At last Alfa Romeo has an automatic transmission for its funky Mito model – the six-speeder will arrive in Australia from the third quarter of this year.
At the same time, Alfa Romeo Australia will also launch a new, fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine – the 1.4-litre MultiAir with ‘Start&Stop’ technology and a gear-shift indicator light to encourage fuel-sipping driving.
“While the Alfa Romeo Mito has put in a solid performance for us in Australia since its launch last year, its lack of an automatic gearbox has held back sales,” explained Andrei Zaitzev, General Manager of Alfa Romeo Australia.
The new automatic is a high-tech twin clutch design with Stop& Start technology plus a ‘Hill Holder’ system. Developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies, the six-speeder is compact and light-weight – its dry clutch requires 4.8-litre less oil than a wet clutch configuration.
Mito’s new engine – the 1.4-litre MultiAir – provides the spirited performance characteristics demanded by Alfa Romeo buyers with improved fuel consumption and reduced emissions.
The newcomer zips from zero to 100km/h in 8.4 seconds but returns combined cycled fuel consumption of 4.5l/100kms and emissions of 129g/km. Alfa says MultiAir delivers 10 pr cent less fuel consumption, 10 per cent less CO2 and 60 per cent less NOx while improving power by 10 per cent and torque by 15 per cent.
“The heart of the MultiAir is a new electro-hydraulic valve management system that allows a reduction in fuel consumption (by controlling air directly via the engine intake valves, without using the throttle) and polluting emissions (via combustion control),” the company explained.
Alfa Romeo Australia will announce full local details and pricing closer to launch.
