It has been awhile since we last saw the Milano nameplate on an Alfa Romeo product. The Milano moniker was used originally on the Alfa Romeo 75 (Milano in the U.S.) a four-door sedan designed to outclass the benchmark BMW 3-Series in the luxury sport sedan segment with a pinch of Italian charm. The car used Alfa’s legendary Busso V6 and it had a suspension that promised track-ready performance. That chapter ended in 1992, but Alfa Romeo is now writing a new page with the revived Milano which will enter the CUV wars for the first time ever.
Milano Is A Departure From The Past
While purists will not be pleased to hear that the nameplate will be used on a CUV, it reflects Alfa Romeo’s current priorities with the Italian luxury brand trying to extend its reach in the sport utility market. The Tonale and Stelvio are currently the brand’s only two entries in the utility vehicle wars but the Stelvio is starting to show its age and both of them could use backup in the fight against rivals like BMW Mercedes-Benz and Audi. The Milano aims to do just that by being the new gateway model into the utility vehicle family tree.
A key aspect of its game plan is its smaller size which would allow the Milano to be a better fit for urban customers while also allowing the SUV to be parked in tight spaces easier than something like a Stelvio. Rumors (and hints from Alfa’s own official release) suggest that it would share a platform with the Jeep Avenger. The Avenger is also in the B-Segment and it can be equipped either as a pure EV or as a hybrid with this new Alfa appearing to mirror those options based on the brand claiming that the Milano will have a pure EV variant alongside its ICE-powered siblings.
When Will See The Reawakened Milano?
A key piece missing in this puzzle is an image of the Milano itself. Alfa Romeo did release a small teaser image showing a set of taillights some time ago but other than that and today’s release of the sign adorning a building in Milan (the town the moniker is named after) not much has surfaced about the CUV in terms of pictures.
But look for that to change in April when the Milano is slated to make its debut. It’s not known if the Milano will be coming to the United States, but with the Avenger already confirmed to be an international market-only offering, we won’t be shocked if the Milano follows suit. In the meantime, the brand will also be reminding the world of its wild side with the recently unveiled 33 Stradale.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.