Alfa Romeo Milano comes into focus
The Alfa Romeo 147 was voted European Car of the Year. But that was way back in 2001, the year after its launch. And despite a mid-cycle refresh, it's since grown a little long in the tooth. The Italian automaker introduced the MiTo to replace the three-door 147 last year, and has been hard at work since on the new Milano (previously referred to as "149") to replace the 147 five-door once and for all. Now, following months of speculation, spy shots and even some out-of-focus snapshots from the factory floor, we've got our best look yet at the new Italian hatchback.
If these images from Quattroroute are to be believed, it appears Alfa Romeo's Centro Stile has done a better job translating the 8C Competizione's design cues into the longer Milano than it did with the stubby MiTo. The snout does appear to extend a tad too far, giving the Milano (which, in these pictures, is wearing a 149 plate up front) a long front overhang, the trademark shield grille protruding with the headlights swept back. The tail end, as is often the case with Alfas, has some of the best lines in the business, and outfitted with the right engine, that may be all that other motorists see of it, anyway.
The jury's still out, but the latest reports indicate that the Milano won't make it to the North American market. Thanks for the tip, Vittorio!
[Source: Quattroroute]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ligor 5:33PM (10/12/2009)
that's a beauty
why are not more companies copying Alfa's designs instead of copying Bangle butts and flame surfacing crap?
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Will 6:01PM (10/12/2009)
As far as I can tell the current Lancer did, and it looks pretty damn sweet.
Art 5:39PM (10/12/2009)
The jury's still out, but the latest reports indicate that the Milano won't make it to the North American market.
This always happens to us-always!
oh well, at least we don't pay 30K+ for a civic
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James 5:48PM (10/12/2009)
According to Wiki, a Chrysler viability plan forwarded to the Feds that the 149 aka Milano could be built in the US...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_149
Lets just hope this Alfa Romeo would be sold here as well.
click_playaz 5:47PM (10/12/2009)
This one look strange, but beautiful at the same time.
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Shiftright 5:50PM (10/12/2009)
I'm a huge Alfa fan, but right now this is doing a whole lot for me.The rear lights look a bit contrived, and overall it's not as well resolved as other recent Alfa designs, 147 included. I'll wait until I see more pics before I issue my judgment.
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MrEllawood 7:10PM (10/12/2009)
This picture is taken from an italian magazine called "Quattroruote" (4wheels)...
If you want to see more pictures...
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=116038&id=794123513&l=0a693161bb
These is the pre-serie Milano captured in the factory... Not high quality, and the white colour for this car it's not the best...
I apologise for my english, but i'm italian and usually i don't write in ...
Rob 11:49AM (10/13/2009)
Wow, thanks for those photos. They show a much better looking car than the photos above from Quattroruote do. Maybe it's just the white color, but it looks much less, uh, ungainly, in your photos; especially in the front. The rump still looks good though.
adam1drift 5:53PM (10/12/2009)
Why is the overhang soooo long? Why are the front tires squished up against the front doors? And as far as the engine you know it’s going to be a I4 powering the front wheels… so don’t get too excited about that.
I love the design… but the overhang seems excessive.
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haudit 6:04PM (10/12/2009)
Why is the front overhang so long? Simple - European crash and pedestrian safety regulations. They've forced most European carmakers to adopt ridiculously long, bluff front ends in order to offset the potential danger of killing pedestrians in a crash by putting more fresh air, or deformable space between the front end, bonnet/hood and the engine block. The end result is a ridiculously long front overhang and a hoodline which is substantially higher than the cars of 5-10 years ago.
It's not an ideal solution, but I think Alfa Romeo have managed to work around the issue a lot better than some of their contemporaries. Go take a look at the Peugeot 308 for one of the worst examples.
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Pug_Power 10:28PM (10/12/2009)
Even a big Peugeot fan like me doesn't think the 308 is all that great looking. As for the Alfa, it's stunning like every Alfa ever made (barring the Arna).
bman 6:16PM (10/12/2009)
I always see a modern day interpretation of Edsel when looking at Alfas. They share the horse collar/female genitalia front end.
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Andrew 6:18PM (10/12/2009)
thats photoshopped look at that background
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UoMDeacon 6:56PM (10/12/2009)
Yeah, the picture is a Photoshop...
The backend does look lovely though.
P.V. 6:29PM (10/12/2009)
Wow, that looks pretty nice!
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Olivier Parent 6:31PM (10/12/2009)
Looks descent but not nearly special enough. Looks too similar to designs from Renault and Opel. Seems like they got scared after the 156 when it comes to designing mass-production cars. The 159 was a bit toned down compared to the 156. The MiTo showed some promise, but lacked pure beauty. This Milano looks a bit average, like Fiat models. Good-looking but not gorgeous enough to fall madly in love with it. And it's an Italian car, you don't buy it for reliability or class-leading handling or superior comfort, but for the irrational passion it incites.
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Jung 6:41PM (10/12/2009)
Anybody who say this car is beautiful has been watching too much Top Gear and Fifth gear, and have been brainwashed by their baseless gushing over anything with Alfa badge.
This car looks pretty good, and it actually look a lot better than the nasty Brera those British car show hosts ogle over.
I'm just a wee bit tired of people applauding Alfa's design just because other renown journalists say it's beautiful.
To me, the only good looking Alfa is 8C.
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Indefinite Implosion 1:08AM (10/13/2009)
I must disagree. (That's just my opinion, you have yours, and we both have every right to voice them)
I personally loved the design of the Brera, despite it's shortcomings in terms of speed and power.
I also loved the 8C, yet hated the MiTo.
From this angle I think I like this, they've actually done that type of headlights properly, unlike they did with the MiTo; but the back of this is just perfect!
Speaking of Top Gear and Alfa Romeo... I watched an earlier episode the other day where they had the concept sketch of the 8C and showed it and called it a hideous, ugly design. Yet it wasn't that different from the final design!
Kaveh 6:43PM (10/12/2009)
We could still dream they brought them here. Hopefully with other car makers will see Audi Selling the A3 in the USA and try some of there hot hatches here.
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David 1:48AM (10/13/2009)
Last time I checked, the A3 is already here and has been for several years now ;-)