Alfa Romeo Alfasud is the model which sold best in the company’s history. It was manufactured between 1971 and 1989. The car was available two-door and four-door liftback, three-door and five-door hatchback, coupe and wagon. It was produced at factories in Italy, South Africa, Malaysia and Malta.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud cars were produced at the factory in Pomigliano d’Arco which is located in southern Italy. This geographical location gave name to the model. The completed car was the result of a collaboration between the Austrian engineer Rudolf Hruska and the head of the design bureau ItalDesign, Giorgetto Giugiaro.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud as a four-door liftback was presented to the public for the first time at the Turin Motor Show in 1971. The models design got a lot of great reviews, and some of its techical solutions (disc brakes on all wheels, front wheel drive) were very unconventional at the time. The ascetic interior (rubber floors, letherette seats, cheap plastic control panel) were compensated by high quality technology (adjustable height and lean on drivers seat and steering wheel, modern ventilation system).

Alfa Romeo Alfasud had excellent handling, grip, visibility and roominess. Since Rudolf Hruska was tall he demanded such a design from Giorgetto Giugiaro: a car which was comfortable for both a tall driver and a tall passenger in the rear seat.

1973 the two-door liftback model was presented. The difference between this car and its predecessor (except the number of doors) were the headlights (four round lights), turn indicators mounted on the front bumper, and a spoiler. The interior was updated with fabric uphostery for the frontseats and headrests, a real carpet replaced the rubber carpet, and a three-spoked steering wheel. The technical equipment was updated as well. A tachometer, oil pressure sensor and temperature sensor was installed. 1975 the three-door station wagon model Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta was presented. The car was not a commersial sucess: customers complained about an uncomfortable interior and unappealing design.

A fourseated coupe, Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint, was released 1976 and became more popular than the Giardinetta model but it did also receive complaints for its high price, average quality, and especially for its rigid backseats which made it impossible to increase the cargo capacity. The result was a restyling in 1983. The company removed the Alfasud name, gave the car new bumpers, grille, tail lights and massive moldings on the sides of the body. The chromed elements were painted black. An even more powerful version was also released, the Alfa Romeo Sprint Quattrofoglio Verde. The car was quickly recognizable thanks to its green tint on moldings and edge of bumpers.

In 1977 the company updated Alfa Romeo Alfasud’s design by giving it a new front bumper and grille. 1980 came the complete restyling: a modern grille was installed, new headlights, new lid of the trunk, and the material of the bumpers was replaced by plastic. The interior was also revitalised.

In 1981 the two-door liftback model Alfa Romeo Alfasud Ti was transformed into a three-door hatchback, and in 1982 it came as a five-door hatchback thanks to popular demand.