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Alfa Romeo has confirmed that its new small SUV will be called the Milano \u2013 and that it will be revealed in April 2024, before arriving at dealerships in September.<\/p>\n
The sister car to the Jeep Avenger, the Alfa Romeo Milano will be a 4.2-metre-long baby crossover based on parent group Stellantis\u2019s e-CMP architecture. We\u2019ve already had a sneak peek at the car\u2019s styling, courtesy of some leaked pictures. The new model will be built at the same factory in Poland as the Jeep, and will share that car\u2019s batteries and motors. But it will have a sharper focus on handling agility, according to Alfa boss Jean-Philippe Imparato.<\/p>\n
Confirming the name, last used by Alfa Romeo on US-market versions of the 75 saloon back in the late eighties, Imparato said he was glad to end speculation suggesting the car would be called Brennero or even Junior. He believes the Milano will give Alfa renewed appeal with buyers of its recent lower-end models, such as the Mito and Giulietta.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMilano will be an answer to those people who have those cars,\u201d Imparato told us. \u201cWe know that they have been expecting something from Alfa Romeo that fits their expectations for the next step. Alfa Romeo has always been about beauty for all, and this means that, at some point in time, you have to face the customer who wants a car that is premium but more accessible to them. This is the signal we want to send with Milano.\u201d<\/p>\n
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When asked directly how the Milano would feel different from the Avenger and Fiat\u2019s 600, another sister model, Imparato replied: \u201cThe answer to that will come on the test track at Balocco. This car follows the platform strategy of the [Stellantis] group, of course. I\u2019m glad for that, because it brings me profits. But always with a touch of Alfa Romeo. When [Stellantis group boss] Carlos Tavares asks me what I want Alfa to be a champion of, I always reply: \u2018Handling.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
The Milano will be available globally as a pure EV, and a mild-hybrid petrol \u2013 the same 1.2-litre three-cylinder configuration as the 600 and Avenger. But Imparato said that as it stands, it is destined to come to the UK in electric form only \u2013 presumably because of our Zero Emissions Vehicle mandate\u2019s requirement for a minimum percentage of each brand\u2019s cars to be EVs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSince the beginning this car is full electric and hybrid for all the countries except the UK, where we will be only electric,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a question of compliance in the United Kingdom; it\u2019s what you want as a market.\u201d<\/p>\n
This was also the original stated policy for the Avenger, however, and Jeep has since announced that British buyers will be offered petrol-based versions from 2024. Tellingly, Imparato added, \u201cWe are totally ready to feed the expectations of the UK with a hybrid version \u2013 no problem. I\u2019m ready to switch, depending on the requests of the British market.\u201d<\/p>\n
Imparato also revealed that the EV will be launched with four-wheel drive only. This means that Alfa and Jeep now both plan to launch e-CMP-based vehicles with two driven axles (a new feature for the platform) within the next 12 months. Imparato described the launch spec of the Milano as \u201cperfo\u201d, for performance, and said the car would appear initially with Veloce and Special Edition trim levels.<\/p>\n
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Alfa\u2019s boss declined to issue sales projections, or specify pricing, but he cited both the MINI Countryman and Volvo\u2019s EX30 as potential rivals for the car. \u201cThis is the playground for Alfa Romeo,\u201d he said, \u201cin terms of pricing\u201d. Given the four-wheel-drive launch powertrain, that would give the Milano a possible starting figure of just under \u00a340,000 \u2013 a little higher than that of the Avenger.<\/p>\n
The Alfa boss also refused to rule out the possibility of a high-performance Quadrifoglio version of the Milano in the longer term. \u201cWe have a launch version of Milano,\u201d he said, \u201cand afterwards, based on customer feedback, based on what they are ready to pay, we will open the next step in Quadrifoglio compatibility of the car. We want first to test the acceptance and the level of target price and monthly instalments.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Alfa currently has a plan to launch a new model every calendar year until 2026, meaning the Milano will be followed by two further vehicles, using Stellantis\u2019s new STLA architecture.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At least one of these cars is expected to be a flagship SUV, but Imparato said, \u201cI do not give up on the sedan [saloon] side, despite the fact that this segment is suffering. When you speak about electrification, you speak about aero, you speak about sedans. That\u2019s a conviction for me; this silhouette will come back. I don\u2019t want to become a purely SUV brand.\u201d<\/p>\n