Alfa Romeo Milano uncovered

[NSXType-R]

But this is not a hot hatchback. It's a normal hatchback, and it'll have several engine options.

Sorry, I put the "hot" back in.

Replied too quickly.

I mean, VW could have brought the Scirroco here- they decided against that for a reason.

[fisetdavid26]

Sorry, I put the "hot" back in.

Replied too quickly.

I mean, VW could have brought the Scirroco here- they decided against that for a reason.

But I want a Scirocco... I'd probably even mate with it.

Erm.

Maybe not.

But stil... it's awesome.

[Ferrer]

Sorry, I put the "hot" back in.

Replied too quickly.

I mean, VW could have brought the Scirroco here- they decided against that for a reason.

Because they already have the Golf GTI and they fear it might cannibalise sales.

America is indeed allergic to hatchabacks, but some have had quite a success.

[digitalcraft]

Maybe its just my backwards American sentiments, but that thing is _FUGLY_.

I'm a fan of hatches too (mazda3, new WRX, Ford Fiesta, etc), but the front end of that thing is just unacceptably ugly.

[NSXType-R]

But I want a Scirocco... I'd probably even mate with it.

Erm.

Maybe not.

But stil... it's awesome.

I dunno. Not really a big VW fan. Still looks nice though. I'd take it over a GTI just because it is what it is. And I don't see much differentiating it anyway.

Because they already have the Golf GTI and they fear it might cannibalise sales.

America is indeed allergic to hatchabacks, but some have had quite a success.

Yeah, obviously so. But which hatchbacks are you referring to that are recent and have had success?

The only one I can think of is the Scion tC. That truly is a hatchback.

The old Mazda 6, maybe. It was available as a hatch, sedan and wagon.

And that's about it.

[digitalcraft]

I dunno. Not really a big VW fan. Still looks nice though. I'd take it over a GTI just because it is what it is. And I don't see much differentiating it anyway.



Yeah, obviously so. But which hatchbacks are you referring to that are recent and have had success?

The only one I can think of is the Scion tC. That truly is a hatchback.

The old Mazda 6, maybe. It was available as a hatch, sedan and wagon.

And that's about it.

Very successful:


Probably going to be very successful:


Has been one of the best selling ford cars (not truck):


Then there's the immensely successful honda civic, and the toyota corolla which also comes in a hatch. The Toyota matrix is very successful, you see those _everywhere_. It's a 4-door hatch design.


Despite the common lore, hatches do very well in the U.S. Its just that so do behemoth SUVs and barges.

[Ferrer]

The Mini has also done quite well in the US, hasn't it?

[NicFromLA]

The Mini has also done quite well in the US, hasn't it?

Someone from BMW told me that Mini's success in the US has surpassed BMW's wildest dreams.

I like this car. However, if I was FIAT/Alfa-Romeo, I'd start with the 500 in the US and work my way up. I think with the economy the way it is the 500 could be a huge hit.

[NSXType-R]

Maybe its just my backwards American sentiments, but that thing is _FUGLY_.

I'm a fan of hatches too (mazda3, new WRX, Ford Fiesta, etc), but the front end of that thing is just unacceptably ugly.

Wow, I forgot all about those. Thanks for bringing them up.

Honda doesn't have a Civic hatch anymore, it's more like the Fit now.

Toyota only has the Matrix.

But spot on on the others.

The Mini has also done quite well in the US, hasn't it?

Probably. I don't have numbers though.

But yeah, notice a trend? Most of those hatches are Japanese. The Magnum is dead. The PT Cruiser is probably dead. Chevy HHR, maybe?

A nice way to get around those Cafe Standards and still have the cargo capacity of a SUV is to have wagons and hatchbacks. We're too busy building crossovers to build them. The carmakers are out of touch again...

[cargirl1990]

it doesn't look half bad. i like it but i not sure what class its supposed to be in and compete with. i a huge fan of those hot hatches though!!!

[Roentgen]

Someone mated a 147 with a MiTo. Then thought the back of Renault's Vel Satis looks great, so stuck that on as well. But then forgot to change the round lights of the MiTo, so the rear lights are like a hybrid between a Vel Satis and a MiTo.

The side does look like a Subaru Imprezza.

[f6fhellcat13]

I think the proportions are much more successful than the MiTo's.
Though, the back end is a bit frumpy. As for hatches, if the hatchiness is disguised, even a little bit, they tend to be much more successful. (Pontiac Aztek excluded, of course.)

[wwgkd]

I'm not the biggest VW fan either, but I like the scirrocco almost as much as fiset.

This alfa isn't bad, but there's other hatches I'd rather have (mini, mazda 3 and scirrocco.)

[LTSmash]

This isn't so bad. It does look very Subaru WRX-esque from the side. I just like how the 3/4 shot looks very smooth and not so harsh compared to other hatches.

As far as being a success in the US... I can't imagine. Most people here probably wouldn't know what the hell an Alfa is. Americans only know Audi, BMW, and Merc. Everything else is a 'Pew-got' or a 'Ren-alt'.

[4wheelsonline]

Spy Shots: Alfa Romeo Milano fresh off production line... still headed for America?

Discuss.

Just a neat car. Only some minor improvements where made?