Alfa Romeo 147 RANGE
Its Already Renowned As One Of The Snappiest Hatches About, But
Alfa Romeo Have Taken Steps To Make Their 147 Even Better. Andy Enright Reports
Facelifting cars is a minefield. All too often, the original stylists cant be persuaded to undertake a mid-life makeover and an in-house design team more often gainfully employed designing glove box hinges gets railroaded into drawing a whole new face for a model that probably didnt need it. Thats the only explanation I can forward for some of the aberrations foisted on us in recent years by many manufacturers in a desperate attempt to remain newsworthy. There is, however, one maker who gets it right more times than not.
Alfa Romeo have wielded the scalpel on their 147 and the results are, from where Im standing, pretty impressive.
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I was never really a fan of the old 147s face. The interior I thought was a masterstroke and the pert rear end also received a favourable report, but the nose just looked a little too soft and puffy, like a boxer who had seen better days. It passed muster in aggressive GTA guise, but the models that people really bought were just a little too flabby around the jowls to really get a thumbs up. The latest restyle has changed all that, without much changing prices which start at £13,660 for the three and five-door models on offer.
Taking its cue from the marques excitingly styled Brera, the headlamps are a good deal sharper, tapering to inboard points. These lamps feature triple lamp clusters and an all-new bumper houses tiny front foglamps and far more aggressive air intakes. The rather odd black rubbing strips that sat below the lights on the old car have been replaced, giving the latest 147 a far more chiselled look. Walk round to the rear of this Alfa and youll spot a chromed strip at the bottom of the tailgate which should do a very good job of dissuading following drivers from high beaming you.
The rear lights are a good deal larger than before, smeared across the tailgate and rear wing. A redesigned lower bumper assembly houses the number plate and the rear end of the car is nicely finished by a reprofiled tailgate that makes the Alfa badge significantly more prominent. Its tough to spot one bad angle. "Walk round the 147 and its tough to spot one bad angle" The 147 enjoys more than just a mere freshening. Fundamental aspects of the car have been thoroughly revised. The interior has come in for a little attention, charged chiefly with improving the perception of quality. Soft touch two-tone fascias are in, as are moves to make the instruments that little bit more legible.
Other more elemental changes to the car include a revision to the suspension, aimed at improving ride quality. Theres a great deal of tuneability in the double wishbone front and MacPherson strut rear setup and weight has been reduced significantly. A Comfort option on some models also allows for a more relaxed ride. Revised damper settings and a wider availability of electronic driver aids such as anti lock brakes, brakeforce distribution and stability control are also featured.
As well as the conventional manual transmission, a development of the Selespeed sequential manual is also offered. Featuring a tunnel mounted gearlever, the latest version of Selespeed is quicker, smoother and features a more sympathetic automatic mode. Six engines are offered, with one all-new unit: a 1.9-litre 150bhp Multijet turbodiesel developing 225lb ft of torque from a low 2000rpm. There are still two lower-powered diesels rated at 100 and 115bhp, plus three Twin Spark petrol engines rated at 105, 120 and 150bhp. There are no plans as yet for a tyre-shredding GTA model.
Since the larger 156 was launched at the end of 1997, Alfas understanding of how to screw together a decent quality car has come on leaps and bounds. Anybody exiting a Mercedes E-class and then entering the 166 executive saloon could attest to this. The latest 147 takes this foundation and reinforces it further, with the current car featuring a built-in sense of occasion thats utterly absent from a
Volkswagen Golf or even an
Audi A3. Sit inside the 147 and the memories of Italianate driving positions that we grew up with in Alfasuds and Giuliettas are banished forever.
Seat, pedals, steering wheel, gearstick and mirrors all appear to be positioned around an anthropomorphic figure of a human being rather than a gibbon (as was the case with the 145). The rest of the interior has other such considerate touches too. All models get six airbags, climate control, tinted electric windows and mirrors, remote central locking, an alarm and a decent RDS radio/CD player with eight speakers. Plusher Turismo models add a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob, while the top Lusso specification comes with steering wheel mounted audio controls, cruise control, alloy wheels, front foglamps and an adjustable front armrest with recess.
The 147 was a very good car that now appears to teeter on the brink of being something that not just Alfisti and auto bores will aspire to. With styling that is - to these eyes at least - the pick of the pack and a quality improvement programme that looks set to elevate it to a position equal with the best of the German marques, the excuses for not buying an Alfa 147 are starting to get rather bony. Factor in a range of great diesel engines and increasingly resilient residual values and resistance looks futile. As a case study in how to manage a facelift, the 147 is tough to top.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR:
Alfa Romeo 147 range
PRICES: £13,660-£19,040 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 12-17 [est]
CO2 EMISSIONS: 155-211g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.0] 0-60mph 9.3s Max Speed 129 mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0] (urban) 25.2 (extra urban) 44.1 (combined) 34.1
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, window and side airbags, VDC, ABS, traction control,
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4430/1745/1415mm
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