Parked among older and larger Alfa Romeos, the MiTo looks every bit the newborn cub about to make its first foray into the wild. It has a wide-eyed innocence, with an underlying hint of inquisitiveness and mischief.
Previously codenamed “Junior”, the MiTo is Alfa’s first supermini, christened after its designed-in-Milan and made-in-Turin (Torino) heritage. I met Frank Stephenson, then Alfa Romeo’s style director, in October 2007 at the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo in Milan, when he was working on the MiTo project.
He described it as “a small car that we are designing in response to market demands, but at the same time embodying Alfa’s unique qualities and values”. What are these unique qualities and values? And to what extent does Alfa’s new pocket rocket live up to them?
The MiTo belongs to a new generation of Alfa Romeos, with a brand new identity heralded by the 8C Competizione, a very special rear-wheel drive sports car. On the outside, it appears that the designers have toned down some of the raw aggressiveness epitomised by the 159, Brera and Spider, and replaced that with a softer touch.
Whether this new image erodes the true Alfa spirit is one thing, but elements such as the elongated tear drop-shaped headlamps, the V-shaped crease from the bonnet to the shield and the front spoiler – while great on the 8C – end up making the MiTo look like a startled rabbit being pulled out of a magician’s hat.
Perhaps it is the inevitable consequence of trying to pack so many iconic design elements of the 8C into the MiTo’s compact body. Its cute and playful looks take some getting used to, especially for those accustomed to the cool and seductive breed of Alfas.
But the MiTo’s profile remains sporty nonetheless, with frameless windows, pronounced wheel arches and a rear that sits wide and low. The stance is further exaggerated by the tail lights being placed far apart. Its mischievous look – like it has something up its sleeve – is also strangely endearing.
After getting into the MiTo, you may, for a split second, mistake it for a Fiat. Many of Alfa Romeo’s signature driver-centred touches are hauntingly absent, as are the bevy of cool dials and gauges.
The centre console is somewhat basic by Alfa standards, with just two circular air-conditioning vents on top, rudimentary audio and menu controls with a small LCD screen, and three air-conditioning controls at the bottom.
Like the youngest of siblings sometimes deprived of certain treats, this baby Alfa does not get any climate control.
Compact it may be, the MiTo’s interior, including the rear, is relatively spacious. Its 270-litre boot space, while not extremely generous, is adequate for daily errands and that weekend getaway.
There are even five different specifications – with a plethora of equipment, interior trims, accessories and a whole list of other options – to suit different personalities and lifestyles.
Taking a leaf out of the book of its cousin, the Fiat 500, the MiTo has various decals with which to personalise its exterior, plus other mind-boggling personalisation options for its headlamps, LED tail lights, wing mirror caps and dashboard, on top of the usual body colours, seat fabric or leather combinations and wheel design choices.
But the overall cabin atmosphere still feels sporty and well built. And the one area most worthy of mention is the soft carbon fibre-effect dash with such exciting names as Competizione Red, Black or Blue. The wrap-around seats can be finished in Competizione, Sprint or Sport fabrics, or the famous Italian Frau leather options.
However, the designers should consider replacing the dimply black plastics used in some parts of the dash and the inner door panels, as they are a glaring contrast to the quality and sporty image conveyed by the rest of the interior. At the very least, the tacky, overly shiny silver gear knob cap – which is as in-your-face as a gold dental crown – must go. It doesn’t do the MiTo justice.
