Alfa MiTo turbos for Oz

ALFA Romeo Australia has confirmed that its all-new MiTo hatchback range will be headlined by two turbo-petrol variants when it effectively replaces the three-door 147 ($36,990) as Alfa’s entry-level model here from July.

The midrange 88kW/206Nm MiTo 1.4 TB manual, which Alfa says sprints to 100km/h in 8.8 seconds, will be priced from about $32,000, while the flagship 114kW/230Nm 1.4TB, which sprints to 100km/h in a claimed eight seconds, will also undercut Alfa Romeo’s 147 five-door hatch, which is currently priced from $38,990 in 2.0-litre petrol guise.

Both turbo-petrol versions of the Fiat Punto-based MiTo will be available exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission.

Three trim levels will be available in Europe, though just two will be offered in Australia – both equipped as standard with Alfa’s Q2 electronic differential, 16x7.0-inch alloy wheels, an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic stability control (ESC), seven airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag, air-conditioning and power windows/mirrors. Foglights will be an option on all but the top-spec 1.4TB, while other options will include Xenon headlights, daytime running lights and 17 and 18-inch wheels.

Alfa Romeo Australia general manager Edward Butler said car buyers would be pleasantly surprised by MiTo pricing and specifications when they were announced in July.



“I think anyone looking for a car that offers the blend of style, performance and luxury that sets all Italian cars apart from the rivals should wait until to July for MiTo,” he said.

The naturally-aspirated 1.4 16V variant will not be available here, and New Zealand officially will receive only the high-output 1.4-litre engine, but Ateco Automotive has also homologated the 66kW 1.3 and 88kW 1.6 JTDM turbo-diesel versions, which could become available at a later date.

The 147, which will soon be replaced by an all-new five-door model named the Milano, is available in manual 1.9 JTD Monza from ($41,990).

A high-performance GTA-badged version of the MiTo – which is “text-speak” for a combination of the two Italian cities Alfa Romeo calls home, Milan and Turin – will join the range in 2010. Previewed last year by the MiTo GTA Concept and powered by Fiat’s all-new direct-injection 1.7-litre turbo four, which offers up to 180kW, it will rival the likes of Mini’s circa-$40,000 Cooper S.

“The MiTo is enormously important to Alfa Romeo as it takes us into a whole new market sector,” said Mr Butler.

“Although Alfa Romeo has had small cars, starting with the legendary AlfaSud through to its modern successor, the Alfa Romeo 147, the Alfa MiTo is not just in the sector below the 147, it is focused totally on being a performance and style driven mini-coupe, not compromised by things like having to have a five door-version.

“This has enabled Alfa Romeo’s acclaimed stylists to produce a car that as a purity of shape that has not been seen before. This means that MiTo is as much a pure Alfa Romeo as the Spider or Brera – something that has never been seen before in the class in which it will compete.”

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