Filed under: Economy, Euro, Hatchbacks, Ford, Alfa Romeo
Will the real European Car of the Year winner please stand up?
Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Alfa MiTo
It's that time of year, when various agencies far and wide begin handing out awards for the new crop of cars. The '09 model-year vehicles are all known by now and the press has had plenty of time to size up the competition. Recently, The Detroit Free Press appeared to have let the EuroCOTY cat out of the bag a bit early when it reported that Alfa Romeo had managed to snag the top honors with its new MiTo subcompact. Although we'd be hard-pressed to argue otherwise, it turns out that the rumor isn't true. The real European Car of the Year award will be announced on November 17.
The MiTo did win the Auto Europa award, though, which is granted by the Italian press. Second place went to Alfa's sister company Lancia for its homely-looking Delta and the Ford Fiesta grabbed the bronze. Thankfully, we'll be able to pick up a Fiesta in the U.S. for the 2010 model-year, and after driving one in Europe, we're looking forward to the sub-compact making the trek across the pond.
Gallery: First Drive: Alfa MiTo
[Source: The Detroit Free Press via Motor Authority]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bill 10:14AM (10/30/2008)
Not sure about the front license plate. Looks like a complete afterthought. Ok crap, where do we put it? It doesn't matter, just super-glue it somewhere.
And an American plate would never fit in that location.
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Pdexter 11:54AM (10/30/2008)
Well Alfa isn't selling cars in USA right? They have had this side plate thingie for a while and imo it's the only place to put it on the current design.
Flea 12:48PM (10/30/2008)
The traditional shape of Alfa front-ends has always been a problem for placing license plates, but in Europe it's not that big of a deal because our plates aren't very thick.
I kinda remember front plates weren't obligatory in the US, or have they changed that?
Swede 1:00PM (10/30/2008)
The plate on the picture is a tad too big. There are extra small plates that one can request if one owns an Alfa which is a good thing. It's small, it's on the left side and it's facing left. Guess which side speed cameras take their picture from?
sitruc 9:47PM (10/31/2008)
All states have rear plates, but front plates are up to each state.
3dKiller 10:31AM (10/30/2008)
This car is stunning. I want I want.
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Rick 11:07AM (10/30/2008)
I lust for the proper Italian twincam sound, unlike those whiny ones coming out of other smaller sporty cars.
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F-22 1:14PM (10/30/2008)
A car that brought to his segment...hummm...nothing!
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Nuieve 7:08PM (10/30/2008)
Is it legal to put plate under the windshield, say, on the passenger lower side corner?
The only other place I see is in the bottom of radiator triangle. It will screw the front up, but, it's the only place to put it without disturbing symmetry (cars with plates on a side are HIDEOUS) and restricting airflow much
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