Geneva debut for MiTo GTA

23rd January 2009

We thought the Marangoni MiTo M430 was as wild as Alfa Romeo’s new baby could get. But bosses in Italy have revealed that a high-performance MiTo GTA will debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March – and it’s targeting the MINI JCW.

While the car the newcomer replaces – the 147 GTA – was powered by a thirsty 3.2-litre V6, the MiTo gets a 1.8-litre turbo. This will deliver 240bhp – that’s 32bhp up on the hot MINI, plus 20bhp more than the 1.4-litre M430 (driven in Issue 1,046).

Yet despite all that shove, Alfa has resisted fitting four-wheel drive, as it wants to keep the weight down. Instead, the firm’s Q2 electronic differential will provide optimum traction. Elsewhere, carbon fibre and aluminium are used to shave off every last kilo, boosting the car’s pace and handling, while beefy arches and a bodykit add muscle. Prices start at £19,000.