Watch out, John Cooper: Alfa MiTo GTA to bow in Geneva
Click above for a high-resolution gallery of the Alfa MiTo
The Alfa MiTo will finally get the punch to match its 8C Competizione styling when Alfa Romeo unveils the highly anticipated MiTo GTA at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March. And the guys over at MINI's John Cooper Works had better pay attention.
According to emerging reports, the MiTo GTA will offer more power for less cash, deriving 240 horsepower – 31 more than the JCW and 90 more than the current strongest MiTo – from its 1.8-liter turbocharged four, with a sticker price some £2000 less than the JCW. The MiTo GTA will also retain Alfa's trick Q2 electronic differential to get the power down to the ground, while benefiting from more aggressive styling touches including sharpened lines, blistered wheel arches to house the bigger rims and possible some two-tone color options for a racier look. Sources also suggest Alfa could cut weight down by using aluminum and carbon fiber body panels. The deal is further sweetened by the prospect, given the Fiat group's new partnership with Chrysler, that the MiTo GTA could make it Stateside, so stay tuned. In the meantime you can check out the galleries below from our first drive of the MiTo in Italy.
Gallery: First Drive: Alfa MiTo
[Source: Autocar via WCF]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
meatbag 9:35AM (1/22/2009)
dont get me wrong, i think there is a place for alfa/fiat/abarth in the US, i jsut hope they realize how they are percieved here in the US and proceed accordingly. if the Mito stacks up the way i've read, the alfa brand could be pretty hot, especcially if they could get somthing like the brera here with about 250-300hp. i'll be really impressed though if they are able to sell the cars for the nearly $4000 less than a JCW as the article states.
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Rick 10:55AM (1/22/2009)
How are they perceived here in the US Meatbag? I've had various products from the FIAT group in my automotive collection over the years and even raced a few. I've had no issues.
meatbag 11:00AM (1/22/2009)
from my experience and those i've come in contact with the general impression is not dissimilar from that of the products of the 80s. the afas were cute overpriced italian cars with crappy reliability driven by yuppies and fiats were confused with citroens and lawn mowers. do these companies deserve better reputations? absolutely. many owners og GM cars have never had problems either, but that dosent keep GM from having a poor reputation for quality, regardless of reality.
Tom Miller 11:23AM (1/22/2009)
Most of the people who would be considering these Alfas, probably have no memory, one way or the other, on Alfa/Fiat. I guess that is one advantage to producing cars whose owners had to junk them early because of reliability/rust problems. ;-)
This new Alfa looks terrific. Marchionne seems to have turned things around.
firstplace 8:00PM (1/22/2009)
kids cant afford these cars and there parents do remember.
Ray 9:46AM (1/22/2009)
I'd love to see that car over here, but honestly after all the "Alfa's coming back to the US talk" and it not happening, I feel like I'm being teased.
And I sure as hell hope if it does happen they are NOT sold at Chrysler dealerships right next to Sebrings
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DKB_SATX 11:26AM (1/22/2009)
Actually, it would be good to see the Sebring replaced by a Fiat Bravo... and Chrysler/Dodge dealers to become Alfa/Fiat/Dodge truck dealers. The Sebring is fit for a crusher, not a car lot.
Ubizzle 1:13PM (1/22/2009)
I remember alfa did development videos for this car - the car has been designed with US safety regulations in mind, so while it's been delayed as the world sorts out the massive mess that you Yanks have caused :-p you're gonna have to wait.
I'm sure they'll be over there by 2010.
Mirko 9:52AM (1/22/2009)
Could this by any chance have a proper mechanical LSD instead of an electronically simulated one? Because the 147 Q2 had a proper Torsen, and it's a brilliant handler.
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EXP Jawa 10:40AM (1/22/2009)
Yes, if its the same as the Q2 used in the Alfa GT & 147, it would have to have a Torsen diff. That's definately mechanical and not electronic. Did these reports actually state that the car would use an electronic locking diff, or just that it would use the existing Q2 system?
Mirko 10:56AM (1/22/2009)
It's a bit more complicated, the 159 Spider and Brera Q2 is electronic.
So I'd hope they'll do something more serious in the MiTo, but I don't have that much hope...
meatbag 9:53AM (1/22/2009)
oh i almost forgot, we demand a new Stratos. S-T-R-A-T-O-S, build one and bring it. Call it a Lancia, call it a Fiat, hell, call it a Chrysler or even a Jeep i dont care, but we the United States demand this be done. this is not a request. we have a military and we're not afraid to ..... wait -scrach that- we will send you George Bush if you do not comply
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Alex 10:04AM (1/22/2009)
forget the 500, I want this car to be fast-tracked to the US!
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2007RC46SP2 10:26AM (1/22/2009)
the face only a mother could love
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adrian 10:50AM (1/22/2009)
Will it be able to handle all that power. The BMW derived Z axle on the MINI is pretty formidable.
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Travis 11:06AM (1/22/2009)
WANT!!! Even if it's $26k here in the US, it would be an amazing step up from the racer-boy GTI, MS3, Cobalt SS, etc.
And best of all, it would push MINI to finally stop being stingy with HP. With an extra 20hp just a dealer-installed tune away, the MINI is fun but out of its class when compared to the other low-20k hot hatches.
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Devon 11:23AM (1/22/2009)
This. This IS car porn. 240 Ponies, Alfa suspension, hatchback.
This. To the states. NOW.
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Patrick 11:58AM (1/22/2009)
The license plate reminds me of Nelly's band-aid that he use to rock on his cheek in the late 90's...
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P.V. 1:41PM (1/22/2009)
I really like this car and hope it sells well, but for it to sell REALLY well, FIAT should seriously focus on its current lineup's reliability issues; FIATs and Alfas were unreliable then (when they were in the US) and are still so now (in Europe, et al).
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J 7:27PM (1/22/2009)
Yeah watchout John, this thing could scare the hair off a cat...
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