By Mike Torpey on 2015-02-16 - Driving Force news editor and responsible for organising our daily output. He was staff motoring editor of the Liverpool Echo for 20 years.
Alfa's MiTo magic at
the double
ALFA ROMEO has made some serious progress in its efforts to attract more buyers to its MiTo small car line-up.
The Italian brand has launched a pair of new models to the range - and made the entry point more attractive than ever.
Leading the way is the new MiTo Progression variant with its price tab of £12,670, which builds on the revisions made last year that heralded everything from extra kit and styling to fresh engines.
And a new MiTo Junior model recalls the 1966 Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior - a predecessor which brought the Alfa experience to a younger audience by offering more performance from a small-capacity engine.
Progression grade comes with features like air-con, leather steering wheel and gear shift, a Uconnect five-inch colour touchscreen infotainment set-up with Bluetooth, voice recognition, USB / auxiliary inputs and steering wheel remote controls.
In terms of safety, there's Vehicle Dynamic Control, tyre pressure monitor and seven airbags while style touches add 15-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler and titanium grey headlight surrounds.
Available powerplants comprise a 78bhp 1.4-litre engine with Start&Stop, a combined fuel figure of 50.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 130g/km. Acceleration is 0-60 in 13.0 seconds and top speed 103mph.
The company's 0.9-litre TwinAir 105bhp turbo petrol engine with 67.3mpg and 99g/km plus its 85bhp 1.3-litre JTDM-2 turbodiesel with 80.7mpg and 90g/km are also available with the Progression trim level, priced from £13,770 and £14,315.
Buyers of the MiTo Junior get white 17-inch alloys with matching door mirror caps and a white boot decal, along with front fog lights, a sports rear bumper and satin-effect door handles with matching headlamp and tail-lamp surrounds.
The interior highlight is a flat-bottom sports steering wheel with contrasting stitching.
Under the bonnet is 0.9-litre TwinAir engine along with the 1.3 turbodiesel and prices are £14,870 and £15,415.
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