Alfa Romeo hopes to double its sales next year with its all-new sports compact, the MiTo, which made its UK debut at the British International Motor Show.

The MiTo is the Italian manufacturer’s first compact model for more than 35 years and takes its styling cues from the Alfa 8C Competizione supercar. It is being launched to target the MINI.

It comes equipped with an electronic control system called DNA which allows the driver to choose between sporty (Dynamic), city-tailored mode (Normal) and a mode for unpredictable and testing conditions (All-weather).

Nicholas Bernard, Alfa Romeo’s marketing director in the UK, claims it will be the first car in the world to carry Multiair engine systems, giving about 10% more power and 15% less consumption and emissions.

There are five engines available – three petrol and two diesel – with prices starting at £10,975.

Mr Bernard expects the MiTo to get its “fair share of fleet sales”, particularly from user-choosers. He said that the manufacturer is “not pushing the fleet channel” but companies now see the brand as “a dependable and respectable player in the market”.