Alfa Romeo Reviews

With cars as distinctive as those from Alfa Romeo we were wondering what the designers would do next - where do you go and what do you do after doing such a terrific job of nailing it the first time? It turns out we needn't have worried because the new Alfa Spider is better looking than ever.The engineers have even managed to remove some of the body flex that is generated when you remove the roof from a car. The current model feels much tighter and more composed than the previous one, with more bite too. What a pity the same engineers couldn't have done a bit more work on the car's suspension.The new Spider is strictly speaking a Brera coupe without the roof. But it's more than that because few people realise the car was in fact styled by car designer Pininfarina instead of designer Giugiaro,  which did design the coupe. If you don't believe us check out the badges on the side of the car.As well as designing the fabric roof, Pininfarina also re-styled the rear of the car, to focus attention on the open top. The wheel arches are more pronounced and add hips that lend a Boxster-like flavour to the car. There's no missing the polished chrome roll bars either, which the first car lacked.Two versions of the Spider are available, 2.2 litre 136kW four cylinder unit and a 3.2 litre 191kW V6. The V6, which breaks the three-figure price barrier for the first time, is also equipped with all-wheel drive. Our test vehicle was the four cylinder Spider priced from $76,950.The thing we like best about Alfas is that they deliver as much pizzaz as a high priced Porsche. They also come from the same country that produces Ferraris and that Italian heritage is evident, with gauges angled towards the driver that retain their original labels - Olio, Acqua and Benzina (oil, water and fuel). It just wouldn't be the same in German or Japanese.The 2.2-litre JTS engine in our test car is good for 136kW of power at 6500rpm and 230Nm of torque at 4500rpm, making it not surprisingly a high-revving unit. It means you've got to push it hard to get the best out of the engine, but it remains pleasantly tractable in the mid range.The four cylinder engine in our test car was teamed with a six-speed manual transmission, just the way we like it.Drive is through the front wheels with premium 18-inch Pirelli 235/45 P Zeros fitted and a space saver spare. Despite the addition of stability and traction control, the front wheels still scrabble for traction under hard acceleration.While the driver receives plenty of feedback through the wheel, the car is also subject to bump-steer which detracts from the ride quality. We doubt whether Alfa does any local testing. While the ride is smooth and enjoyable on motorway standard surfaces, a quick trip down Sydney's Parramatta Road will have you fighting with the wheel.Other overseas marques are able to tune their cars for all conditions, why is it so hard for the Italians?Fuel consumption is rated at 9.4 litres/100km. The boot is surprisingly large, not so much long but deep. Safety equipment includes seven airbags as standard. 

