Alfa Romeo’s eagerly awaited successor to the handsome 147 has been snapped minus disguise. Is this Golf rival set to cause a similar stir to the Mito?By Gareth Dean
Although this new model’s nomenclature is still the subject of speculation (it’s a tossup between adhering to the company’s numerical naming system with 149 or possibly Milano) the styling has been laid bare thanks to a very enterprising Facebook user by the name of Gianmario Deriu, who’s photos appear to have been taken at the firm’s Pomigliano d’Arco assembly plant in Italy – the same facility where the 147 is built.
The new car appears to blend the design languages of the Mito and the 8C Competizione supercar. Large, swept-back headlamps and the signature Alfa Romeo grille dominate the nose, while the brake light clusters appear to be a halfway point between the horizontal affairs on the 147 and the Mito’s bold, circular lights.
Much like the larger 159, this model hides its five-door silhouette by integrating rear door handles into the C-pillars. At 4,3 metres in length, the 149/Milano is not that much smaller than the 159 and will only be available in a five-door configuration – the company’s three-door offerings will be consigned to the Mito.
Two schools of thought exist regarding the new model’s underpinnings; some sources claim that a revised version of the Fiat Bravo platform will underpin 149/Milano, while another points to the company’s new C-evo light car platform (also set to underpin the upcoming 159 replacement, which could wear the Guilia name).
A range of turbocharged petrol engines are believed to be earmarked for this model with outputs ranging from 90 kW right up to nearly 200 kW in the V6 engined GTA version. Like the Mito, this model will feature a six-speed manual gearbox as standard and will offer an automatic as an optional alternative. There’s also a chance that a dynamic damper system similar to that of the Mito could make its way across to this model.
Given the fact that production of this car looks to be well under way, it’s fair to say that a Frankfurt debut this September could well be on the cards.