Refreshed Alfa MiTo QV hatches in dealerships

ALFA ROMEO’S refreshed MiTo line-up – launched in Australia in January – has finally been joined by the range-topping Quadrifoglio Verde warm hatch at $30,500 plus on-road costs, a rise of $500 on the superseded model.

The 135kW 1.4-litre turbo-charged engine and six-speed manual gearbox carry over in a minimal makeover.

Most of the refinements are confined to the interior where the old media unit with its tiny display has been replaced with a five-inch touch screen and Chrysler’s UConnect multimedia system with Bluetooth, text message reading, voice controls, USB port and audio streaming.

The MiTo QV also gets a flat-bottomed leather-clad steering wheel with white stitching. The front sports seats are trimmed in new Quadrifoglio Verde fabric with white and green stitching.

As well, the MiTo gets a Competizione carbon-look dashboard, special floor mats, aluminium tread plates with QV logos and black leather-wrapped handbrake with white stitching.

Outside, minor styling enhancements include a metal frame to the lower grille.

The MiTo QV sits on 18-inch alloy wheels that reveal the red callipers of its Brembo brakes.

Chrome-plated dual exhaust tips peek from the rear, while four-leaf clover Quadrifoglio Verde badges are mounted on the front mudguards.

The revised MiTo QV retains the 1.4-litre MultiAir turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine that has been in the car since launch. Power is the same at 135kW, so too is the 250Nm of torque at 2500rpm.

Compared with other variants in the range, the QV’s output is a sizeable step up. The base model MiTo Twin Air has a 77kW/145Nm 1.0-litre two-cylinder turbo-petrol powerplant, and both the Progression variant and higher Distinctive are powered by a 99kW/230Nm version of the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine.

The MiTo QV’s 0-100km/h time of 7.5 seconds remains the same, too, but that’s still brisker than the 8.2 seconds dash from the Progression and Distinctive variants with a five-speed manual.

As with the previous car the MiTo QV does not get the TCT dual-clutch transmission, and is available only with a six-speed manual gearbox. Fuel consumption remains the same at 6.0-litres per 100km.

As with all MiTo variants, the QV comes with Alfa Romeo’s DNA system which allows the driver to switch between three modes –the sporty Dynamic, the comfortable Natural and All-Weather setting for better traction.

The new price is $500 more than the outgoing model, but keep in mind that the QV launch price in 2010 was $34,990, and then revised to $30,000 in early 2013.

The Mito QV is on sale now and sits at the top of range which starts at $22,500 for the TwinAir base model.

2014 Alfa Romeo MiTo pricing*

TwinAir	$22,500
Progression	$24,500
Progression (a)	$26,500
Distinctive (a)	$28,000
Quadrifoglio Verde	$30,500

*Excludes on-road costs.