Alfa Romeo has always emphasized style and going against the grain. No other trend sums this up better than the offset license plate holder, first used in the mid-fifties. However, safety regulations will force the Turinese automaker to abandon tradition in favor of more pedestrian-friendly front ends.
The head of Alfa Romeo design, Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, told Autocar that the new Junior (launched under the Milano name) will pave the way for conventional plate placement. "We cannot put the number plate on the side anymore because of the homologation regulations for pedestrian [safety]," he said, adding that the upcoming electric Giulia and Stelvio replacements will go the same way. The European Union's General Safety Regulations have forced Alfa's hand.
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