When the much-vaunted Brera coupe was unveiled at the 2005 Frankfurt fest, the GT was still fairly new.Indeed, the front-wheel drive GT V6 manual had reached us only the previous year, which sold so few that a 2.0 JTS four-pot version with Selespeed robo-manual set-up was introduced. Lighter, better balanced and nowhere near as prone to rabid torque steer or crashing savagely against its stops as the V6, this was actually the better car.Next, out came the hero Brera, priced perilously near six-figures for the top-of-the-range model with a newly direct injected 3.2 V6 and rear-biased all-wheel-drive. It was accompanied by a bum-dragger with the enhanced 2.2 four-pot JTS.Both were manuals which, added to a too ambitious price, saw them sitting in showrooms looking pretty but unloved.Now, accompanying an appreciable reduction in the dollars demanded, the Brera becomes the first Alfa offered with a six-speed automatic — not a Selespeed, but a legit Aisin slusher with torque converter.Just as one of the last bastions of shifting for yourself fell, fate or whatever it is that controls product distribution at Alfa — bequeaths that Australia should at last get the GT JTS with a proper manual.In recent weeks, we've alternated between the pinnacle V6 Brera auto and the new, but technically obsolete, GT.It came as no great surprise to learn from Alfa's PR gaffer, that punters are strolling into showroom with stars and Breras in their eyes and leaving with a GT and a sigh.What the latter has over the former can be defined obviously in practical terms — price, size and comfort but we are talking Alfas here.There's no doubting the Brera's visual impact. It turns heads almost everywhere it goes, thanks to its unique styling and the fact that you just don't see many of them.The sleek lines, curved back end, distinctive headlights and Alfa grille and beautifully contoured bonnet make it Alfa's best-looking machines behind its sibling convertible, the Spider.But with a $90,990 (plus a BMW-beating $1750 for metallic paint!) there are a few too many let-downs.The first issue is space, as in the lack of it. The back seats are utterly useless.Once adjusted for comfort, there is literally no room behind either driver or passenger. Not even a sheet of paper could be slotted into the “leg room” provided in the rear cabin.So the Brera is a two-seater affair, not a 2+2.But for a two-seater it's also heavy, tipping the scales at around 1.7 tonnes. So it's also thirsty. Even on the freeway, the best we could achieve was around 13 litres per 100km. Given a push, it slugged down upwards of 20.At least the V6 JTS was more than capable of lugging the weight.The wonderful-sounding engine produces a healthy 322Nm at 4500rpm and 191kW at 6300 — enough to get the Brera to 100km/h from standing in a claimed 7.0 seconds.The auto is meant to attract soft cogs who can't be bothered to change gear — most of the population in other words. But the manual is not only more fun but actually more functional than the indecisive auto.Far too often it struggles to find the right gear in many situations. Using the steering-wheel-mounted paddles in manual mode was unrewarding, with the gearbox prematurely overriding you or ignoring your inputs.This was particularly distracting on tighter roads, where keeping the V6 above 4500 revs was key to maintaining momentum. Inside our blue test car, we were greeted with an unusual mix of red-tan and blue leather — yes, blue surrounded by blocks of brushed aluminium.After the initial shock, the colour combo actually grows on you, and even the highly reflective block of aluminium between the driver and passenger begins to look good.Of course, looking good is what the whole deal's about, which is no small part why Alfisti are continuing to opt for the ostensibly old-hat GT.Built on the old 156 Sportwagon platform, within the GT boasts the most pleasant cabin of any current Alfas — combining the best of the 156 and soon-to-be-replaced 147.Behind the comfortable front thrones (the right with its good old long arm/short leg driving position) are what could reasonably be called seats.The GT's long-throw manual is a cog shy of the equivalent Brera, but the former's five speeds are better chosen than the too-tall gearing of the latter.The new 2.2 JTS delivers significantly more power and torque than the GT's 121kW/206Nm 2.0, but this has only 1320kg to move — 150kg less than the four-cylinder Brera. Its note is also less muted, closer to the lovely rasping TwinSpark of yore.All-round visibility is hopeless in the GT. Quaint ergonomics aside, though, sensibly softer 17-inch shoes make it friendlier than the newer comer; its sound manual gearbox makes it more fun. And an ask of $52,990 (metallic paint is “only” $950) clinches the deal.If this soapie saga went to script, the GT should have been left jealous and fretting behind the scenes by the arrival of the Brera. Instead, the older player still manages to upstage the newer.  

Style over substance. It's a common phrase associated with Alfa Romeo's charges, and one that has likely hobbled the marque in its quest to make significant inroads in Australia.But it's too general a comment in the mind of this motoring journalist, and not just because the sharp lines, aggressively slick grilles and headlamp configurations on the Alfa range have oodles of appeal.Some time spent in both the petrol and diesel (JTD) 147 hatches (albeit quite a while ago) filled me with enthusiasm and praise for the marque — even after I'd spent a week feeling regal, but wallowy, in a 159.And a number of straps in a GT proved fun, but it fell shy of the performance I was hoping for from a coupe touted as offering “searing performance”. I'm yet to spend time in the awesome-looking Brera. However, I'm informed I may be disappointed with the performance of that stunner.So far this year Alfa Romeo has sold 600 vehicles, compared with 474 in the same period the previous year. This year's sales include 147 147s (we're serious), 343 of the 159s and two dozen of the good-looking Spider.I spent a week trying to establish if Alfa really is all show and no go. The new Alfa Romeo Spider JTS is the car to test that theory, because it's simply stunning to the eye.But my initial reaction to questions about this drop-top was regularly: looks good, but not much stick.The Spider was definitely driving its way into the all-show-and-no-go category. Granted, the test car was the 2.2-litre in-line four-cylinder JTS version producing 136kW of power and 230Nm of torque, not the 3.2-litre V6 with 191kW and 322Nm, which obviously would have had much more pep.Sulking that I'd not been put behind the wheel of the Spider with more bite, I lapped up the fact that my ride for the week featured true luxury with its clever power-folding roof and exquisite interior.The interior is clean and concise, and very functional without being techno overload.At just 4393mm in length but weighing 1470kg, the front-drive Spider (the V6 version is all-wheel-drive) handled well without being exceptional, and the inclusion of next-generation traction, braking and stability control offers peace of mind.Driven with a bit more endeavour, the in-line four-cylinder picks up points in the performance stakes. However, it's not the nimble little sports car its style suggests it should be. Fast factsAlfa Romeo JTS SpiderOn sale: NowPrice: $69,990Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder, 136kW@6500rpm, 230Nm@4500rpmTransmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drivePerformance: 0-100km/h in 8.8 seconds; top speed 217km/hFuel: 9.4litres/100km combined (claimed), 13litres/100km on test; 70-litre tank

