Alfa Romeo is an Italian manufacturer known for producing beautiful and charismatic cars. Alfas are easily recognisable by their unmistakable V-shaped grille.
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Alfa Romeo Car Reviews
Alfa Romeo Overview
Brief History
Alfa Romeo initially started life in 1907 as Società Anonima Italiana Darracq (SAID), under the control of the French manufacturer Alexandre Darraq. In late 1909, the company changed its name to Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili (ALFA), but was still in partnership with the French manufacturer. In 1910 ALFA parted company with Darraq and produced the 24 HP, which they entered into an Italian road race the following year. In 1915 the company came under the control of Nicola Romeo, and began to produce military hardware for the First World War. The name was changed to Alfa Romeo in 1920, and the Torpedo 20-30 HP was the first model to be released under this new brand.
Nicola Romeo left the company in 1928, and following an end to the defence contracts, the company needed to be rescued by the Italian government. Following the Second World War the firm was still in a difficult financial situation, so turned to the mass-production of smaller vehicles in an attempt to boost profits. Although a number of sporty models were produced in the 60’s and 70’s the company still had difficulty in generating profits, and as a result was sold to FIAT in 1986, who still own Alfa Romeo today.
Model Range
Mito
The Mito offers the distinctive Alfa Romeo styling in a sporty 3-door small family car, first launched in 2008. It has received a number of awards, including the Euro NCAP 5-star rating and the International Best New Engine of the Year in 2010, with its revolutionary Multi-Air engine. The sporty 1.4 litre petrol engine can provide between 78 and 178bhp depending on the engine type, while the more economical 1.3 or 1.6 litre diesel models can give 61 and 53 urban mpg respectively.
Giulietta
The Giulietta offers a medium family hatchback to replace the previous 147 model. Released early in 2010, it is another of Alfa’s models that has received the prestigious NCAP 5-star rating. It offers a range of petrol and diesel engine sizes, 1.4-1.7 litre and 1.6-2.0 litres respectively.
159
The 159 is a medium executive car, available as a saloon or estate. First introduced in 2005, as a replacement to the 156, it offers a premium vehicle for those who are looking for space and comfort, at a cheaper price than its German competition. There is a choice between a 1.7 litre petrol or the 2.0 litre diesel version, both of which provide the high performance to be expected from an executive vehicle.
