Alfa Romeo Milano 147 Rendered

I'm taking everything about Alfa Romeo and Fiat a lot more serious now that the company is purchasing Chrysler. I love Alfa Romeo's new styling language (who doesn't though?). It's simply amazing, and much different then the style Alfa Romeo had been pursuing prior to the 8C Competizione.

The new look is spreading across the lineup and the next car to get the treatment looks like the replacement for the 147, called the Milano. Alfa Romeo is ditching the numerical designations for real names on all their next-generation vehicles. I think it's a good call!

Definitely one handsome hatchback! Unmistakably Italian too. Sources at CAR stressed it was wide and low-slung; much different then the MiTo hatchback. Regardless, the new Alfa Romeo style seems to wear well on anything. We'll see though how it works out as it spreads across the entire line.

The company is mulling whether or not to launch the car at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto show or Geneva 2009. To me I think it makes the most sense to introduce as quickly as possible.  Why have a completed design ready to go and not put it into production? Some have said they could save money on tooling that way but I think it's lost revenue.

The Milano 147 is the first vehicle to be based on Fiat's all-new, global mid-size C-Evo platform architecture. The platform will also underpin the new Alfa Romeo 149 Giulia and possible future Chrysler vehicles like the next-generation Sebring. I sure hope we get these cars as is over here in the America! With the Fiat 500 making it's way over in 18 months, I think we're off to a good start.