The Auto Europa Tuner 2009 award for the Alfa MiTo GTA (bottom, at the Geneva Motor Show) was accepted by Alfa Romeo's marketing director Fabrizio Corigliano from the President of UIGA, Pierluigi Bonora (top).

The exciting new Alfa MiTo GTA Concept has been honoured as Auto Europa Tuner 2009 after an online vote by members of the Italian automotive journalist's union, the UIGA (Unione Italiana Giornalisti dell’Automobile).

That vote by Italian journalists was mirrored by a second poll that was opened up to members of the public on the website which also put the Alfa MiTo GTA Concept, that was unveiled in public for the first time at the 79th Geneva Motor Show earlier this month, clearly at the top. Shown in concept form the dramatically styled and turbocharged Alfa MiTo GTA will head for production this autumn.

The Auto Europa Tuner 2009 award was accepted by Alfa Romeo's marketing director Fabrizio Corigliano from the President of UIGA, Pierluigi Bonora. The ceremony to award the prize took place during the My Special Car Show that was held in Rimini over the weekend.

The Italian automotive journalists gave the Alfa MiTo GTA Concept a healthy 28.26 percent of the votes, well ahead of the second placed Ford Focus RS which grabbed a 19.57 pct share of affections. Equal third place went to the Kia Soul, Mini Clubman John Cooper Works and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo (8.7 pct). Other tuned cars to be recognised by the journalists taking part included the SEAT Leon Supercopa, VW Scirocco, Smart White, Honda Civic Type-R and Subaru Impreza.

The public vote also placed the stunning Alfa MiTo GTA Concept firmly out in front of the pack, giving it 32.14 pct, with the Focus RS again in second place, this time with a slightly higher 21.43 pct slice. The Mini John Cooper Works was third again (10.71 pct) slightly ahead of the Scirocco, Lancer Evo and Smart White (7.14 pct).