Alfa Romeo has come a long way since the unveiling of the Stelvio back in 2016. The premium mid-size crossover was their first high-riding vehicle, taking a swing at models such as the Porsche Macan, BMW X3, Mercedes GLC, and Audi Q5.
Since then, the Italian marque's crossover portfolio has grown to include another model: the Tonale. Also marketed as the Dodge Hornet stateside, the premium subcompact model utilizes the same platform as the Jeep Compass, unlike the larger Stelvio that's based on the same construction as the Grand Cherokee, Maserati Grecale, and its sports sedan sibling, the Giulia.
With crossovers being more popular than ever, Alfa Romeo has another one in the making. Christened the Milano after the Italian city where the automaker was founded back in 1910 (current headquarters in Turin), it will be the indirect successor to the MiTo supermini and will represent the company's venture into the world of electric vehicles. But it won't be a pure EV proposal, as it will also launch with internal combustion power.
Speculative Looks of Alfa's Baby SUV
Why speculative? There's nothing to work with yet, as the Italian auto firm is keeping the design traits a secret, even though it won’t be long until it premieres. Nevertheless, it should have a familiar styling with different cues borrowed from existing models and modified to give it a distinctive look. As a result, we can expect a new interpretation of the signature grille decorated by the OEM logo, with a pair of slim LED headlights flanking it.
Photo: Screenshot Youtube | Car Review Channel
The back end should be reminiscent of the larger Tonale and Stelvio up to a point, and we can also expect the Milano to ride on familiar wheels. Elsewhere, it is pure speculation, like in the renderings released by CarReviewChannel on YouTube recently. These AI-generated images portray the model with unrealistic styling, giving it broad shoulders, wide front wheel arches, hidden door handles, sporty front and rear bumpers, aggressive tailpipe trim, ultra-slim taillights, and the usual plastic cladding on the lower parts of the body.
Again, you may want to take these unofficial renderings with a large pinch of salt, as there is nothing to suggest that the vehicle will look anywhere similar. On the other hand, it is an interesting design exercise that lets our imagination run loose, and we hope the brand's design team responsible for sketching it out will see them and make some last-minute adjustments. After all, we think those slim taillamps look great, and the muscular wheel arches should find their way to the final product, too.
Familiar Underpinnings and a Broad Range of Powertrains
Alfa Romeo's upcoming Milano will utilize the CMP/eCMP platform, which will make it compatible with internal combustion units, mild-hybrid, and electric powertrains. That's no surprise, given that the small crossover has been confirmed to feature pure EV power, which will likely be the highlight of the series in terms of performance. The reason is the alleged dual-motor variants with electric all-wheel drive said to be in the making. These will be reserved for the top specs, whereas lesser versions should feature single-motor assemblies powering the front wheels.
It's been reported that at least one flavor of the car will have a 239-mile (385 km) range, a number on par with the Jeep Avenger's WLTP autonomy. The latter, alongside the Fiat 600e, comes with a single-motor generator generating 154 hp (156 ps/115 kW) fed by a 54 kWh battery pack. Thus, it would be logical for the lesser EV versions of the Milano to pack this assembly, yet it remains to be seen whether it will be equally punchy or if Alfa Romeo decides to up the ante with a bit more power, perhaps at the expense of some electric miles, as a punchier motor would leave its toll on the autonomy.
Photo: Screenshot Youtube | Car Review Channel
Complementing the EV lineup will be at least one gasoline unit. In all likelihood, it will be a 1.2-liter turbo with mild-hybrid assistance, perhaps sourced from the Jeep Avenger and Fiat 600. Chances are Alfa Romeo won't invest in additional powertrains fed by dead dinosaurs when it comes to the Milano, as all ICE units will be dropped by 2027. That is when the automaker will become an EV-only brand, building on the success of this small crossover and additional models that are in the pipeline, including a flagship high-rider that will allow it to venture into a new class.
When Is It Due?
Not long from now. In fact, Alfa Romeo themselves have confirmed that the official unveiling will take place in April 2024. The model will be presented as part of an internal event that will be hosted in Milan, Italy. Subsequently, the first copies will start hitting the market in Europe in September, and these will likely be the EV variants. As for the mild-hybrid model, it is expected to join the lineup before the end of 2024.
Will we see it in the United States? Only time will tell if Alfa Romeo plans to bring it to the New World. However, we think it will apply for a US visa, given that both its larger siblings, the Tonale, and the Stelvio, as well as the Tonale-rebadged Dodge Hornet, are on sale in our market. It is possible that we will see the Milano at dealers nationwide for the 2025 model year, though that's our two cents on the matter. So, are you excited about Alfa's new baby crossover?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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