Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Alfa MiTo

It's Saturday night and I'm out on the town. My friend - like half of the guys in the room - is eyeing the pretty blond across the bar, but at least he knows he doesn't have to worry about competition from my corner. Because there's a smolderingly hot redhead sitting across the room, and she's stolen all of my attention. Objectively I'd have to admit the blond is the better choice, but there's just something about those fiery crimson locks that make short order of blocking out everything else. It's something that - while I've never been officially part of the club myself - I suspect I share with Alfa Romeo owners around the world.

For decades Alfa Romeo has been coasting by on its image and heritage. Buying an Alfa has long been an irrational choice, motivated by the subjective longing for that indefinable x-factor despite their many objective dynamic flaws. With the new Alfa MiTo, however, that era draws to a close. The MiTo demands no excuses and, drenched though it is with that charm that only redheads Alfas do best, the MiTo doesn't ask that you ignore its flaws because countless manhours have gone into making sure they've been eliminated.

Gallery: First Drive: Alfa MiTo

Continue reading North American Exclusive First Drive: Alfa MiTo

North American Exclusive First Drive: Alfa MiTo originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click to view the '61 Alfa Giulietta in our hi-res gallery

Everyone has their own idea of heaven on earth: the first snowfall, a cold beer on a hot day, a pristine azure beach... Cruising around town on a beautiful summer day in a classic Italian roadster may just be ours.

There's just something, what the French call a certain je ne sais quoi, an indefinable quality about a vintage Alfa - found somewhere in between the exhaust note and the chrome details - that has a unique capacity to make driver and passenger forget about everything else and just enjoy the drive. Don't get us wrong, we're big fans of progress. But after spending a few hours with this beautiful 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, we're gaining a new appreciation for the phrase "they don't build 'em like they used to". Follow the jump to read why.

Gallery: 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider

Continue reading Autoblog's Day Off: 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider

Autoblog's Day Off: 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.