Just three years after the Alfa Romeo 156 was voted Car of the Year 1998, the company's new hatchback, the 147, has been voted Car of the Year 2001.

The car was chosen by a jury of 56 motoring writers. This success marks the 10th time that a Fiat Auto model has received such an endorsement from the press.

A total of 238 votes gave the Alfa 147 first place ahead of the Ford Mondeo, Toyota Prius, Audi A2, Mercedes C-class, Opel Corsa, Volvo S60/V70, Chrylser PT Cruiser, Peugeot 607 and Citroen Picasso.

Jim Blades, Fiat Auto (UK) managing director, said: "With the Alfa 147 we hope to elicit the same enthusiastic responses from our customers that the 156 has enjoyed since its introduction. "Alfa 156 has fired a strong and on-going worldwide renaissance for our resurgent brand. We are hopeful that the new 147 will take this renaissance a significant stage further."

##147(1)--none--Car of the Year 2001: the Alfa 147##