3:57pm Friday 9th July 2010
By Glynn Williams
ALFA Romeo has scored a huge hit with its Mito hot hatch, and is just about to repeat the success with its new Giulietta.
It’s a tough challenge, to take on the likes of the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf in the mid-sized family car market, but this is a car to do it – a car with Latin panache, a head-turner with a stroke of rebellion.
It’s a five-door hatch that looks like a two-door coupe, with neat rear door handles beside the glass and a light and roomy cabin for four adults – just the job for Mito owners moving up and a great lure for conquest sales.
The UK launch venue was Good-wood, to tie in with the brand’s centenary celebrations, and the bonus was knowing the local roads and enjoy the driving without navigational challenges. The range is comprehensive – three petrol engines (1.4 120PS, 1.4 170PS MultiAir and 1.7 235PS Cloverleaf) and two diesels (1.6 105PS and 2.0 170PS).
All have the now familiar Stop and Start system to cut the engine when idling in traffic. Spooky but efficient.
Like the Mito there are three regular trims – Turismo (touring), Veloce (sports) and Lusso (luxury) plus flagship Cloverleaf.
And like the Mito all have the magic DNA button with three different ‘maps’ changing the parameters for engine performance, gearbox, electronic differentcial, suspension and power steering ‘feel’. All have high equipment levels, even the entry Turismo has six airbags, aircon, all electric windows and mirrors and distinctive LED driving and rear lights.
Move up and you get some lovely alloys, as on the Cloverleaf pictured above.
Interestingly, while I found the Cloverleaf everything you’d expect, as with the Mito the little 1.4 turbocharged MultiAir engine pumping out 170PS is a real delight with the DNA set to Dynamic, feeling more like a lusty two-litre.
And it feels even better with CO2 emissions of just 134g/km which means the road tax is just £115 even with first year ‘showroom’ tax.
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