RE: Mito GTA
Monday 23rd February 2009

Mito GTA

240bhp Alfa concept ready for Geneva



Alfa Romeo has confirmed the much-heralded GTA version of its ‘mini’ MiTo will pack a mighty punch – 240bhp in a sporty-looking set-up that’s been significantly massaged to optimise the power-to-weight ratio.

According to information released today, the MiTo GTA due to be presented next week at the Geneva show in ‘concept’ form, will boast a 1.8 litre engine with direct injection, dual variable valve timing, state-of-the-art turbocharging and advanced electronic management. The new petrol engine has been developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies, and Alfa says it exploits the experience gained in the production of Twin Spark and Alfa V6 road and race engines.

Its claimed output of 240bhp should be enough to put the frighteners on the Mini John Cooper Works, especially with a predicted price advantage of £2000 when the production MiTo GTA hits showrooms later this year.

The GTA’s signature acronym stands for Gran Turismo Alleggerito - or lightweight grand tourer – and Alfa’s new pocket rocket boasts a number of weight-saving initiatives. These include the use of carbon fibre roof and tailgate spoilers, as well as mirror housings, but perhaps more significantly aluminium has been used extensively in the braking system, suspension and parts of the chassis.

The entire car has been lowered 20mm, while new front suspension geometry employs aluminium leading arms and the rear suspension has all-new bushings. The chassis also features an active suspension system designed to counteract the transfer of load under acceleration, stiffening the rear end to maximise traction.

There are no performance claims as yet, but could Alfa’s new MiTo GTA be the car to finally kick the Mini Cooper off its performance pedestal? Who knows, but it looks as though it’s going to be fun finding out!

Author
Discussion

davidcharles

Original Poster:

400 posts

216 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all
nice...a proper fiesty, light hot hatch....looks cool as well....

Arnold Layne

53 posts

217 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all
Tut, tut, GTA stands for Gran Turismo Alleggerita...


gumball3K

65 posts

220 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all
'WOW'. Are there more pictures for the GTA?

Martin_Hx

4,014 posts

220 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all
davidcharles said:
nice...a proper fiesty, light hot hatch....looks cool as well....
Aye looks like Alfa have a winner there clap

adycav

7,615 posts

239 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all
What's not to like?

It's small, powerful, hopefully fairly light (for a modern car anyway) and it looks purposeful and distinctive.

This could be the perfect antidote to ballooning size and weight in the hot hatch sector.

The Donster

166 posts

227 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all
Not disputing the figures or how it will sound/drive, but that front end is awful. Looks like it's got a 'tache not too dissimilar to a small fictional Belgian detective's.....

funkyol

1,816 posts

241 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all
It looks like an iron:




Flat6

593 posts

277 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all
funkyol said:
It looks like an iron
hehe

lankyarcher

603 posts

211 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all
funkyol said:
It looks like an iron:



A 240bhp Iron....smile

Ha Ha!!

Lefty Guns

19,344 posts

224 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all
hehe

Are you saying it's a womans car?!

botz

8 posts

306 months

JonSpiderMan

162 posts

238 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all

Bizzle

544 posts

223 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all
Thank god for Alfa's horrific depreciation!
This should be a real bargain in about 12 month’s time when it's worth about a 3rd of its showroom price.

JonSpiderMan

162 posts

238 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all
Bizzle said:
Thank god for Alfa's horrific depreciation!
This should be a real bargain in about 12 month’s time when it's worth about a 3rd of its showroom price.
The new set of Alfa's (159 ,Spider, Brera) are holding their value a lot better, and the GTA's still command a 2-3K premium over a standard 156/147 so not sure that will be the case

jgt1972

118 posts

220 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all
Looks great...until a UK Registration plate is stuck on the front.

jamieboy

5,921 posts

251 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all
JonSpiderMan said:
The new set of Alfa's (159 ,Spider, Brera) are holding their value a lot better, and the GTA's still command a 2-3K premium over a standard 156/147 so not sure that will be the case
Sssshh - they rust, the electrics don't work, and they're worthless after six months. Don't you know anything about Alfas? hehe


I think this looks great, and sounds like it should be a hoot to drive. It was the interior that put me off the standard MiTo more than anything, if they've improved it for this then I think it'll be a great little car. smile

JonSpiderMan

162 posts

238 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all
jamieboy said:
JonSpiderMan said:
The new set of Alfa's (159 ,Spider, Brera) are holding their value a lot better, and the GTA's still command a 2-3K premium over a standard 156/147 so not sure that will be the case
Sssshh - they rust, the electrics don't work, and they're worthless after six months. Don't you know anything about Alfas? hehe


I think this looks great, and sounds like it should be a hoot to drive. It was the interior that put me off the standard MiTo more than anything, if they've improved it for this then I think it'll be a great little car. smile
Good point forgot to mention the terrible dealers as well hehe

I've test driven the mito 1.4 turbo (155 bhp) and it was very good to drive.. just hope Alfa sort a mechanical Q2 diff on it or make sure the other driving aids don't spoil the electronic Q2

Edited by JonSpiderMan on Monday 23 February 13:11

ehyouwhat

4,606 posts

240 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all
A friend of my missus recently placed an order for a Mito. 155bhp with a stack of toys apparently. That'll be twenty thousand quid please!

I'll have to try and blag a go when it comes, see if a car that small can possibly be worth that much.

jamieboy

5,921 posts

251 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all
ehyouwhat said:
A friend of my missus recently placed an order for a Mito. 155bhp with a stack of toys apparently. That'll be twenty thousand quid please!

I'll have to try and blag a go when it comes, see if a car that small can possibly be worth that much.
You mean "see what £6000-worth of options looks like". smile

JonSpiderMan

162 posts

238 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
quotequote all
ehyouwhat said:
A friend of my missus recently placed an order for a Mito. 155bhp with a stack of toys apparently. That'll be twenty thousand quid please!

I'll have to try and blag a go when it comes, see if a car that small can possibly be worth that much.
She must have ticked the entire options list for that!

I think the Mito 155 Veloce Spec weighs in at about 14,750ish so she must have put 5k's worth of options on it at least.

doh just seen jamieboys post