Alfasud
When it went on sale in 1972, the Alfasud rewrote the small-car rulebook to become the forerunner of the 1980s ‘hot hatch’. Given that Alfa Romeo had no experience of small, front-driven cars, the sheer dynamic excellence of the flat-four-powered ‘Sud came as a pleasant shock to critics and commentators, who greeted it with rapturous acclaim. Developed by Austrian engineer Rudolf Hruska, who had previously worked at Porsche and Volkswagen, the Alfasud was noted for its powerful boxer engine, low centre of gravity, aerodynamic profile, and best-in-class handling. The innovative styling by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign was much-copied and much loved – with sales of more than 1m in 12 years, the 'Sud would become the best-selling model in Alfa’s rich history.
Alfasud
When it went on sale in 1972, the Alfasud rewrote the small-car rulebook to become the forerunner of the 1980s ‘hot hatch’. Given that Alfa Romeo had no experience of small, front-driven cars, the sheer dynamic excellence of the flat-four-powered ‘Sud came as a pleasant shock to critics and commentators, who greeted it with rapturous acclaim. Developed by Austrian engineer Rudolf Hruska, who had previously worked at Porsche and Volkswagen, the Alfasud was noted for its powerful boxer engine, low centre of gravity, aerodynamic profile, and best-in-class handling. The innovative styling by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign was much-copied and much loved – with sales of more than 1m in 12 years, the 'Sud would become the best-selling model in Alfa’s rich history.