Alfa Romeo is launching
the "Model Year 2011 MiTo" in Italy with improvements
including a new body colour, fresh interior trims and
Start&Stop across the range as it aims to reconnect the
B-segment hatchback with consumers. The MiTo MY2011 was
shown for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show
earlier this month and now is available for ordering at
the Italian dealer network.
The MiTo has seen its
sales tumbling recently in Italy: for the year-to-date
(to the end of February) it has 4,133 registrations on
its home market, that is three thousand units down on
the same period last year (7,145 units Jan-Feb 2010)
when it found more favour with government "scrappage"
scheme incentives. The MiTo hasn't cracked the Italian
B-segment top-10 for the year-to-date. Alfa Romeo has
chosen to let the entry price remain quite high, rather
improving the specification and efficiency of the car:
the MY2011 range kicks off at 15,500 euros for the 1.4
78 CV with Start&Stop in "Progression" level, climbing
to 22,550 euros for the 1.6 JTDM-2 120 CV in
"Distinctive" trim with the "Sport Pack".
The MY2011 MiTo has an
unchanged engine line-up, all are Euro 5 compliant.
There are two turbodiesels, the 95 CV 1.3 JTDM-2 and 120
CV 1.6 JTDM-2, both featuring second-generation Multijet
technology and four petrols, all based around the 1.4
FIRE unit: the entry-level 78 CV and three 1.4 units
with Multiair from 105 CV (normally aspirated) through
the 135 CV Turbo to the range-topping 170 CV Turbo with
the "TCT" auto/manual transmission. The full engine
range now comes with Start&Stop fitted (and when coupled
to the 78 CV 1.4 this improves consumption to 5.6 l/km
on the combined cycle and emissions reduced to 130 g/km.
There are four
specification levels: "Progression", "Distinctive",
"Super" and "Quadrifoglio Verde" with a special "Sport
Pack" exclusive to the "Distinctive" version. Inside
there are three seat fabrics including the refined "Pelle
Frau" upholstery, three interior colours with the
"Sprint" dashboard on the "Progression" level and two
colours with the "Competizione" dashboard on the
"Distinctive" option.
There is a new fabric
which has been developed for the seats, consisting of a
smooth, compact elastic mesh yet at the same time fine
and shiny like silk, emphasised by the electro-welded
graphics with two-tone bronze and black double insert
and the “breaked line” titanium sign teamed with the
seams on the surrounds and the colour of the dashboard
trim.
On the outside there
are six different alloy wheel options split between 16-,
17- and 18-inch sizes and now eleven different body
colours, including the new metallic flake
(aluminium and mica
together) "Bronzo
Metal", as well as four finish options (chrome, shiny or
matt satin and titanium) for the light housing bezels.
The revised MiTo also
gets new USB/AUX ports that allows the MP3 player to be
hooked up to the Blue&Me infotelematic package. Blue&Me
TomTom is also an option and is integrated into the
overall system, allowing the 4.3-inch screen to display
multifunctions including phone, music and vehicle
controls.
The importance of the MiTo to Alfa Romeo's product
portfolio is further emphasised this year as the range
declines effectively to just two models, with its bigger
sister, the Giulietta, successfully hitting its sales
targets. With little in the near future pipeline for
Fiat Group Automobiles 'sports' brand the MiTo needs to
show plenty of resilience to keep overall sales volumes
respectable.
