Earlier this morning we brought you a leaked brochure that gave us basically all the info we needed to know about the new Alfa Romeo Mi.To. Fiat has now released the official press release along with a bunch of new images of its BMW MINI competitor. The Mi.To is the first car from Alfa Romeo since the iconic 8C Competizione.

The Alfa Romeo Mi.To will launch in all major markets in stages starting next month. The entry level model will be powered by a 1.4L 79-hp engine that gives the Mi.To a 0-62 time of 12.3 seconds. The top-of-the-line Mi.To will be powered by a 1.4L turbo producing 153-hp with a 0-62 time of 7.9 seconds.

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Welcome to the Alfa Romeo Mito. This is Alfa’s new baby, with a name inspired by the cities where the car was designed (Milan) and will be built (Turin). Only the Italians could get away with something like that.

Alfa Romeo is claiming the Mito draws styling inspiration from its stunning 8C Competizione supercar. Namely the frameless doors, distinctive nose, and LED taillights. You’ll never know that underneath the Mito shares parts with the Fiat Grande Punto. Compared to its sister car the Mito is longer and wider, and a little lower, to emphasize the sportiness.

To make the Mito even more sporting, all cars will come as standard with Alfa’s new DNA chassis system. Three settings – Dynamic, Normal and All-Weather – adjust the engine, brakes, steering, suspension and gearbox to suit the conditions.

As well as having sporting pretensions Alfa Romeo is also making sure the Mito is highly customizable. Having watch Mini’s success, and learns lessons from Fiat’s launch of the 500, the Mito will come with a large options list. Even the headlamp and taillight surrounds will be switchable so, Alfa says, you’ll be able to give your car ‘eye-liner’.

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Alfa Romeo isn’t planning releasing a new crossover, but, looking at these pictures, we’re starting to feel bad they won’t. Because these drawings look amazing.

These were made for an article posted by InfoMotori, in which they asked opinions about how people would feel about a 149 crossover. If you ask us, we’d definitely like to see this car, someday, rolling off the production line. And Alfa should also consider it as an option, because look at the Nissan Qashqai, for example, which is a big hit. So, how would you feel about it?

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Alfa Romeo once again unveils its new models onto the world market at the Geneva event. Indeed, following on from the Alfa 159 and Brera in 2005, the 159 Sportwagon and Spider in 2006, and its Personalization Programme going by the name of “Alfa Unica” in 2007, it is now the turn of the alluring Alfa 8C Spider.

Like the Alfa 8C Competizione, the Gran Turismo which received resounding global praise; the new “discovery” will be produced in a limited edition run of 500.

Elaborated by the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo, the new car re-affirms the brand's excellence in this sector, as shown by some Spider's being regarded among the most beautiful cars in global automotive history.
Cars such as the Giulietta Spider from the 50's or the legendary Duetto made famous by “The Graduate” from 1967 with a young Dustin Hoffman. Today, it's the Alfa 8C Spider's turn to take centre stage and project into the future the values of technology and emotion which belong to the Alfa Romeo legacy.

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Fiat and Alfa hedged their bets by sponsoring the Yamaha and Ducati MotoGP team, respectively. And it’s paid off. Casey Stoner won the title for Ducati, and now we get a car with influence from Alfa and Ducati, apparently.

The Alfa Romeo 147 Ducati Corse has a 1.9-liter diesel with 170bhp, and Alfa’s Q2 front differential. You can have it in red, black or white, and with racy stickers if you insist. There’s also lowered suspension, chromed exhausts, optional red brake calipers, and a satin-finished grille.

Inside you get red and black seats, and Ducati Corse logos on the headrests, plus lots of other red and black trim. A Bose sounds system is also standard, but there’s no word on price or how limited this special edition will be.

MotoGP champion Casey Stoner clearly knows the hand that feeds, because he recently declared the Alfa 8C the best car he’s ever driven.

Maybe that explains why Alfa presented him with this one-off Spider at Bologna as a thanks for winning the title. It’s right-hand drive, so Stoner can drive it in his native Australia, and comes with a laurel wreath decal to remind him of his championship exploits.

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The 8C Competizione. We always thought it was just a concept vehicle. Is it now a proper production car? Well it’s certainly about to go on sale – for a mere £111,000. Alfa is only going to make 500. And just 41 will come to the UK, the first of which arrives on our shores in January.

