Alfa, bring Mi.To

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News of Alfa Romeo’s return to the U.S. has already been reported, with ideas of which cars the storied Italian marque will bring over. Now there’s another possibility — the Mi.To. This is a compact vehicle that could pry a few Mini owners from their cars.

The Mi.To wears a few styling cues from the ultra-exclusive 8C, such as the nose, headlights and rear lamps. It also has something Alfa calls DNA. This is a technology that allows the driver to select from different groups of settings (dynamic, normal and all-weather) that affect throttle response, steering, brakes, suspension and gearbox. The company says the Mi.To is the first car in its segment to offer this kind of system. Power will be supplied from a range of gasoline and diesel engines.

About that name: ‘Mito’ is Italian for myth. Perhaps carmakers think they’re running short on good names, so they feel obliged to mess around with punctuation to compensate.

Will it come here? Alfa says that, starting in July, it will introduce the Mi.To to “all the major markets” — and even amid a recession that may already have started, the U.S. is still a major market. Nevertheless, it’s not recommended that Alfa fans hold their breath.

— Colin Ryan