Alfa Romeo Junior: meet the Italian brand's first electric car
The Alfa Romeo Milano has been revealed as the Italian marque’s first electric model, with the boldly-styled electric crossover joining as the spiritual successor to the Giulietta and Mito hatchbacks.
Joining the line-up as Alfa Romeo’s smallest SUV to date, the Milano has been created to “win over a new generation through a new Alfa Romeo design language.”
Indeed, the Milano is a highly important model for Alfa, which the brand hopes will bolster its sales figures as it repositions itself as an EV-only manufacturer.
Being part of automotive giant Stellantis means the Milano shares parts with the Citroën C4, Fiat 600 and Jeep Avenger. All models are underpinned by the sample eCMP electric architecture and use the same electric motors and batteries.
At 4170mm long, 1780mm wide and 1500mm tall, the Milano is similar in size to the Jeep Avenger, but adopts a significantly more aggressive and sporty exterior design inspired by the Italian brand’s previous models.
The cab-back Milano features muscular wheel arches, short overhangs and a ‘kamm tail’ inspired by the Alfa Romeo GiuliaTZ sports car of the 1960s. Alfa has also created a new grille design for its urban crossover, which features elements of the brand’s iconic logo.
The new urban crossover isn’t exclusively electric: you can have one with a mild-hybrid engine, but we’re focusing solely on the battery-powered version, which is called the Milano Elettrica.
The standard Milano Elettrica is fitted with a 154bhp front-mounted electric motor, and uses a 54kWh battery promising a range of up to 250 miles. Charging speeds peak at 100kW, which means a 10-80% charge takes just 30 minutes.
The range-topping Veloce model is a more driver-focused option that produces 237bhp and gets a limited-slip differential, borrowed from the inbound Abarth 600e.
The Veloce also gets a winded wheel track, specific front and rear anti-rolls bars, sports suspension and 20in wheels.
Alfa claims the warmed-up Veloce will offer “uncompromising driving pleasure with segment-leading dynamics” and the “most direct steering ratio in its class”.
The firm also says the Milano offers the lowest weight and optimal mass distribution, with the development of the car’s dynamics conducted by the same team that crafted the Giulia GTA at the firm's Balocco testing centre in Italy.
The sporty theme of the Milano is carried over inside. All models are fitted with the same 10.25 digital instrument cluster and 10.25in infotainment screen, which is orientated towards the driver.
The touchscreen infotainment display can be customised by the driver to suit their own preferences, with the system using widgets “designed for intuitive interaction”.
While most of the controls and functions are operated via the touchscreen, Alfa has fitted a number of smaller physical buttons underneath for the climate controls.
There are nods to the brand’s sporting philosophy inside, too, with the air conditioning vents designed to look like the quadrifoglio (four-leaf clover) badge.
The Milano is practical, offering up to 400 litres of boot space; that’s more than the Jeep Avenger and Fiat 600e. You also get a storage compartment in the front for the car’s charging cable.
From launch, a number of optional packs will be available: Technology, Premium and Sport.
Technology pack includes level 2 autonomous driving, a hands free electric tailgate, LED matrix headlight and virtual assistant. Move up to the Premium pack and you get additional comfort in the form of vinyl-fabric upholstery, a massaging driver’s seat and interior ambient lighting. Sports pack gets Sabelt seats, alcantara upholstery and a sportier exterior trim.
The Milano is available to order in Italy, but won’t be on sale in the UK until the summer. Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but it is likely that it will cost from around £34,000, which is similar to the Jeep Avenger.
