Sultry Alfa Romeo Mi.To stands out from the crowd | Hatchbacks

Home

Sultry Alfa Romeo Mi.To stands out from the crowd

Written by Nelson Ireson

Friday, 20 June 2008

Rising fuel prices and the strong dollar are making the case for efficient imported hatchbacks stronger than ever. Alfa Romeo's latest addition to the fold, the Mi.To, is timed perfectly to capitalize on these facts, though its classic good looks and sporting demeanour would likely stand it in good stead regardless.

Originally slated to be dubbed ‘Furiosa’ as a result of a naming competition, Alfa Romeo management ultimately decided on the name ‘Mi.To’ instead - a combination of Alfa Romeo’s birthplace of Milan and the Fiat Group’s base of operations in Turin (or Torino in Italian). It is clear that the Mi.To shares its bloodline with the stunning 8C Competizione, with evidence in the shape of the headlights, the placement of the trademark Alfa Romeo grille and circular LED tail lights.

Underneath the stylish exterior lies a chassis based on the Fiat Grande Punto platform. Alfa Romeos are known for their handling prowess and in the Mi.To, it is provided by the all-new Alfa Dynamic, Normal & All-weather (DNA) traction and vehicle stability control system. The Alfa DNA system makes changes to the Mi.To’s powertrain, suspension and braking dependent on the setting chosen, keeping the little car ready for whatever comes.

Any transmission you like, as long as it's manual
The Mi.To lineup will feature a trio of engines on launch, two petrol and one diesel. Both petrol engines are 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinders, though the entry-level model, rated at 58kW, makes roughly half the sport-oriented model’s 114kW. The 1.6-litre JTDM turbodiesel generates 90kW, placing it right between the two petrol models. All three engines come with six-speed manual gearboxes, though the two more powerful units share one higher torque capacity variant, while the weaker petrol engine gets its own.

Performance figures for the base petrol engine stand at 12.3 seconds for the dash to 100km/h with a top speed of 165km/h. The more potent petrol engine takes the Mi.To to 100km/h in just 8 seconds and on to a top speed of 215km/h, while the diesel model clocks in at 9.9 seconds to 100km/h and 198km/h top speed.

Sources tell us a high performance 'GTA' version of the Mi.To is also planned for the future and will be equipped with a 1.8-litre turbocharged engine developing around 170kW. Finally, Alfa Romeo will expand the Mi.To range by introducing a soft-top cabrio range.

Premium features and handling to match
Hot-hatch grade handling should be on tap with a mostly high-tech suspension system including coil-over springs and front McPherson struts, though the rear torsion-beam suspension could induce some inside wheel lift on hard cornering, reducing traction. Nevertheless, the design does save weight and expense, a key consideration in this segment.

A full selection of driver aids and safety devices, including full airbags, ABS, ESP, and EBD are standard, as are anti-slip control and steering-angle-sensitive torque limitation to reduce the tendency for torque steer. An on-board breathalyser is also available to prevent accidental drunk driving.

Confirmed for Australia
Alfa Romeo has confirmed that the Mi.To will be sold in Australia though no official pricing details for our market have been released. Alfa Romeo and Fiat spokesman Edward Rowe has stated “Alfa is coming at Mini from two directions; from above with the 147 and its variants, and then from below with the compact and technically advanced Mi.To.”

This indicates that the Mi.To is to be priced around the $30,000 mark. More information will be forthcoming shortly, with the car scheduled for global distribution starting in July, and likely winding up on our shores shortly after that.

Alfa Romeo Mi.To

Latest Galleries

News