Alfa Romeo goes fully electric with new MILANO SUV

Just 5 years ago, Alfa Romeo’s future seemed dim under FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) which planned to scale back funding to develop new products, and reduce its global reach and overlap with other brands. However, after merging with the PSA Group to form Stellantis in 2021, the Italian brand’s future has been more assured with a product plan for the rest of the decade and beyond.

This plan will see the brand going 100% electric by 2027, with at least one new model each year in the coming years. Alfa Romeo will be visible in the B,C,D and possibly E (after 2030) segments as a sporty and premium brand.

The new models will use either the e-CMP 2^nd generation or STLA multi-energy platforms.

Bringing back the brand to the B-segment which had the Mito as its representative a while back will be the new MILANO, which was unveiled yesterday at the historic headquarters of the 120-year old  Automobile Club Milano in Italy.

Named after Alfa Romeo’s birthplace
‘MILANO’ is of significance as Milan was where the company was established. The city’s name was present on the Alfa Romeo badge between 1910 and 1971, along with the cross – the historical symbol of the capital of Lombardy – and the Biscione serpent, the coat of arms of the noble Visconti family and one of the city’s most iconic emblems.

‘Inclusive’ design language
With its new design language, the MILANO is ‘inclusive’ and has the mission to win over a new generation of Alfisti fans, apart from enthusiasts for the Giulietta and Mito. Alfa Romeo’s designers have modeled the 4.17-metre long form with stylistic features relating to tradition as well as modern ‘Made in Italy’ design.

Besides the legendary shield, giving the MILANO a strong identity is the bold front end, with ‘3+3’ and adaptive Full LED Matrix headlights. The panel surfacing also creates rich and harmonious reflections through distinct volumetric contrasts. At the rear is the iconic ‘truncated tail’, a reference to the Giulia TZ sportscar of the 1960s.

e-CMP2 platform, not STLA
For the MILANO, instead of the Stellantis Group’s STLA platform, Alfa Romeo is using the electric version of the Common Modular Platform (CMP) that was jointly developed by PSA Peugeot and Dongfeng. The e-CMP (now in its second generation) already serves as the platform for the Jeep Avenger, Peugeot e-2008, Fiat 600e and Lancia Ypsilon.

As the MILANO uses the e-CMP2 platform, it would make sense to build the SUV at the Stellantis factory in Poland (formerly a Fiat factory) where the 600e and Avenger are also being built. Alfa Romeo isn’t happy, of course, but Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has justified it by saying that the cost will be lower than if it was made in Italy.

Two electrified powertrains
The MILANO will be offered with two electrified powertrains – hybrid (not plug-in) and fully electric. For the fully electric version, the powertrain uses an electric motor powered by a latest-generation battery with 156 or 240 ps output.

The 54-kWh battery pack has high energy density. Depending on the test cycle used, the range (with the 156 ps version) can be up to 410 kms, or 590 kms in the urban cycle. Recharging at 100-kW DC fast charging stations should take less than 30 minutes from 10 to 80%, it is claimed.

As for the hybrid version, this will be available with front-wheel drive or Q4 all-wheel drive, a first in the premium segment. The combustion engine part of the hybrid system is a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder Miller cycle petrol engine with variable-geometry turbocharger while the 21-kW electric motor is powered by a 48V lithium-ion battery pack. A 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox works together with the inverter and transmission control unit to ensure maximum efficiency. Alfa Romeo says that the MILANO will be able to move around the city in only electric mode more than 50% of the time.

The MILANO can also include the Alfa D.N.A. system. This gives the driver a choice of different performance characteristics – Dynamic, Natural and Advanced . With the Q4 hybrid version only, a fourth mode with automated rear axle drive management is available for low-grip conditions.

EV but still an Alfa Romeo
The MILANO brings Alfa Romeo into the electric era without sacrificing what Alfa Romeo has always provided in driving dynamics. To ensure this, the team that coordinated the development of the driving dynamics is the same one that developed the Giulia GTA. Their brief was clear: the new SUV must offer best-in-class roadholding with a pure, recognizably Alfa Romeo sportiness.

This has been made possible by specific technical solutions. In the high-performance VELOCE version, for example, the sports suspension has been lowered by 25 mm; the front and rear anti-roll bars are extra sporty to guarantee quick cornering with a high level of grip; while the braking system has front discs of over 380 mm with 4-piston monobloc calipers.

The Torsen differential offers the best possible traction in all conditions, along with the high-performance 20-inch tyres specifically developed for EVs.

Pure sportiness within
Aiming to change the concept of sportiness in the largest segment in Europe, the MILANO has an interior with pure sportiness. All the controls are within the driver’s reach on the compact steering wheel, as well as on either side. The instrument panel and its historical ‘telescope’ design creates a direct visual connection for the driver with the car.

In the middle of the cluster, there’s a fully digital 10.25-inch TFT screen which has all the information about the car’s operations, from which the driving technologies can be managed.

To further embellish the interior, the air conditioning vents are in the shape of a quadrifoglio (four-leaf clover), the symbol par excellence of Alfa Romeo sportiness.

Finally, to catch the eye and welcome the driver, Sabelt sports seats with an enveloping backrest are fitted. These combine high mechanical resistance, perfect ergonomics and structural lightness.

Despite its compact size, the MILANO lays claim to having the largest boot volume in class (fully electric vehicles)  – up to 400 litres. On the electric version, there is s the convenient ‘Alfa Romeo cable organizer’ storage compartment located under the bonnet to keep the charging cable.

For motoring convenience, there is a series of driver assistance features to help with the longitudinal and lateral control of the vehicle (level 2 autonomous driving). Together with the 360° parking sensors, the 180° rear camera monitors the surrounding area, for an innovative and practical semi-autonomous parking system.

Candidate for Malaysian market?
The late Sergio Marchionne, CEO of the Fiat Group and later FCA, didn’t see much need to have righthand drive variants of cars, so the products available for markets like Malaysia stagnated. Stellantis appears to have a more global view and is willing to cater for all markets to achieve higher volumes.

So it won’t be out of the question that we could see the MILANO on Malaysian roads one day. The chances are better than in the past since Stellantis has its own company managing the business here, and a stronger case can be made than by just an importer partner.

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