FOLLOWING closely in the tyre tracks of its stablemate Fiat, the Alfa Romeo organisation is also basking in the glory of an extremely successful 2009 sales year in Britain.
This 12 month period was boosted by extremely strong demand for the MiTo with more than 6,000 examples of this characterful Italian rival to the MINI gracing UK driveways since launch in January, 2009.
Alfa Romeo finished the year with a grand total of 9,067 units sold, a dramatic increase from the 5,950 total sales here for 2008 and was Alfa's best UK result for six years.
Now comes the revolutionary MultiAir engined MiTo range. From launch, two engine versions are available - the 135bhp 1.4 Turbo, and the top-of-the-range 170bhp 1.4 Turbo which will carry the iconic Alfa Cloverleaf badge.
Having been available to order through the Alfa Romeo UK dealer network from early January 2010, the MiTo's MultiAir engine range marks the next technological step in the vehicle's already successful life - promising lower emissions and fuel consumption together with higher performance and greater driving pleasure - with Active Suspension as standard on the 170bhp Cloverleaf model.
Pricing for the Mito Multiair range opens up at £15,165 for the 1.4 135bhp Lusso, £16,135 for the 1.4 135bhp Veloce, topping out at £17, 896 for the 1.4 170bhp Cloverleaf model.
Meanwhile, the Alfa 159 range gets more power with a brace of brand new Euro5-compliant engines - the 1750 TBi and the 2.0 JTDM. Both the Alfa Brera and Alfa Spider will benefit from these powerplants later in the year.
Pricing starts at £19,950 for the entry level 1.9 JTDm 120bhp Eco Turismo Saloon and £21,050 for the Sportwagon derivative.
To coincide with the launch of these new engines, Alfa Romeo has introduced a new range structure which now features five trim levels - Turismo, Turismo Sport, Elegante, Lusso and TI.
This is yet another stunning range from Alfa Romeo topped off by the £174,000 Alfa 8C Spider which Top Gear magazine has just voted the Most Beautfiul Car Of The Year.
Words: Malcolm Robertshaw