What a wonderful invention the internal combustion engine. A look through the annals of motoring history, especially motor sport, is a chronicle of very clever people practically re-inventing the engine over and over again – squeezing more power, better torque, improved fuel consumption and so on and so on.

Yet, at the heart it remains the same. Apart from the very ordinary chair, there are few things in this life that have – and are – undergoing a seemingly never-ending series of redesigns and modifications.

Which brings us to the Alfa Romeo MiTo MultiAir. When the MiTo was first launched locally last year it brought with it a ‘wo’ factor sadly missing from the Italian brand for a while – enough of it anyway to get the car nominated as a finalist in the SA Guild of Motoring Journalist’ Car of the Year Competition.

Now the MiTo range is expanded by two models – the 100 kW version badged 1.4 Tbi Progression and the 125 kW beauty called the 1.4 Tbi Quadrofoglio Verde, this also bringing the return of the iconic cloverleaf badge to an Alfa Romeo.

MultiAir technology does exactly what it says on the box: it takes precise control of the quantity and characteristics of the air drawn into the cylinders in the combustion cycle. Bear in mind there are numerous electro-mechanical variable valve timing systems in production today that seek to achieve this, but because they have no more than two operating regimes, they are severely limited by the degree of flexibility they can exercise in the valve opening schedules.

By contrast, MultiAir completely eliminates these compromises by metering the direct air charge at the cylinder inlet ports with an advanced electro-hydraulic actuation and control system that has no fewer than five basic parameters and the ability to optimally adjust valve timing and lift between them to exactly suit different engine speeds and loads, ensuring strong low- and mid-range torque and vigorous top-end power, combined with good economy and low emissions.

MultiAir engines have just one camshaft with three lobes allocated to each cylinder. The first two control the two exhaust valves in the conventional way, while the third defines the maximum possible lift and opening duration of the two inlet valves. It also acts on a small piston that sends engine oil, via pressurised hydraulic channels, to additional pistons located just above the inlet valves.

Four solenoid valves – one for each cylinder under individual control from the Magneti Marelli ECU engine management system – can be opened at any point during the inlet valve’s movement to bleed off the oil. Varying the oil flow instantly and precisely controls the opening and closing of the valves between the parameter extremes mechanically described by the camshaft lobe for optimum results.

MultiAir can even open the inlet valve twice in one intake stroke, when running at low speeds and loads around town, to create more swirl of the intake mixture, enabling it to burn more completely, thereby lowering fuel consumption.

In addition to MultiAir, the new MiTo range brings optional Active suspension on the Quadrofoglio Verde, the emission-reducing Start&Stop system (standard on both versions) and the DNA system derived from racing.

This three-mode electronic system communicates with the engine, brakes, steering, suspension (applies to Quadrofoglio Verde with optional Active suspension) and transmission, allowing the driver to adjust the responses of the car to suit driving style and road conditions.

Alfa’s Electronic Q2 limited slip differential is standard on every MiTo along with safety systems such as traction control, stability control, ABS/EBD and Hill Holder.

The MultiAir 100 kW version has a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 8,4 seconds and a top speed of 207 km/h with CO2 emissions of 129 g/km and a combined fuel consumption of 5,6 l/100 km. This model features a five-speed manual box.

The 125 kW MultiAir powerplant offers a power output of 125 kW at 5 500 r/min with peak troque of 250 Nm at 2 500 r/min and drives through a new fast-shifting, short-travel six-speed gearbox. It has CO2 figure of 139 g/km and a claimed consumption of 6,0 l/100 km. 0-100 km/h comes up in 7,5 seconds and terminal velocity is 207 km/h.
The MiTo suspension layout consists of MacPherson struts at the front and a semi-independent layout with torsion beam at the rear. The 100 kW version rides on 16-inch rubber with the 125 kW on 17-inch.

The launch route in Gauteng took motoring scribes on a tour of unfinished roads and some of the mightiest potholes ever seen as we meandered our way from Johannesburg to Cullinan and back. This provided plenty of opportunity to evaluate the suspension. I preferred the ride on the bigger tyres but colleagues disagreed with some plumping for the smaller tyre. Certainly the 125 kW version I drove felt more positive and tracked more accurately over the undualtions than the 100 kW version.

However, without the opportunity to check tyre pressures and the like, this view is probably more subjective than objective – and hence the lively debate on the subject at the midway stop.

The MiTo’s DNA system offers three distinct ‘vehicle personalities’ tailored to driving style and the prevailing road characteristics and conditions: Dynamic (sporting), Normal (suburban/town driving) and All weather (maximum safety, especially in low-grip conditions).  A three-position switch, situated beside the gearlever, alters the throttle response and steering set-up for the different driving environments.  In Dynamic mode, the throttle response is quicker, the steering is sharper and the handling is more direct.  For icy and loose surface environments the All Weather mode provides a more gentle response.

The Quadrofoglio Verde is a true return to the sporting roots of Alfa Romeo. It is a car that demands to driven briskly, wants to stretch the limits in the twisty bits and does all of this in an unflappable and untempremental way. Sadly, the shocking state of the roads and the heavy traffic trying to escape the choked highways left little opportunity for truly exploring the car.

Hopefully when we get one for a full road test we will be able to find some half decent roads.

The MiTo has 30 000 km service intervals, a 3-year / 100 000 km warranty and 5-year / 90 000 km service plan.

Colin Windell is the editor of Fleet magazine and contributor to SACarFan.