Alfa Romeo MiToDebut: 2008Maker: Alfa Romeo Predecessor: no |
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Although Fiat Grande Punto provides a solid basis for MiTo, Alfa still needed to differentiate itself from the bread-and-butter Fiat. A great design certainly helps. Alfa Romeo design center did a great job to style the MiTo like a supermini version of its 8C Competizione supercar. Look at those flowing surfaces and the dramatic front end design elements (which apparently link to the classic Giulietta Sprint and Zagato), or the jewel effect headlamps and taillights, who can resist its temptation ? Especially in red, the MiTo delivers greater visual impact than any other cars in the supermini segment.
The baby Alfa shares many underpinnings and identical wheelbase with Grande Punto, but there are also a lot of enhancement. Its smooth bodyshell returns a lower drag coefficient (0.29 vs 0.31). It has 10 mm wider tracks and a lower roof to enhance maneuverability. Its suspensions employ stiffer springs and new dampers incorporating rebound springs for better control. Its steering has faster ratio. Its brakes are uprated. Then there are countless of electronic driving aids: VDC stability control, ASR traction control, Q2 electronic brake differential (which applies braking on individual front wheels to simulate the effect of LSD), DST dynamic steering torque (which applies assisting torque to the steering wheel to help correcting under/oversteer)... Above them is an integrated control system interestingly called "DNA", which offers 3 driving modes (Dynamic, Normal and All-weather) for the driver to select. Each mode alters the setting of the aforementioned electronic driving aids as well as throttle response, steering assistance and overboost function to the turbocharged engine. It sounds very upmarket.
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| The above report was last updated on 29 Jun 2008. All Rights Reserved. |
MiTo Cloverleaf and Multiair engines
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From twin-cam to twin-spark, then JTS (direct-injection) and finally Multiair, Alfa Romeo's engine technology has moved increasingly from performance to environment-oriented. For sure, Multiair variable valve timing and lift is a revolutionary technology. Everybody wants to have higher degree of control on valve operation than today's VVT / VVL systems. However, no one else has thought of using a hydraulic linkage and a solenoid valve to realize that. It is simple, space-saving and cost effective. It is easily compatible with existing engines. Best of all, it improves horsepower, low-down torque and fuel economy by 10%, 15% and 10% respectively. In this way, Alfa Romeo produced a trio of 1.4-liter Multiair engines for Mito – 105hp without turbo, 135hp with light turbo and 170hp with large turbo. The latter achieves a spectacular 124 horsepower per liter yet 46 mpg European combined consumption – partly thanks to the new automatic start-stop function. Even with that high specific output, the Multiair engine displays virtually no turbo lag, thanks to the strong low-end response of the Multiair technology. FIAT achieves what Volkswagen's 1.4 twin-charger engine did without its additional cost.
However, there is an important quality missing from the Multiair engine – the thrilling character of traditional Alfa Romeo engines. Because Multiair has a single camshaft instead of two, in addition to the extra friction and inertia in the electrohydraulic linkage, it can never rev to 7000 rpm like the great Alfa twin-cam / twin-spark of the old. In fact, the Multiair engine gives little reward after 5000 rpm, so you are no longer tempted to stretch its rev. Aurally, it is no match with the old twin-cam / twin-spark too. No matter you like or not, the call for low-carbon economy is going to change the motoring world forever, sadly. The Mito equipped with the 170hp Multiair engine is called "Quadrifoglio verde" (translate to "green cloverleaf" according to Google). In English-speaking countries, it is simply called Mito Cloverleaf. Apart from the hotter engine, this car also gets a brand-new 6-speed manual gearbox, an electronic adaptive damping (linked to the DNA control system which provides four driving modes), retuned suspension and steering, and a set of nice looking 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped with 215/45 tires. On the road, you will find the new gearbox slick and sweet. The steering weighs more consistently than before, if still short of real communication. Adaptive damping smoothens its ride on broken surfaces while tightens body movement in corners, so its combination of handling and ride is considerably better than other Mitos. As before, there is plenty of grip from the front wheels, and the Q2 electronic (pseudo) differential works well to prevent wheelspin in tight corners. The Mito is fool-proof to drive on whatever roads. On the downside, its chassis lacks interaction with the driver, so it fails to entertain keen drivers like Renault Sport Clio Cup. Neither does it offer the raw excitement of the hardcore Abarth Punto SS. At the mean time, Cloverleaf replaces the outgoing 1.4TB as the hottest Mito. Alfa Romeo originally planned to introduce a 230hp GTA as range topper. Unfortunately, that plan has been postponed due to economic recession. Facing strong rivals like Clio RS, Punto Abarth and Mini Cooper S, Mito Cloverleaf won't find its life easy, despite of that brilliant engine. |
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| The above report was last updated on 30 Oct 2009. All Rights Reserved. |
| AutoZine Rating | ||
 MiTo |
 MiTo Cloverleaf |
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| Performance tested by: *Autocar |
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