DESPITE UNCONFIRMED REPORTS to the contrary, the 2010 Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA is not dead. That, according to British car mag AutoExpress, is the word from an Alfa source.

Reports circulated last week that Alfa Romeo’s keenly awaited performance-focused hatch had been dropped from future production schedules.

The Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA, originally shown in concept form at the Geneva Motor Show in March, was expected to hit the roads producing 180kW from its 1.4 litre turbocharged engine, priced to compete with the MINI John Cooper Works.

“The MiTo GTA has been put on hold,” iMotor quoted an Alfa spokesperson as saying last week.

That now seems not to be the case.

At this point, it would seem one unconfirmed report is as good as the other, but Alfa and hot-hatch enthusiasts will doubtless be hoping that this latest news is accurate.

Click here to read TMR’s road test review of the Alfa Romeo MiTo and MiTo Sport.