Remember the rear-biased 75? Over in the United States market, Alfa Romeo advertised the compact executive sedan as the Milano. This nameplate will be revived on April 10 for a B-segment crossover, namely Alfa Romeo's first all-electric model.
The Milano's name was confirmed on December 14. Back then, Alfa Romeo said the following: "will also be available in a 100-percent electric version." That implies the availability of at least one internal combustion-engined version. Rather than the 2.0-liter turbo I4 of the Giulia and Stelvio, the internal combustion engine of the Milano is – most likely – the Groupe PSA PureTech 1.2-liter turbo I3.
Internally referred to as EB, the 1,199-cc engine is currently used in a number of Citroen and Peugeot models. This lump also powers the Jeep Avenger and Fiat 600, which are produced by Stellantis in Poland rather than the US and Italy. The Milano will be assembled in Poland as well, for it features the same platform as the Avenger and 600. Be it combustion only or mild hybrid, the 1.2-liter mill develops 101 ps (100 horsepower) and 205 Nm (151 pound-feet) of torque. The ICE-only version comes with a manual, whereas the mild hybrid features a dual-clutch box dubbed e-DCS6.
Regarding the Avenger EV and 600e, the numbers are 156 ps (154 horsepower) and 260 Nm (192 pound-feet). The front-mounted electric motor is connected to a 54-kWh battery with a usable capacity of 50.8 kWh. Jeep and Fiat advertise their B-segment EVs with top speeds of 150 kilometers per hour (93 miles per hour), 100 clicks in about 9 seconds, and 400-odd kilometers of driving range (make that almost 250 miles).
Don't expect anything remotely different from the Milano, although there's hearsay suggesting a dual-motor version. Based on leaked pictures of the Milano's digital instrument cluster, the hearsay appears to be on the money. The bad news is that a second electric motor means less driving range.
Photo: Alfa Romeo via CocheSpias
Currently undergoing final development testing at la pista di prova di Balocco, the Milano promises "best-in-class driving dynamics and handling." That's quite a tall order for something based on a platform developed by PSA and Chinese automaker Dongfeng, let alone for a front-biased crossover weighed down by a high-voltage battery. On the other hand, the development team is top-notch.
Alfa Romeo gave us three names: Stefano Cereda, Luigi Domenichelli, and Domenico Bagnasco. First and foremost, project head Stefano Cereda is credited with the likes of the Giorgio platform, the 2.2-liter turbo diesel of the Giulia and Stelvio, as well as the plug-in hybrid powertrain of the Tonale. Truth be told, the Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV is hardly different from the Jeep Compass 4xe.
Next up, Luigi Domenichelli serves as the head of technical development. His job is to integrate and validate the vehicle's subsystems. Domenico Bagnasco is charged with driving dynamics, meaning that his job is to ensure that the Milano handles better than all other B-segment crossovers. From the standpoint of driving dynamics, the closest competitors to the Milano would be the Ford Puma ST and the Hyundai Kona N.
Said team previously worked on high-profile projects such as the Giulia GTA and Giulia GTAm, the 4C mid-engine sports car, and the fabulous 8C. On an ending note, you can think of the Milano as the indirect successor to the rather pretty MiTo subcompact hatchback.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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