How it began

Remember the feeling you got when you fell in love? You had butterflies in your tummy and you smiled at life. You felt light on your feet and had a naughty twinkle in your eye. You heart beat faster and your lover could do no wrong. Your relationship was initially a coy one but quickly became fiery and full of passion. You were young, happy and driven by your passion… and this is how I feel about my Bella MiTo

Alfa Romeo as a brand is all about passion, flair and Italian style- the MiTo is no exception. It is unique in a world happy with just fitting in, special where others accept mediocrity. Flawed with character where some are bland in pursuit of perfection. This is an Alfa Romeo and I had an infatuated romance with a petite, young and sexy lady called MiTo, my Bella MiTo.

The Mito Update

It has been almost two years since I first drove the Alfa MiTo, and since then there has been some engine modifications, which I thought, noteworthy to discuss. The model I initially tested was the 1.4T that pushed out 114kW. Since then, two new options have been added and the 114kW motor dropped from the line-up. The first of the two is the entry-level 1.4T 100kW motor and the pocket-rocket Quadrifoglio Verde 1.4T producing 125kW. An Alfa first and MiTo initiated- “Start&Stop” system turns off the engine whenever the vehicle is stationary and idling in neutral, then restarts it automatically when the clutch is depressed. Start&Stop can be deactivated at will by the driver but, when active, achieves notable reductions in fuel consumption, emissions and noise pollution.

Performance and handling

She was designed for those who love to drive, easy to understand with light steering and precise gear selection. Six close gear ratios making for easy free revving of her

1.4T engine producing either 100kW or 125kW depending on the model your pocket is weighted for. Now don’t be fooled by the modestly of her cubic capacity. What is so remarkable about this technology, is its ability to produce the power of a 2.0l motor or larger when considering the 125kW version, but is far lighter. This translates into exhilarating performance and lower fuel consumption figures: genius! This technology is the wave of the future, with Audi, VW and Renault having a similar unit in production. Her suspension is tuned on the sporty side, taking bends, curves and corners as if she was on rails- all the time loyal to her driver and lovingly eager to please. She really is a driver’s car, never boring and making day-to-today driving real fun. In comparison to a Mini Cooper S, the MiTo is less go-cart like in its feel and more forgiving without a compromise in the handling department.

Getting her off her feet and into the stunning 17” alloy heels is as easy as turning the beautiful red key, stroking her pedals and her peppery vocal cords come alive.

Robot-to-robot dashes are great fun with most others seeing her sexy chrome twin tailpipes in the distance as a she sprints to 100km/h in approx. 8.5 seconds for the 100kw variant and 7.5 seconds for the Quadrifoglio.

Intelligent DNA

In today’s cluttered world of consumerism, individuals are looking to either fit in or stand out. Alfa is for those who like being unique and are proud to be bold. With successful brands looking to create a unique selling point in pursuit of differentiation, the MiTo’s is the DNA system. The first Alfa to be produced using this clever driving aid, it modulates the engine response, stability control, power steering and optional active suspension on the Quadrifoglio Verde version which is a first in its class. The Alfa DNA system acts on the engine, brakes, steering, suspension and gearbox, allowing three different vehicle behavior modes based on the driving style best suited to the situation or the customer’s wishes: passionate boosting torque (Dynamic); town driving (Normal); maximum safety even in low grip conditions like rain and snow (All weather). 


Inside her heart

Her interior is a feature, with leather seats as an option, making the cabin a super stylish place to be with charcoal piping on black body-hugging sports seats. There are interesting details all over her, from the solid chunky steering wheel, to the aluminum racer pedals and the outstanding Bose sound system. You can see that she was designed as a lefty and when they turned her into a right-handed pocket-rocket, some of the ergonomics stayed as originally designed on the left. She is fitted with all the mod cons, including dual climate control, cruise control, automated lighting and windscreen wiper control and information computer. Some of the items mentioned are optional on the entry-level ‘Progression’ and the full Monty ‘Quadrifoglio Verde’ is basically a full house affair.

Pricing

Priced between R243 650.00 to R289 650.00 (including VAT) and she is fairly priced and due to her unique qualities, has average monthly sales of around 30 units. So what does this say about those who choose to buy her? You are unique, stand out from the crowd and follow your heart but most importantly you live your life with passion and you never regret it.

Service plan and maintenance

You can drive her around knowing the MiTo has 30 000km service intervals and three year 100 000km Warranty (three years on paintwork and five years on rust anti-perforation) as well as a six year/90 000km service plan.

The new models are covered by the AA Fleetcare roadside assistance for three years. The service is active 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is available by calling the dedicated toll-free number 0800 223 727.

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