The ‘production’ car is very similar stylistically to the concept car, first shown at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show. The subtle bodywork changes are mostly to do with aerodynamics. The concept car looked fabulous but apparently flew in more ways than one…

Alfa wants to elevate its image, to play on the BMW/Audi field. It's also about to re-enter America after a 13-year absence and needs a halo vehicle to lead the charge. Enter this sublimely beautiful Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. It was designed by Alfa’s own Centro Stile (styling center), has a carbonfibre body and, for convenience and cost, uses the Ferrari-made V8 currently powering all new Maseratis (the Quattroporte and the Granturismo).
It also has the six-speed manual paddleshift gearbox as used on some Quattroportes and the outgoing Maserati Coupe/Spyder. The gearbox is sited in the rear, and linked to the engine by a torque tube. Again, that’s just like the old two-door Maserati and the manual version of the Quattroporte, and it improves weight distribution (49:51 front:rear, says Alfa). The floorpan is a mix of outgoing Maserati Coupe/Spyder and new GranTurismo with quite a few bespoke Alfa components. Wheelbase is shorter than on any modern Maser.

So it’s an Alfa/Ferrari/Maserati hybrid, not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s made in Maserati’s factory in Modena, and comes down the same line as the Quattroporte and GranTurismo. All good ingredients so far.

• So does it drive like an old Maserati Coupe or a smaller Quattroporte?

No, and that’s good news. Modern-day Maseratis are comfort biased and when you’re on a charge, the steering and suspension control can be a bit sloppy. The 8C is far sharper, harder edged and sportier. The V8 is bored and stroked up to 4.7 litres and power rises to 450bhp. Not only does it go harder than any current Maserati – top speed 182mph, 0-62 mph in 4.2 seconds – but it is far sharper and more agile.

The engine note is more strident and more tuneful. It’s a fantastic engine, incredibly elastic but really gutsy. And what music! The note changes throughout the rev range, from vroomy V8 low down to an F1 wail at high revs. Just fabulous! Plus the Sport button changes the note – the Audi RS4 does the same trick. Push the button in the (carbonfibre) center console, and rear exhaust baffles are opened, so the engine sounds more tuneful at idle and at low-medium revs. At higher revs, the engine sounds inspirational no matter what you do with the switchgear.

The ‘Sport’ setting also quickens gearshift times (from 0.4 to 0.2 sec) and also allows a bit of fun before the stability control starts to quell your enthusiasm – modest tail-out driving is possible. (You can turn the traction control off totally if you’re brave.) The Sport setting doesn’t change damper settings: the 8C has good old-fashioned mechanical (non-electronic) dampers.

• And what’s it like to drive?

We tested it on Alfa’s own Balocco test track between Milan and Turin. Naturally you’d expect it to be good in its own backyard – and it is!

The car is fast – about 911 GT3 fast – and also really responsive. That short wheelbase and comparatively light weight (1490 kg) combine to give great nimbleness and the steering is faster than any Maserati’s (the rack is new). Body roll is almost non-existent, and throttle response is top-notch – you can balance the car’s handling beautifully with the throttle, especially in Sport (or better still, no traction control) mode.

The steering, while sharp and linear, is a bit lifeless; you don’t get the drama or richness of communication that you experience in, say, an F430 or the GT3. But then this is a front-engine car. And the steering is way better than, say, an M3's.

• So it’s not your typical Alfa then?

No, not really. Modern Alfas – especially the Brera, Spider and 159 – are all too heavy and not that sporty to drive, ironically. A mainstream Ford Focus is a sharper steer than any of them – and that’s disappointing for a company that wants to tackle BMW. If mainstream Alfas had anything like this level of zest, they’d race out of the showrooms.

Mind you, like the 8C, those Alfas all looks brilliant and, like the 8C, they have a fine level of craftsmanship. So new Alfas are improving in key areas. They just have to go on a diet to regain their old verve.

• And the 8C’s cabin?

Really good. A classy and modern mix of real aluminium alloy, carbonfibre and leather as only the Italians can do it. The seats have carbonfibre shells and are manually fore-aft and rake (but not height) adjustable.
It’s a two-seat only though there’s quite a decent back bench, fine for two large overnight bags. The hatchback rear door gives you access to… the fuel tank. Though there is also a little slit of a boot, barely big enough for a briefcase, accessed by the rear hatch.

• Verdict

It may be as much Maserati or Ferrari as Alfa, but who cares? This is a delectable-looking, inspirational front-engine V8 sports car that goes really fast, sounds great, and is hugely entertaining to drive.

Plus street sculpture doesn’t get much better than this. The run of 500 cars, built from now until late next year, has already been pre-sold. But if you’re keen, see your Alfa dealer (or Maserati dealer if you live in America) about the 8C Competizione Spider, which follows when production of the coupe stops.

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