March 9, 2009 by nitram
Don’t be fooled by Alfa’s “concept” moniker; the MiTo GTA that we’ll be seeing at next week’s Geneva Motor Show is the real thing and it will find its way into production. Set to rival Europe’s hottest small cars like the 211HP MINI Cooper S JCW and the 197HP Renault Clio RS, the MiTo GTA is powered by Fiat’s all-new, direct-injection, 1.75-liter turbocharged four-pot that produces a hefty 240-horsepower.
Justifying its GTA logo (Gran Turismo Alleggerito – light grand tourer ), Alfa’s engineers have reduced the MiTo’s weight by using carbon fiber on the tailgate spoiler, the roof and the mirror fairings and aluminum for the braking system, suspension and some parts of the chassis.
To enhance the MiTo’s dynamic qualities, Alfa completely revised the operating parameters of the suspension, lowering it by about 20 mm and added a new “active suspension system” that stiffens the rear end by means of shock absorber control. The GTA also features a revised steering wheel system for a more direct and precise feeling as well as a new, lightweight braking system from Brembo.
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February 24, 2009 by nitram
Alfa Romeo has been pretty tight-lipped about the MiTo GTA in the lead-up to its unveiling at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, but in addition to a couple of engine sketches, it’s finally released a full-on teaser of the new hot hatch. The styling continues to draw inspiration from the 8C Competizione, incorporating a few more elements of the supercar into the three-door’s front fascia, and the revised stance and upgraded wheels give it a considerably more sporting appearance.
With around 240 hp coming from the 1.8-liter turbocharged four, the MiTo GTA promises to offer a compelling alternative to the MINI Cooper JCW at a competitive price and with Alfa’s trademark Italian flair. Stay tuned as Swiss time is running out before the doors open at the Geneva Palexpo next month.
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January 27, 2009 by nitram
A few dozens of extremely fortunate American owners of one of the world’s hottest sports cars, the Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione, will have to return their Italian beauty for a quick fix after it was discovered that certain models were manufactured with incorrectly torqued front and rear suspension upper and lower ball joint nuts. The recall also affects MY 2008 Maserati Gran Turismo and Quattroporte which share the same platform with the Alfa.
Overall, 7,912 Maseratis and Alfa 8c Competiziones will be recalled in the States. While the Italian automaker did not reveal specific numbers, we do know for a fact that only 84 Alfas were allocated in the U.S.
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January 26, 2009 by nitram
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.
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January 22, 2009 by nitram
Isn’t it nice when automakers can give something back to their most loyal fans? Like Volkswagen, for example, which shows up every year to its enthusiast gathering in Wörthersee, Austria with a new surprise (like the Golf GTI W12 650 concept). Well Volkswagen may have snagged Alfa Romeo’s CEO, but Alfa is taking something back from Volkswagen in launching the MiTo RIAR edition.
Made to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the Registro Italiano Alfa Romeo, an international Alfa owners club with over 1,000 members, the RIAR edition MiTo takes on a decidedly sinister and low-key appearance. It’s painted black, with black satin finish details instead of chrome and 17-inch anthracite-finish 8C-style rims hiding red brake calipers. Buyers can choose between black or burgundy leather, but the RIAR edition comes packed with all the options inside and out. Under the hood is a 170-hp version of the turbocharged four, and in honor of RIAR’s 46th year of brand loyalty, Alfa will only offer 46 individually-numbered and personalized examples exclusively to RIAR members. This special edition proves that membership has its privileges; we wonder what they’ll cook up for the club’s 50th.
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Don’t be fooled by Alfa’s “concept” moniker; the MiTo GTA that we’ll be seeing at next week’s Geneva Motor Show is the real thing and it will find its way into production. Set to rival Europe’s hottest small cars like the 211HP MINI Cooper S JCW and the 197HP Renault Clio RS, the MiTo GTA is powered by Fiat’s all-new, direct-injection, 1.75-liter turbocharged four-pot that produces a hefty 240-horsepower.
