2011 Alfa Romeo MiTo

A number of engine options are expected to come with the 2011 Alfa Romeo MiTo, not the least of which include one with a 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine that produces 135 horsepower mated to the company’s own TCT transmission and fitted with Start Stop systems. Another Alfa Romeo MiTo Quadrillion Verde comes with a 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine that produces around 170 horsepower mated to a TCT transmission also with its own Star Stop system.

Two key rivals of the Alfa Romeo MiTo are the MINI Cooper and the Audi A1.
In terms of engine performance, the Italian Alfa offers more choices than the German MINI, which comes with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 121 horsepower. On top of engine variety, it should also be pointed out that the MiTo’s high-end options come with a more powerful engine than the Cooper.

The name (say “Mee-TOE”) refers to Milan, where the car was designed (and also home to Alfa-parent Fiat Group), and Torino (Turin), where the car is built.
Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne believes only the strongest automakers will survive the global economic crisis. Fiat is currently number-four in Europe by sales, Chrysler number-four in the U.S. (though falling fast).

The Italian company will doubtless use Chrysler’s resources for a U.S. relaunch of the Fiat and Alfa Romeo brands, which have been absent here for decades (though Alfa’s return has been rumored for years). Chrysler, in turn, can piggyback on Fiat’s strong presence in Europe, China, and many other markets to grow overseas sales of vehicles like the Dodge Dakota pickup, Dodge Journey SUV, and various Jeeps. More important, Chrysler would get to use several next-generation Fiat platforms to develop replacements for existing flops like the Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass.

Plans will almost certainly include Chrysler-built Fiats as well as Fiat-based Chryslers, but those vehicles are still 2-3 years off.
In the UK alone, the Alfa Romeo MiTo hatchback was available in no fewer than 17 different versions. So to make things a little easier, Alfa Romeo has streamlined the Alfa Romeo MiTo's catalog down to nine versions as part of a refreshed range. The engine range has likewise been revised, the new 78-horsepower 1.4 and 105-hp MultiAir 1.4 replacing the 95-hp engine and a new 1.3-liter JTDM-2 diesel eligible for emissions exemptions under overseas regulations.