a decade ahead of its time.

The interior was basic, with plastic, rubber, and few metal trims here and there. The idea was to keep the car's price low. There was enough room for four adults, without any problems for the headroom or legroom. Since the engine was flat and low, the front overhang was kept short and the wheelbase was big for the overall size. Despite the hatchback look, it featured a separate trunk that was opened without the rear windscreen.

For the engines, the Alfasud was offered with a nimble, 1.2- and 1.3-liter engine, which offered 63 hp and 68 hp respectively. They were mated to a 4-speed manual.