2013 Alfa Romeo MiTo SBK Limited Edition

(from Alfa Romeo Press Release)  SBK Limited Edition 1.4 170 HP QV Special Series in 200 units

Rising up out of the base of the sportiest version of the model - the "Quadrifoglio Verde", the legendary symbol that has distinguished some of the most "aggressive" Alfa Romeo products - the new MiTo SBK Limited Edition sets itself apart with a few new elements that emphasise its impression of a car with a "vice-like grip on the ground": from its side skirts to its rear dam, in addition to its 18" titanium alloy rims from beyond which the red of the Brembo brake calipers is evident.

Offered with the sporty aluminium pedal unit, Cruise Control, dual zone climate control system and Blue&Me system, the powerful MiTo SBK Limited Edition can "wear" two body colours (black and Alfa red) that can be matched with three roof shades: black, Alfa red and the new Cristallo white. The same sporty imprint has been given to the interior, enhanced by the Sabelt seats with a wraparound carbon fibre backrest made with the innovative RTM (Resin Transfer Moulding) technology that teams great mechanical resistance with smaller dimensions and lightness. The central Alcantara® fabric is distinguished by the Alfa Romeo logo, reproduced in an absolutely original way. It is all embellished with new red stitching that exalts the craftsmanship of the product on the leather trim of the gear lever knob and steering wheel, the latter complete with radio controls. Lastly, the central panel of the dashboard is made truly unique by the SBK Limited Edition plate with progressive numbering from 1 to 200.

The exclusive MiTo SBK Limited Edition version is fitted with the most powerful engine in the range, also awarded by an international jury as the "best new engine of the year 2010", the 1.4 Turbo MultiAir 170 HP. Alfa Romeo has chosen to equip it with some cutting-edge solutions to bring out the qualities of the model listed above: road holding, agility, active safety and driving feeling are emphasised thanks to an engine which has one of the world's highest specific power values and a chassis worthy of a higher category. The pièce de résistance of this engine version is its outstanding weight/power ratio, which has always been one of the key factors behind the success of Alfa Romeo cars on the road and the race track. It is at the top of its category with 6.7 kg/HP. At 124 HP/litre, this engine is also one of the world leaders in specific power. This is a point worth dwelling on, because it proves the effectiveness of the philosophy of "downsizing", aimed at producing high-tech engines to achieve better performance accompanied by drastic reductions in fuel consumption and emissions. Indeed, it is this latter area which provides the most fantastic evidence of the technical level achieved: 4.8 l/100 km and 139 g/km of CO2 (in the extra-urban cycle) are closer to what you would expect from an economy car than a compact sports car that goes from 0 to 100 km/h in just over 7 seconds.

The new MiTo SBK Limited Edition is fitted with the "Alfa Active Suspension" system. The system, through the control of the shock absorbers, reduces oscillation of the car body in all driving conditions, ensuring maximum safety, comfort and driveability. In particular, thanks to the many parameters controlled by the new device, it is possible, for example, to counteract load transfer in acceleration, by stiffening the rear and guaranteeing meteoric acceleration with maximum traction. Using the same principle, it is possible to make the suspensions interact with the braking system and steering to obtain more effective control of the dynamics of the vehicle.

The system is also able to identify the driving and road surface conditions to then choose the most appropriate control mechanisms, in addition to harnessing the reaction speed due to the high calculation capacity and to the specific technology of the shock absorber solenoid valves. The end result is an instantaneous response, with controls applied in real time, to assist the perception and technique of the driver.

In addition to providing high-level technological performance, the new "active suspension system" guarantees outstanding comfort in conditions of everyday use. Thanks to the "Sky Hook" function, the device isolates the passenger compartment, making it completely protected from outside stresses and strains. Thanks to this system, the chassis is therefore able to modulate its performance according to the usage conditions or the driver's wishes.