Luca De Meo is up to big things over at Alfa Romeo – he has a firm plan in place to try to make us all fall in love with Alfas. Will it work? Well, possibly, possibly not. If they can keep churning out cars that look as good as the GT and the Brera but then handle just that little bit better (or are slightly less heavy in the case of the Brera) I think they’ll be on to a winner. So what about that Mi.To that everyone’s talking about?
Aside from the funny name, this is a proper, serious car. There are clearly some styling cues from the 8C, something that is a very beautiful car in its own right. Clarkson thought it was a work of art. Does it translate as well to this dinky little hatch? Unfortunately not. Nonetheless, the bulging arches and sweeping curves give it a charm of its own.
Will it be fun though? Well, it has a ‘DNA’ electronics system that monitors and alters various stuff such as engine, suspension, steering and brakes to ensure you’re getting the most out of the car (with three settings of Dynamic, Normal and All-Weather). There’s also Dynamic Steering Torque, to put more power on the road. Finally, a complicated system called Q2 that can apply extra braking under hard cornering and provides even better traction.
There’s a range of engines on offer too, from a 1.3 litre diesel all the way to the not-yet-available 1.8 turbo petrol model – this will kick out more than 200bhp. Will you want that one? I should guess so, yes. I mean this is an Alfa right? This last one is the GTA model, and they’ve always been the ones in my mind at least that you should hunt out.
Here’s what Alfa themselves have to say:
On the road, the sharp handling will reward customers with an impressive blend of performance and fuel economy from all five engines offered at the launch phase – three petrol and two diesel – coupled to six speed gearboxes (except for the 1.4 TB 120 bhp).
For increased roadholding, the Alfa MiTo range features a host of driver aids, including ABS with EBD, VDC (vehicle dynamic control), ASR, CBC (cornering brake control), DST (dynamic steering torque) and HBA with Hill Holder.
The MiTo goes on sale early next year, with pre-ordering beginning in October. Prices start at £10,975 OTR for the entry level 1.4 16V 95 bhp Turismo, and rise to £14,975 for the 1.4 TB 155 bhp Veloce.
I reckon this little car will be an absolute hoot to drive – whether people will buy it in light of Alfa’s reputation remains to be seen. A future classic though? I’m not sure. Maybe it has the makings of a new ‘mini’ thing going on. Alfa Romeo however always manages to split the crowd right down the middle. I guess we’ll have to wait and see if they have it just right this time.
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