Alfa Romeo GT Range

Alfa Romeo may have a long and illustrious history of small coupes but the pickings Have been rather thin in recent years. The Alfa GT looks to set that straight. Andy Enright reports

The usual coupe formula of paying more and getting less at first seems a perfect fit for the Alfa Romeo GT, based as it is on more familiar 147 and 156 parts. Delve a little deeper and youll discover that it offers a good deal more of a number of attributes. More in the way of feel good factor, more exclusivity, superior driving dynamics and, would you believe, more in the way of luggage space. Heres a coupe that offers an intoxicating slug of style but with few of the compromises.

Build
Comfort
Depreciation
Economy
Equipment
Handling
Insurance
Performance
Styling
Value

The Alfa Romeo GT really has no business looking as good as it does, as closer inspection will reveal that its something of a mix and match between the old 156 saloon and the 147 hatch. The tape measure shows that the car rides on the 2596mm long 156 wheelbase but underneath the pretty styling, the firewall, the pedal box, the steering column and the entire climate control system are pure 147. The front wings are shared with the 147 GTA although the bonnet has been slightly modified. The styling house Bertone were responsible for most of the design and the GT was originally pencilled in to be assembled at their Turin plant where spare capacity had been freed up by the demise of the Fiat Punto Cabriolet.

After many beans were counted, however, Alfa Romeo thanked Bertone very much for their penmanship and decided to build the GT alongside the 147 at their Pomigliano dArco plant just outside Naples. Given the solid feel of latest generation 147s, thats perhaps no bad thing and the first impression one gets dropping into the drivers seat of the GT is of rugged build quality.

"Many will be sold on the GT long before their slacks hit the seats"

The cowled instruments and sporting logos that can look a little overblown on a base 147 hatch suddenly make all sorts of sense in a proper coupe. The script on the dials has been revised for the GT, the centre console has been redesigned and the material used for the dashboard is of a different texture to standard 147. Many will be sold on the GT long before their slacks hit the seats. Much of that will be due to the swoopy styling.

Much of it is contemporary Alfa Romeo, particularly around the front end where few will be able to distinguish GT form 147 as it arrives in their rear view mirror. As the GT slides by, however, a high-waisted scalloped flank is evident with a stub tail thats almost reminiscent of an early eighties Giulietta. Unlike the Giulietta, however, that boot is in fact a bit of automotive trompe loeil, opening to reveal a gaping hatchback. Theres 320 litres of room back there, which is a good deal more than a 147 hatch can muster with its rear seats in place and almost as much as the 156 saloon.

Three engines make the cut for the UK, a 162bhp 2.0-litre JTS petrol engine or the even more advanced 148bhp 1.9-litre M-Jet 16v diesel. Prices start from £20,400.

Flagship buyers get a £26,400 3.2-litre V6 model. The asking figures dont appear too steep for a car that makes plenty of more expensive rivals look decidedly frumpy. Specify your GT with the optional 18-inch wheels and it looks devastating.

The big wheels wont utterly destroy the ride either as the suspension on the GT feels a good deal more compliant than anyone with experience behind the wheel of 147 and 156 models might expect. That said, theres also less roll, although an extended test on the sort of British B-roads that rather exposed the 147 GTA would be recommended. The body is 15 per cent stiffer than a 147 hatch and this gives the suspension engineers a much better baseline to work from. Theres still some dive under braking in the diesel version which maybe doesnt bode so well for the heavier engined V6 model but otherwise its a very creditable showing.

The steering lacks feel but the rack is very sharp and youll be able to jink the GT around corners with virtually zero hesitation. The VDC stability control system is probably the second best in the whole car industry after Porsches PSM in the way that it allows a little bit of fun before gently and reassuringly reverting things to a keel more even. Performance from the 2.0-litre JTS engine is punchy, the engine accelerating the GT to 60mph in 8.

4 seconds and on to a top speed of 135mph but the 1.9-litre M-Jet 16v diesel is the star of the show here. On-paper performance figures are only slightly down on the petrol car at 9.6 seconds and 130mph respectively but the 225lb/ft of torque means that it feels almost comically powerful in the mid range for such a modestly sized engine.

The big payoff comes in terms of fuel economy, averaging over 42mpg. The emissions of 178g/km are a fair return for such a fun vehicle. Define the Alfa Romeo GT in terms of raw figures and youve somewhat missed the point. The sleek styling, the voluptuously lavish interior and the distinguished heritage give this car a distinct head start in a market full of lookalikes.

Paying more and getting less is looking better by the day.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Alfa Romeo GT range
PRICES: £20,400-£26,400 - the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 16-19
CO2 EMISSIONS: 165-295g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.0 JTS] 0-60mph 8.4s Max Speed 135 mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [M-jet 16v] (combined) 42.2mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and curtain airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4489/1763/1365mm