Alfa Romeo Weighing Options for Next MiTo, Wants to Bring It Stateside

The existing MiTo never set foot in America; that could change for its predecessor. For more than a decade now, the imminent return of Alfa Romeo to the U.S. has been rumored. And, for more than a decade, nothing much has happened. (We don't count the 8C Competizione because of its extraordinarily limited production run.) But it would seem that the Italians are merely taking their time, in that charming, romanticized way synonymous with the Southern Mediterranean way of life. Fiat Group boss and sweater aficionado Sergio Marchionne wants the next MiTo (short for Milano-Torino and also the Italian word for myth, as in legend) to come to America on the heels of the 4C and the rumored 6C lineup. There are two ways Turin is looking at the 2016 MiTo. One approach would be sort of a no-brainer: an evolution of the current sexy three-door hatch that would run for another seven years. The chances of such a next-gen MiTo becoming a global offering would be slim, although not impossible. The other, and much more interesting approach being explored is that of a compact crossover coupe in the vein of the new BMW X4, only smaller—think Mini Paceman or the Euro-only Audi A1 Sportback. This type of MiTo would have a far better chance of going global, but it would be dependent on whether Alfa can afford such a massive expansion of its smaller models. Regardless of what the Italian marque decides to do, the resulting model will be underpinned by Fiat's new architecture that serves as the foundation for the 500L. And because of that platform's modular design, we understand there's a real chance Alfa could go forward with both the evolution of the current MiTo and the crossover coupe. The next-generation MiTo will roll on the same bones as Fiat's 500L. Regarding powertrain ranges for the 2016 MiTo, things do get interesting. Europe is well known for its diesel technologies and near-dependence at this point, but the tide is turning in the favor of other fuels. This is primarily due to the ever-more-rigid emissions requirements that necessitate more-costly filtration systems and urea-based NOx-reducing injection setups even for the smallest engines, rendering them increasingly costly. Current word has it that the MiTo range will start with the next-generation two-cylinder TwinAir turbo from Fiat, which will produce 100 horsepower and be capable of running on biofuel and natural gas. The range-topping mill will be a turbocharged four-cylinder MultiAir that generates 200 horsepower—a hotter, Quadrifoglio Verde edition that would go beyond the 200-hp mark hasn't been determined yet. Our sources tell us that there also will be a plug-in hybrid variant. First Drive: 2013 Fiat 500C Abarth Comparison Test: 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth vs. Mini John Cooper Works First Drive: 2014 Maserati Quattroporte Now comes the potential for an old-fashioned bait and switch. Marchionne—although he has maintained that he wants the next MiTo in the States—remains cautious regarding the viability of investing in the importation and homologation of the small Alfa for potentially limited sales volume, given that a premium MiTo would follow roughly the pricing model used by any equivalent Mini. In the end, Marchionne is much more a shrewd businessman than a hot-blooded car guy. from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com

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