Alfa Romeo Shows Concept Designer Bags Inspired by MiTo

In what could be seen by many as further proof that Alfa Romeo is steadily losing sight of its core values (whatever is left of them, that is...), the firm's UK division unveiled two concept designer bags for its MiTo subcompact as part of the company’s centenary year celebrations and to help support young British fashion talent. We might be wrong, but we think it would have been more appropriate for the Italian firm to show its support to young British car designers...

In any case, for the creation of the bags, Alfa Romeo UK held a special competition for students from the MA Fashion course at Central Saint Martins College, London. A total of 15 graduates submitted sketches inspired by the MiTo for initial consideration, but only two made the cut.

"After being critiqued and judged by some of the leading faces in British fashion, the bags created by CSM students William Hendry and Tamara Elliot were chosen for the limited run," said Alfa Romeo UK in a statement.

According to the Italian firm, the two bags are prototype designs for Alfa Romeo UK, which is now looking to produce a limited range of both in the near future.

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Alfa Romeo at the Paris Show: New Engine Options for Giulietta and Pretty Much Nothing Else

Unless Alfa Romeo has a very big surprise up its sleeves (which we certainly hope so given that the brand is celebrating its 100th birthday this year...), the only new models capable of capturing our attention at the Milanese firm's Paris Motor Show booth will be the usual 'female fatales' standing alongside their automobiles.

According to the company's press release, "the stars" of the Alfa Romeo stand will be the brand-new 140 HP 2.0 JTDM and the 170 HP 1.4 MultiAir turbo petrol with "Alfa TCT" automatic transmission versions of the Giulietta.

When equipped with the new 140-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo diesel, the Giulietta hatchback returns an average fuel consumption of just 4.5lt/10km (equal to 52.3mpg US) with corresponding CO2 emissions of 119g/km.

The second new product for the Giulietta range is the introduction of a dry twin clutch automatic transmission (TCT) combined with the 170 HP 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. The same transmission will also be offered with Alfa's 170HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel.

The brand-new Alfa TCT, which was first shown on the Mito supermini, is combined with start/stop tech that helps reduce CO2 emissions to 121g/km on the gasoline model.

On an even far less interesting note, Alfa Romeo will also show a couple of MiTo sport hatches and the 2011MY versions of the 159 sedan and Sportwagon (unveiled back in May), including one dressed in "Rosso Competizione" livery and equipped with the new 136-horsepower variant of the 2.0-liter JTDM diesel engine (Euro 5).

Alfa Romeo MiTo Turismo Sport Edition Joins UK Lineup

A new trim level has been added to the UK range of the Alfa Romeo MiTo hatch. Named the Turismo Sport, this edition is all/just about colors and extra content. On top of the standard equipment found in the MiTo Turismo, the Sport edition adds new 16-icnh alloy wheels, a roof spoiler, cruise control, Blue & Me technology, fog lights and a leather steering wheel with audio and phone controls.

The MiTo Turismo Sport is available in a choice of three colors, Solid Black (as standard), Biancospino White or the new Alfa Metallic Red, and two engines, a 1.4-liter gasoline unit with 95-horsepower and a frugal 1.3-liter JTDM diesel with 95HP that accelerates the Italian hatch from 0-62mph (100km/h) in 11.6 seconds while returning 65.7mpg UK on the combined cycle.

The MiTo Turismo Sport 1.4 16V 95bhp petrol is available in the UK from £12,895 OTR, while the diesel model is priced at £14,410.

Aussie Cops get Alfa Romeo MiTo Police Car

We won't go as far as calling it an interceptor, but Sydney's Rose Bay Police is the latest law enforcement force in Australia to get an Alfa Romeo police car. The MiTo is the most recent in a series of cars provided by the Italian automaker to police forces around Australia.

Despite Alfa's [marketing] sporty claims though, the MiTo is obviously not the best option to patrol the highways of a country that still takes pride in big V8 cars. That said, it comes to no surprise that the Rose Bay police officers will use the car for the most part to help them connect with local communities.

"Despite being marked up as a police vehicle, we don't use the MiTo for normal police work, it is used for community policing, it's a great way of building rapport in the community and certainly helps us get out our safe driving messages," said Chief Superintendent Bradley Shepherd.

"The MiTo frees up normal police cars so they can be out on the roads, not only helping to save lives but also helping to fight crime and build relationships with local businesses and community groups," Shepherd added.

Iconic Alfa Romeo 158 F1 Racer Meets MiTo QV

Alfa Romeo appears to be on a celebration spree this year. Aside from the year-long festivities to commemorate the firm's 100th birthday, the Italian automaker is now celebrating the 60th anniversary of its historic 1-2-3 finish at the first ever F1 European Championship race, which was held at Silverstone motor racing circuit sixty years ago this week (13th May).

To celebrate, the company photographed one of the rare 158s which competed in this historic race alongside the latest Alfa to bear the motorsport inspired Cloverleaf badge, the MiTo QV sport hatch.

The company said that the image of the 158 and the MiTo will join others from owners past and present at the dedicated site "alfacentenary.co.uk" in a "visual celebration" of Alfa's 100th anniversary.

And a little bit of history on the 158. The F1 racer's name was derived from its engine -"15" for the displacement of 1.5-liters and "8" for 8-cylinders. It made its racing debut in 1937 but because of the war, it spent several years dismantled and hidden in various places including, legend has it, an Italian cheese factory.

After the war, the 158 returned to the racing track managing to secure victory in every Formula One race in which it competed during the inaugural 1950 session. All in all, the Alfa 158 and its derivative, the 159, dominated the Formula One calendar over the next few years, with 47 wins from 54 Grand Prix entered.

New Multijet II Turbo Diesel for Alfa Romeo MiTo

Alfa Romeo is ushering in the next generation of its diesel technology to the MiTo range in the UK with the introduction of the MultiJet II engine. Developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FPT), the 1.3-liter JTDM II diesel comes with Start&Stop tech and a Diesel Particulate Filter. It develops an output of 95bhp at 4,000 rpm and 200Nm of peak torque at 1,500 rpm.

Hooked up to a five-speed manual gearbox, the new diesel unit gives the Italian hatchback a 0-62mph (100km/h) acceleration time of 11.6 seconds while returning 65.7mpg UK in the combined cycle (equal to 54.7 mpg US and 4.3 lt/100km) and emitting just 112g/km of CO2.

The 1.3-liter JTDM II is available with three trim levels - Turismo, Lusso and Veloce, with prices set at £13,995, £14,815 and £15,785 respectively.