REPORT: Alfa Romeo cancels MiTo GTA hot hatch
Alfa MiTo GTA concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
Oh, Alfa. We had such high hopes for you. The stoic Italian marque, it seemed, had wandered too far from its roots as a performance-oriented automaker anchored by decades of racing dominance. Heart-pumping roadsters gave way to mushy econo-boxes. And then came the 8C Competizione, whose dynamics may not be as inspiring as its looks (how could it?), but it signaled what we hoped was a new dawn for the resurgent automaker, even if it remained entirely out of reach for the common man.
Then Alfa followed up with the MiTo GTA, a positively drool-inducing hot hatch that debuted in concept form a few months ago at the Geneva Motor Show. Packing a 230-hp turbo four in an aggressive carbon fiber shell, the MiTo GTA looked nothing less than menacing. It was just a show car at the time, but Alfa said it would go into production by the end of the year. Well, according to emerging reports, that may not happen any time soon, if ever. Due to the financial crisis, Alfa has reportedly put the MiTo GTA on an indefinite hold. Does that mean it's been killed? Well, not necessarily, but we wouldn't recommend holding your breath. We'd save that for a hot lap behind the wheel... which may never come.
Gallery: Geneva 2009: Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA
[Source: iMotor]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
audioslavery 4:34PM (7/20/2009)
Very hot car, too bad it's such a niche market and at a bad time.
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996700 4:42PM (7/20/2009)
Agreed
Rich 4:46PM (7/20/2009)
Shame, but hey... it's only an Alfa.
I used to get a lift off someone who had a 147 hatch. Bloody useless thing. No rear legroom. No point in *having* the hatch, the aperture was so small.
Oh, but it was fast. And Italian. You could save maybe 2 minutes of driving by overtaking people. And you'd want to, because the suspension was so hard you had to steer around cats eyes. The other alternative was taking it easy and enjoying the drive -- but not in that thing.
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Shiftright 4:48PM (7/20/2009)
May I interest you in a cushy Lexus or a Buick?
9600baud 5:13PM (7/20/2009)
Shiftright is right, perhaps you should be riding in an Escalade instead.
Rich 6:50PM (7/20/2009)
You have no idea what you're talking about.
Hard suspension is one thing. Zero travel is quite another.
Kordyte 10:23PM (7/20/2009)
It's a street car, bub, not a shifter kart. Trust me, the ride on any stock Alfa isn't that bad. If you complain about it being too harsh, the previous posters are right, pick yourself up a Buick LaCrosse or something.
My daily driver has track coilovers, so unless your buddy's Alfa is running Motons or has a busted suspension, it's not that bad.
Rich 3:31PM (7/21/2009)
Kordyte -- I consider my Jetta's suspension sloppy, so there's no need for your childish ignorance. I've driven other vehicles with decent hard suspension, but that Alfa was stupid. It made the CD player a useless decoration. But hey, if you have no experience of it, you wouldn't know.
Peter Bernacchi 8:53PM (7/21/2009)
What true motorhead DOESN'T consider a Jetta's suspension sloppy? I thought my Evo IX was too sloppy so I put aftermarket coilovers on it!
I don't use my CD player for that same reason. I'm sure the suspension was incredibly super-hard, but that's not a reason to say a car is just terrible.
Yeah, I have no experience with this car, but let's just say I'm *extremely* skeptical that it was that horrible. I would imagine that most people around here would back me up on that.
Rich 9:44PM (7/22/2009)
See? You don't have the slightest clue what the car was like, and you're all over me for saying its suspension was too hard. I'm not talking about homologated bloody track cars -- I'm talking about an ordinary road car -- y'know, those things for driving on ordinary roads? That's why I made the comparison to the Jetta, which is nearly as fast, but a hell of a lot more comfortable, and with the right tyres, just as good at not sliding me into a ditch. No need for bricks instead of shocks.
Roads. That's what it was meant for, it wasn't very good at it, but that isn't all that made the car useless. Note: not "terrible" as you think I said. (Try a little comprehension). Just useless.
Like I said above, the hatch was about the size of a glovebox. The rear seats were pointless, unless you have paraplegic friends. I said it was fast, but not fast like a track car. I was comparing -- again -- to proper road cars. If you have to sacrifice any semblance of comfort just to shave a couple of minutes off a journey time, what is the point?
Aloysius Vampa 4:48PM (7/20/2009)
Darn.
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delorean2608 4:51PM (7/20/2009)
NOOO!
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Shiftright 4:53PM (7/20/2009)
WTF?...BOOOOOOO!...Alfa needs this car, especially for their comeback to the US. It's not as if it's a petrol sucking monster V8. Small, nimble and bloody fast...How can this not be right?
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Sal Collaziano 4:56PM (7/20/2009)
Wow. I'd never seen this car until today. That's one nice looking small car.. And plenty of power.. I hope this does go into production some day...
Sal Collaziano
www.automotivemessageboard.com
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senseition 5:12PM (7/20/2009)
this Fall we need a new car, and I hope it's Alfa 159.
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Denis 5:42PM (7/20/2009)
That is a goofy looking car. Just because it is an Alfa and Italian does not prevent it from being the same as any goofy looking car.
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The FedEx Man 5:58PM (7/20/2009)
I think "goofy" is the right word; it's just a ridiculous looking, worst Alfa in years. I much prefer the old 147, or even the Fiat Grande Punto (looks like a mini version of the old Maserati Coupe) that the MeTo is based on.
adrenalnjunky 5:42PM (7/20/2009)
poor little owl.
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xpolarx 5:49PM (7/20/2009)
What!? F*** you Alpha Romeo!
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Dan 12:32PM (7/21/2009)
Vaffanculo Alfa!! Seriously... I would have sold a kidney to park a Mito GTA in my garage. This was the first time I was excited about a small performer since I picked up my S2000. Did you see the interior?? Simply... gorgeous.
Why don't other car companies understand... we could use some small-bodied performance cars with hot quality interiors. The only one we've got thus far is the Mini... which, taken at face value, isn't exactly a "sports" car... more like a cracked out gerbil.