2024 Alfa Romeo Milano revealed as one of brand’s first electric, last new petrol cars

Alfa Romeo has unveiled its smallest car since the Mito city hatch left showrooms six years ago – the new 2024 Alfa Romeo Milano SUV, arriving in Australia in the second half of 2025 – with petrol or electric power and Peugeot underpinnings.

The Milano is Alfa Romeo's new smallest model, with a footprint similar to a Toyota Yaris Cross or Mazda CX-3 – slotting beneath the Tonale compact SUV, which is about 30cm longer nose to tail.

It is understood to be one of the last – if not the last – newly-unveiled Alfa Romeo vehicles with a petrol engine under its bonnet, as all new models shown by the company from next year will be electric-only.

Production of petrol-powered Alfa Romeo vehicles globally is due to end from 2027.

Meanwhile it is the second Alfa Romeo to be unveiled with the option of electric power – after the limited-run 33 Stradale supercar – though it is expected to be the first in showrooms, beating the 33 Stradale to production by a few months.

Australian showroom arrival timing is yet to be confirmed.

Named after Milan, where Alfa Romeo was founded in 1910, the new city SUV is the second use of the Milano name on one of the company's cars, the first being the North American name for the Alfa Romeo 75, a sedan sold in the 1980s and early 1990s.

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatch of 2010 was initially planned to be called the Milano, but was renamed three days before its unveiling – as the car maker was preparing to shut its last-remaining operations in Milan, and relocate 232 design staff to parent company Fiat's headquarters in Turin.

The decision was so late several European media outlets had already received advance photos of the new hatchback branded as the Milano – which were quickly replaced with new images with Giulietta logos.

Measuring 4170mm long, 1780mm wide and 1500mm tall, the Milano is 358mm shorter bumper to bumper, 55mm narrower and 101mm lower than the Alfa Romeo Tonale small SUV, and has a similar footprint to the Lexus LBX, the luxury version of the Toyota Yaris Cross city SUV.

It is underpinned by the 'CMP' platform of global car giant Stellantis – the merger of Fiat-Chrysler and Peugeot-Citroen – so it is closely related to the Jeep Avenger, Fiat 600e, Peugeot e-2008, Opel Mokka, and a slew of other small vehicles.

Two battery-powered 'Milano Elettrica' versions are available: a regular model with a 115kW electric motor, and a high-output 177kW 'Veloce' variant, both front-wheel drive and fed by a 54kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

Alfa Romeo claims up to 410km of claimed WLTP driving range for the 115kW version in mixed conditions – or 590km in the city alone – and a 10 to 80 per cent fast charge in less than 30 minutes at up to 100kW DC.

The petrol version – badged 'Ibrida' – uses a 100kW 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine aided by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system incorporating a 21kW electric motor, and matched with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Unlike most mild-hybrids – and closer to full Toyota-style hybrids – the Milano Ibrida can drive on electric power alone, with Alfa Romeo claiming electric power is used "more than 50 per cent of the time" in the city, and at speeds up to 150km/h under minimal accelerator-pedal load.

The petrol Milano launches with front-wheel drive, though an all-wheel-drive version is due to be added at a later date.

All of these power options – petrol and electric – are shared with equivalent Peugeot, Fiat/Abarth and Jeep vehicles.

Alfa Romeo claims the Milano was developed by the engineers behind the Giulia GTA performance sedan, and boasts "best-in-class road holding" and "the most direct steering in the segment," with a 14.6:1 ratio.

The Veloce variant sits on 25mm-lower sports suspension, and has stiffer anti-roll bars, 380mm front brake discs with four-piston calipers, 20-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres, and a torque-sensing 'Torsen' front differential.

All models have a 'DNA' drive selector – with Dynamic (sport), Natural (normal) and Advanced Efficiency (eco) modes – as with other Alfa Romeos.

Leaked images of the Milano posted 24 hours prior to its reveal divided opinion online, due in part to a distinctive front grille design with an enlarged cut-out of the Alfa Romeo logo depicted in body colour on a white car.

Alfa Romeo's official images show there will be a choice of upper grille designs – the logo grille, named the 'Progresso' and depicted in black, as well as a simpler mesh style bearing 'Alfa Romeo' script, known as the 'Leggenda'.

The tail-lights – included in a black trim panel on the tailgate – were reportedly inspired by the 'truncated tail' of the 1960s Giulia TZ. Matrix LED headlights are available on flagship models.

Inside, there is a 10.25-inch digital instrument display ahead of the driver, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen integrated in the dashboard – which runs Peugeot's infotainment system with Alfa Romeo fonts and colours.

Most of the air-conditioning controls are packaged in the touchscreen, though there is a row of physical shortcuts for temperature, fan speed, and opening the climate-control display menu.

The engine start-stop button is on the centre console – not the steering wheel, like every other Alfa Romeo currently on sale – and the toggle-switch gear selector, drive mode selector and steering wheel controls all look to come from the Peugeot parts bin.

However Alfa Romeo highlights air vents in the shape of a four-leaf clover (quadrifoglio), and Sabelt sports seats. A boot capacity of 400 litres is claimed.

Interior features include ambient lighting, satellite navigation, a power-adjustable driver's seat with massaging, aluminium pedals and sill plates, Alcantara upholstery, keyless entry and start, and a hands-free power tailgate.

The infotainment system's voice assistant is said to use artificial intelligence technology, and offer ChatGPT integration for certain questions.

Available safety features include adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assist, front, side and rear parking sensors, and a wide-angle rear-view camera.

The 2024 Alfa Romeo Milano is available to order now in Europe, and will arrive in Australia in the second half of 2025 – with local pricing and specifications to be announced closer to launch.

Offered overseas at launch is a Speciale edition, powered by the 100kW petrol or 115kW electric options, and fitted with the Progresso logo grille, Brera Red paint, 18-inch wheels, and vinyl and fabric seats.