Why Alfa Romeo failed to make an impact in America in the past will always confound many enthusiasts, seeing that the automotive company’s American trims were some of the most awesomely built cars to grace American soil. Notably, the Italian car company is also one of the oldest carmakers still existing today as it was founded in 1910.
However, Alfa Romeo released one of its most commercially successful car models called the Milano in 1985, and over 386,000 units of the car were built before the production ended in 1992. Also known as 75, the Milano was used to celebrate Alfa Romeo’s 75th year of car production. The Milano was an amazingly cool car for its era and here are some features that has made it a classic car today.
10 Busso V6
Alfa Romeo produced a history-rich V6 engine from 1979 to 2005. Named “Busso V6” after its builder and company’s Italian technical designer, Giuseppe Busso, this engine was produced in different displacements using aluminum block and head materials.
The Milano featured different configurations of the Busso V6 with the most powerful being the 3.0-liter fuel injected QV with an output of 192 PS featured in the Potenziata. However, the coolest feature of the Busso V6 is its award-winning sound.
9 Motronic Digital Fuel Injection System
Among several updates and upgrades to the Milano’s engines, the 3.0 V6 eventually got fitted with a Motronic digital fuel injection system. Developed by the amazing German multinational engineering and technology company, Bosch, this system is a digital engine control unit that combines the control of fuel injection and ignition into a single functional unit for optimized engine performance.
Motronic digital fuel injection system gives the car an improved cold and hot starting performance.
8 Alfa Romeo Control
The Milano was too cool for its time and with features like the Alfa Romeo Control, that was evident. Back in the days, diagnosing or detecting faults on cars was a Herculean task as there weren’t many diagnostic indicators to alert drivers of an imminent fault.
However, with Alfa Romeo Control – a diagnostic computer mounted on the dashboard – the driver is furnished with real-time information from the engine to mitigate potential faults.
7 Cruise Control
Cruise control was a jaw-dropping feature back in the day, and it still intrigues quite many automobile aficionados even today. This system works by simply automatically controlling the speed of an automobile using a servomechanism system to throttle the car at a preset steady speed.
Being a cool car, Alfa Romeo adopted the cruise control as an optional feature in the European model of the iconic Milano.
6 Catalytic Converter
To meet federal emissions standards, North American Milanos got fitted with catalytic converters. This is a device used to control exhaust emissions by reducing the harmful gases and pollutants in the exhaust gas generated from internal combustion engines powered by diesel or gasoline.
Also, Switzerland mandated the adoption of catalytic converters in the country’s automobiles in 1987, hence, some North American spec Milanos were also sold in Switzerland.
5 Elite Body Kit
In 1987, Alfa Romeo added a range-topping trim level of the Milanos. Called the Milano Verde, this car is powered by an amazing SOHC 3.0 liter Busso V6 capable of 183 horsepower and mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox.
However, the most conspicuous distinguishing factor on this Verde is its awesome body kit. This includes side skirts, fender flares, rear spoiler, and orange gauges.
4 Side Impact Bar
Due to stringent federal regulations, the North American model of the Alfa Romeo Milano varies in component with their European counterparts. Asides from featuring a modified engine that meets the government requirements, the car also had other structural specifications to adhere to.
These include building the Milano with reinforced doors as well as trunk lids. Notably, this provides adequate protection for the occupant in the event of a side impact.
3 Full Recaro Interior
Asides from it being fitted with a powerful engine that has an incredibly unique sound, and also having a specialized body kit, another unique and impressive feature on the Alfa Romeo Milano Verde is its full Recaro interior. Originally from Germany, the Recaro Automotive Seating Company provides specially designed seats for cars.
Hence, Alfa Romeo partnered with the company to give the Milano Verde an amazing full Recaro interior that includes the front and rear seats.
2 A/C
Back in the days, it doesn’t get cooler than having a cooling system in your car. The air conditioning system is specially designed to remove heat and moisture from a car thereby giving the occupants a more comfortable car space.
That said, depending on the version, the A/C system was optional in European trims of the Alfa Romeo Milano. However, on the American trim, the A/C system is standard.
1 Impact Bumper
The Alfa Romeo Milano built for the American market is structurally different from other versions. From the exterior, these cars visibly have on them a protection modification called the impact-bumpers.
Made of rubber, these bumpers have thick shock-absorbing properties and serve to cushion the car as a form of protection from damage to important vehicle parts during an impact. Also, these bumpers are mounted on the car’s shock absorbers.