Alfa Romeo is capitalising on its rejuvenated image in the UK thanks to the Mito with a follow-up five-door model. The Giulietta is a size bigger than the Mito to take on the mighty likes of the Golf and Audi A3, though the elephant in the Alfa’s room is the BMW 1 Series. To define itself as a sporty brand, which it does, Alfa must be able to take on the BMW and win over customers. Is it good enough? Pretty much and it benefits from not being the obvious BMW choice, which will be enough to tempt some and spurn others. Regardless, the Giulietta is a very strong addition to Alfa Romeo’s range.
The Giulietta has been keenly priced by Alfa Romeo to undercut its like-for-like rivals from the Volkswagen Golf range. It also stacks up very well price-wise next to rivals from Audi and BMW, and the Alfa comes with plenty of equipment as standard. The Giulietta looks set to follow the Mito’s example of holding its value well in the used market, so Alfa dealers are unlikely to offer much in the way of discounts. All Giulietta models except the Cloverleaf have fuel- and emissions-saving Start & Stop technology to switch off the engine when the car is at a standstill. It means impressive 114g/km emissions and 64.2mpg for the 1.6 turbodiesel engine or 60.1mpg and 124g/km emissions for the punchy 2.0-litre turbodiesel. The 120bhp 1.4 turbo petrol offers 149g/km and 44.1, while the 170bhp MultiAir 1.4 turbo provides excellent 134g/km carbon dioxide emissions and combined economy of 48.7mpg. Choose the Cloverleaf model and its 235bhp 1.75-litre engine returns an average of 37.2mpg and 177g/km. The entry-point Turismo models have LED daytime running lights, electric windows front and rear, air conditioning, CD stereo and 16in steel wheels. The more opulent Lusso trim adds alloy wheels, front fog lights, cruise control, climate control and Alfa’s Blue&Me Bluetooth hands-free mobile phone connection. Sportier drivers can choose the Veloce trim that provides sports suspension, side skirts for a sporting look, 17in alloy wheels, half leather upholstery and dark brushed aluminium interior trim inserts. Over and above the Veloce trim, the Cloverleaf has 18in alloy wheels, lowered suspension, dark tinted windows, Cloverleaf badges and red-painted brake callipers.
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After Detroit, Washington and this week Chicago, the motor show whirlwind carries itself to Geneva in March where the Fiat Group plans to unveil a host of new engines and new technologies.
According to Italiaspeed, the company will launch a turbocharged four-cylinder 1.8 litre engine that will be used in vehicles such as the Alfa Romeo 159 as well as the Brera, Spider and Mito GTA along with the Lancia Delta. It will offer horsepower ranging from 170 to 200 or, in the case of the Brera, Spider and Mito GTA, 230.
Italiaspeed also reports that the Fiat Powertrain Technologies group is close to production of the Multijet 2 new-generation diesel injection technology as well as a multi-air electrohydraulic valve-actuation system. The Multiair would improve torque by as much as 20 per cent compared to a petroleum engine and yet fuel consumption should be reduced by as much as 10 per cent.
The Multijet 2 engines are expected to be launched in Frankfurt later this year.
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If you lust after a 186mph, £110,000 Alfa Romeo 8C supercar but can only afford a supermini, then Alfa’s new MiTo might just satiate your desires. The MiTo’s styling and interior is inspired by the 8C and it’s also genuinely fun to drive, but thankfully prices start at around £100,000 less.
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Prices at launch start at £10,745 otr (95bhp 1.4 16v Turismo), rising to £14,745 for the 155bhp 1.4 Veloce model tested here. The combined consumption figure for this speedy 155bhp 1.4 is a decent 43.5mpg, although if running costs are paramount, or if you plan on racking up a high mileage, then the 1.3 JTD manages 62.8mpg with just 119g/km of CO2. So, as ever, it’s horses for courses, but the 155bhp 1.4 would be the one for me, and trust me, I’m neither cool, young nor image-conscious.
RoadTestReports.co.uk provides road tests reports written by members of the Guild of Motoring Writers. These reports are complemented by car reviews submitted by the members of the public who drive the vehicles day in day out.
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It has been a long time coming but Alfa Romeo has finally joined the green car race.
The new Alfa Romeo Mi.To is described as a new generation of cars – a compact car with a sporty look that is considered to be the first green car the manufacturer has ever made.
Details are sketchy about the super-mini at this stage but it shares design elements with the Alfa 8C Competizone has been named after Milan and Torino, after being the centre of a ‘naming competition’ by Alfa Romeo last year. The name is based on the Milan design centre and the production hub in Torino.
The three-door model will share the same base as the Fiat Grande Punto and will be four metres long and 1.4 metres high. It comes equipped with three different driver settings which control the engine, brakes, steering, gearbox and suspension.
The vehicle is expected to supply direct competition to the MINI Cooper and the Ford Fiesta. We’ll have more details as they become available.
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With the imminent arrival of its new Mi.To, Alfa Romeo will soon be offering a new generation of Alfa aficionados its most compact sporty car to date.
A contemporary and innovative design, with a name redolent of history, the choice of Mi.To has great evocative resonance for Alfa Romeo, since it was chosen as a sign of a deep-seated link between the past and future of the brand: between Milan, the city of design that brought the car’s style into being, and Turin, which will be responsible for its industrial production. This decision highlights the brand’s strong desire to consolidate its Milanese roots.
Performance and handling have been developed and optimised to offer maximum driving satisfaction in complete safety. The Mi.To offers a true Alfa Romeo sporting set-up, featuring contractive suspensions – standard on all specifications and engines – that minimise roll and offer maximum active, passive and preventive safety. Alfa Romeo’s specially developed VDC stability system is fitted as standard, and the vehicle structure is already designed to obtain a top Euro NCap crash safety rating in the future.
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