Small crossover, a sportier sibling of the Jeep Avenger, will be unveiled in April
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Alfa Romeo has named its new small SUV the Milano, as a tribute to its Italian hometown, and confirmed that it will reveal the car in April.
The Milano, which appeared for the first time in leaked images recently, will take Alfa Romeo back into the B-segment for the first time since in 2019, being aimed at long-time owners of the Mito supermini and Giulietta hatchback. It will also be the brand’s first electric car.
Alfa Romeo has confirmed that the Milano will be sold with pure-electric and mild-hybrid petrol powertrains, but only the EV is currently planned to come to UK showrooms.
In reference to widespread recent reports that the car would be called the Brennero, Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato told reporters: “As a matter of respect for our history, the SUV will not be named Brennero, as I have read on social media. I told you two years ago that it wouldn’t be Brennero.”
The name Milano – which Alfa used in the 1980s on the American-market version of the 75 saloon – was chosen to emphasise “the connection between the car and the roots of Alfa Romeo”, said Imparato.
Measuring around 4.1m long and 1.8m wide, the new Volvo EX30 rival will share its E-CMP platform with the Jeep Avenger, alongside which it will be built at the Stellantis factory in Tychy, Poland.
Powertrain details remain unconfirmed, but the electric Milano is set to use a 54kWh battery for a range of around 250 miles.
It will have four-wheel drive, confirmed Imparato, suggesting it will be the first E-CMP-based car to add a second electric motor on the rear axle.
Jeep has also confirmed a four-wheel-drive version of the Avenger, but while that will be conceived with an emphasis on off-road ability, Alfa will use a 4WD layout to produce distinctive and engaging handling characteristics, as per the brand’s dynamic remit.
Autocar asked Imparato how the company will ensure the new Milano will feel like a true Alfa, despite its volume-oriented positioning and shared underpinnings.
“The answer to that will be on the track in Balocco,” he said, referring to Alfa’s proving ground near Turin, where the SUV will be launched in June.
“You will drive it and you will have the answer to that question. This car follows the platform strategy of the group, and I’m very ple
