Tuesday 23rd March 2004

Alfa GT on Sale Now

Expensive ornament or classy tourer?

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Alfa's new GT is now on sale in Blighty. The pretty coupe offers four proper seats, a decent amount of luggage space and more character than Mr Benn on a shopping trip.

The car was designed by Bertone, in collaboration with Alfa Romeo Centro Stile at Arese, in Milan. The styling harps back to the classic Alfas of yesteryear from the 1900 SS to the Giulietta Sprint and Giulia Sprint GT created by Bertone in 1963.

 

Three engine options are available from the off. A 1.9 diesel with 150bhp and an impressive 225 lb-ft of torque is available for £20,995. Having driven one on track recently, it didn't cause any quickening of the heart rate - despite the impressive torque figures - and the looks alone won't justify that price tag.

The petrol engine available is the two litre motor with optional paddle shift. Power is 165bhp, with about 150 lb-ft of torque. Although it's a good engine, it wasn't enough to bring the car alive in my hands.

 

Front wheel drive shatters the dream that the GT might be a real driver's car and the brief time I had in these cars left me disappointed. The only hope for redemption is the fantastic 3.2 24 valve V6 that's also available at £26,695. That model I haven't sampled and I really hope it turns the GT into something other than a wannabe sporting coupe.

 

The 3.2 litre V6 develops 240 bhp at 6200 rpm, with a maximum torque of 213 lb.ft at 4800 rpm. These figures are complemented by a very flat torque curve that offers high output at low speeds.

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[anonymous-user]

I went along to the local Alfa dealer the other night to take a look at the GT.

It's a great looking car, but the person who decided the rear seats were real was either 4'6" or a hunchback! Leg room's okay, but head room is non existent. Not that it's a real problem, but I wouldn't want to be sat in the back for long periods.

The FWD thing puts me off too. Seems strange that the car is being launched now on the FWD 156 (or is it the 147?) platform when in little more than a couple of years the saloon will switch to a RWD/4WD base much more suited to a coupe taking on BMWs forthcoming 4 series. But if usual model life is to apply to the GT it'll be a long time before it can take advantage of the dynamics offered by the switch in drivetrain.

One thing I did notice was that the engine is most definately forward of the front axle. Wonder what that will do for the handling of the car when the weightier V6 is up front?

[PetrolTed]

I was luckily enough to have a hoon about in two of these on track recently.

I was really looking forward to it as I have a soft spot for Alfas (had one years back).

I was really disappointed. It is ok, but I thought it might be a well balanced, sharp fun car. It turns in well but you do get the impression that an awful lot of everything is going on in front of you with the rear just following.

[anonymous-user]

LexSport said:

The FWD thing puts me off too. Seems strange that the car is being launched now on the FWD 156 (or is it the 147?) platform when in little more than a couple of years the saloon will switch to a RWD/4WD base much more suited to a coupe taking on BMWs forthcoming 4 series. But if usual model life is to apply to the GT it'll be a long time before it can take advantage of the dynamics offered by the switch in drivetrain.

Having just read a bit about the 157 in today's Autocar, I just found out I was pretty much completely wrong. The new Premium platform underpinning the 157 (and new GTV/Spider and possibly 167) will be front or 4 wheel drive, not RWD. It's also due out in summer 2005, so just over 1 year.

D'oh!

[rodsmith]

Looks nice and there's some fit birds in the ad but fwd sucks.

[Alex]

Oh for some other mainstream RWD choices besides BMW.

[Black S2K]

I shall take one out, because I WANT to like it.

As an RX-8 is roomier, cheaper, faster, more reliable (mostly!) and drives like a dream, there's no hope, really.

[britten_mark]

I really, really want to like this; I love Alfas, and have the utmost respect for Bertone, but it just doesn't do it for me.
Maybe it'll be a grower.

[pwig]

Wait till you see it in the flesh, its lovely

[cirvy]

I ordered one about 6 weeks before seeing it in the flesh & was a little nervous prior to the unveiling at our local dealer last week. I have to say, the motoring press is right , you do have to see it in the flesh, & as for seeing it on the move in traffic, i think it looks stunning. I cant wait for mine to arrive in May. I've gone for V6 3.2, 18" alloys, Stombolli Grey bodywork with red leather interior. This will be my 3rd Alfa & i'm very excited about it's arrival, however, i've still not seen one in my colour, so if anyone comes across a GT in Strombolli Grey, would they let me know, in the meantime, i shall sit here imagining!

[Alex]

I was at my local dealer this morning, and they haven't got one yet.

[IS200RJR]

i heard they were rear wheel drive iv just lost interest in the GT il still go on my test drive as they given me the car for the afternoon i like to pose

[RedCTR]

Ordered a Stromboli Grey 2.0 JTS with tan leather, 18" alloys and BOSE upgrade. I was also looking at the RX8, however with fuel consuption of around 19mpg with 20000 miles per year on average I could not justify it. The Alfa looks good its as simple as that, the cabin is really well equiped, very luxurious and most importantly not Japanese. I've owned a number of Japanese cars and while the interiors are functional and well built they usually lack any panache. Still got 10 weeks to wait for the Alfa but with only 1500 throughout the country this year it should be quite rare (unlike my current Honda Civic Type R!)

[twin turbo]

Is Stromboli grey and sort of dark petrol/gunmetal colour? 'Cos that's the colour of the GT in our local showroom......and it looks superb. Definately a car that looks sooooooooo much better in the metal. If only it were RWD

Now I really can't wait for the new GTV, as that's supposed to look just like the Brera concept. Here's hoping

[alfa145uk]

I saw one in the flesh for the first time at the weekend (whilst test driving a 147 GTA). From the pictures I'd seen of it I was not impressed. Being an Alfa enthusiast I wanted to like it naturally, but from the pics it just didn't do it for me. However IRL, it looks sooo much better - no pics have done it justice, not even Alfa's pics on the brochures. The front & side view are striking! The back, however - looks like they've let the apprentice finish it - it is just round, and instantly reminded me of a Hyundai coupe. It needs a twin exhaust, just the one looks odd.

Although I didn't drive it, I had a very good look around and inside it - shame the dash has come straight from a 147 (not that it is a bad dash at all, it would have just been nicer if it had a more raw feel to it - more informative guages, etc etc)

As for how it drives I don't know, but it needs to be RWD V6 at least

Still the FWD V6 will still run rings around hyundai V6 coupes (but then my 145 2.0 does anyway

[AJLintern]

I think I'll stick with my 5 seater RWD V6 Alfa, that probably cost less than the stereo in the GT

[cirvy]

I 've driven one now & i was rather impressed ( even though it was a deisel demo ). The GT whoops the ass off the RX8 in this weeks Autocar, they really rated it. Mine arrives in 4 weeks, i'll keep you all posted

[pwig]

cirvy said:

I 've driven one now & i was rather impressed ( even though it was a deisel demo ). The GT whoops the ass off the RX8 in this weeks Autocar, they really rated it. Mine arrives in 4 weeks, i'll keep you all posted

Did you go for the leather?

[cirvy]

Yeah, red leather...i'll be driving naked for the first few nights

[raceboy]

cirvy said:

Yeah, red leather...i'll be driving naked for the first few nights

Hope you went for window tints as well then

[Marki]

In the TV comercial it looks