Alfa Romeos Look Better With Offset Plates, But Not Everyone Gets It

The Alfa Romeo Junior was the first model to abandon the brand’s iconic side-mounted license plate, with the facelifted Tonale following soon after. Not every market has followed that lead, though, as the subcompact SUV is still offered with the offset look in certain regions.

Alfa Romeo has now introduced a new special edition of the Junior in Japan, drawing attention once again to that unusual plate position, which appears to be standard practice in Japan and Australia.

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There is no official explanation for the discrepancy, but the reason in Japan seems fairly straightforward. The license plate is taller than the European version, which makes mounting it on the center of the bumper impossible without blocking the ADAS sensor.

The Australian-spec Junior does not face the same packaging headache, since most states use slimmer Euro-style plates. In that case, the offset placement may simply come down to design preference rather than necessity.

The switch from offset to center license plates was officially confirmed in 2024 by Alfa Romeo’s head of design, Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, who pointed to pedestrian safety regulations as the deciding factor. He has also admitted he is “one of the guys who likes the plate in the middle,” which, if nothing else, settles the symmetry debate in his own studio.

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For now, only the Giulia and Stelvio continue to wear side-mounted plates in Europe. That quirk is unlikely to survive their delayed successors.

New Special Edition for Japan

Turning to Japan, the Junior is now offered in “Edizione Bianco” trim, limited to 120 units. It comes finished in white and rides on 18-inch alloy wheels with a traditional five-spoke phone-dial design, complete with aero covers. Other details include a carbon finish for the front splitter and mirror caps, a matching key fob, and the Leggenda treatment for the front scudetto grille.

Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida Edizione Bianco (Japan)

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Inside, you get dual 10.25-inch screens, heated seats trimmed in tecno-leather and fabric, automatic A/C, a six-speaker audio system, ambient lighting, aluminum pedals, a wireless charging pad, a full ADAS suite, and the familiar DNA drive mode selector.

Power comes from the standard mild-hybrid 1.2-liter three-cylinder, producing 134 hp (100 kW / 136 PS) and 230 Nm (170 lb-ft) of torque. Drive is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic, just as in the regular Ibrida.

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In Japan, the special edition is priced at ¥4,990,000 ($32,000). That places it ¥640,000 ($4,100) above the entry-level Core with the same powertrain, yet ¥90,000 ($580) below the flagship Intensa trim.