Alfa Romeo MiTo Model offers flair and performance

The Alfa Romeo model range has been expanding and improving of late, with some lovely new cars. I have been test driving the lovely little MiTo to sample some of this Italian flair. The entry model 1.4 Junior costs just €11,995 and engine options range from 1.4 petrol, 1.3 JTDM diesel, 1.4 turbo petrol and 1.6 JTDM diesel. Diesels are becoming ever more popular here. It seems we are following the example of our fellow Europeans where diesel sales account for the majority of new car sales. We can expect to see diesel sales continue to grow as these engines offer better fuel consumption and under the new C02 tax system in many cases they make more sense. With more and more luxury brands devoting a lot of resources to improving diesels, it is not surprising to see a performance luxury brand like Alfa Romeo pursuing the diesel route. Diesel engines offer great torque pulling very well from low speeds, great MPG or litres per Km and now also plenty of performance. So how about this diesel Alfa Romeo Mito 1.3 JTDM? First of all I must confess to a certain bias when writing about Alfa Romeo. For years I have loved their cars. Back in the days of the Alfasud, the rear wheel drive GTV 3.0 and the Alfa Spirit, I was a devoted fan. For me Alfa symbolises a flair, spirit and dynamism that few manufacturers can emulate - even today. Therefore despite their vices over the years - and we all know they had many - I am still a fan. See this week's Anglo-Celt for the rest of the review.