It's also the first all-wheel drive Alfa Spider. The generously sized two-seater (4396mm long x 1830mm wide x 1367mm high) is complemented by elongated rear lights and four exhaust pipes in keeping with its high-performance temperament.Inside, the Alfa Spider features automatic dualzone climate control and steering wheel-mounted radio controls. There's switchable Vehicle Dynamic Control (Alfa Romeo's version of the electronic stability program) and cruise control.Power is by either the 138kW 2.2-litre JTS engine or the more powerful 195kW 3.2-litre JTS. Just weeks after it was revealed at the Paris International Motor Show, Alfa Romeo's new 336 kW super car, the 8C Competizione will take centre stage on Alfa's stand at the 2006 Sydney International Motor Show.The limited edition left-hand-drive only coupe is based on the showcar first seen in 2003.The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is inspired by Alfa Romeo's glorious past, beginning with the evocative name, which recalls the great sporting tradition of Alfa Romeo in the 1930s and 1940s.Those cars were equipped with a revolutionary straight-eight cylinder engine and the new 8C is also an eight cylinder - in this case a 4.7 litre example in a more traditional "V" configuration producing more than 330 kW. 

That might have applied a decade ago but now, when sedans shriek "look at me", you have to look under the finely-creased sheet metal and glittering lighting array to detect real class. That's why the latest of the keenly-awaited range from resurgent Alfa Romeo deserves more than a passing glance.Yes, they are cute – someone called them sexy – but the reality is that, following the back of a Brera through the gloom and drizzle of North Sydney the other day, what we saw was a small car with a derisory back seat and economy boot.Nuzzle up to the rear end of a Crossfire and at least you can get . a giggle; follow an Alfa and... mmm, another smart coupe. Even with the swooping V-shaped tailgate.The drab colour schemes on offer don't help. Then again, Alfa likes to call it understated. Then you spot the badge. It's bang in the middle of the boot lid and serves as the handle. The badge should say it all – Italian auto engineering at its best. Style. Comfort.Stick the right badge on the wrong product and think Rover . . . and shudder.But the legendary Italian company, which comes under the Fiat umbrella, has tapped into its illustrious pedigree and has taken no chances with its growing range of quick, pretty machines, from the three-door 147 through to the new flagship Brera JTS V6.They work well, feel good and give trophy hunters their money's worth.In the case of the top-of-therange V6 all-wheel drive, think nearly $95,000 of rib-tickling performance, superb handling and tireless front seat comfort. And then you see the long, fixed glass roof, almost nudging your hairline and wonder what would happen if the retractable liner didn't retract. On a hot day. Sitting in traffic.Turning to the rear accommodation we can only say Alfa didn't design this as a family car. Just throw your coat and laptop in the back and forget it. With the seats folded there is at least a boot big enough for a suitcase and a set of clubs.Now comes the really good bit, the meld of strong but subtle power and intense road-hugging produced by rigid platform and highly-tuned suspension. The V6 puts out 191kW of power at 6200rpm and 322Nm at 4500rpm. Insert the dash key, press the starter and pat the pedal for a reassuring high-pitched burble from the back.The 3.2-litre direct-injection V6 is harnessed by a six-speed manual transmission and puts power to the ground through a clever all-wheel drivemix favouring the rear wheels. An automatic is on the cards next year.The self-locking diffs send drive torque 57 per cent to the rear but shifts to where the 18-inch alloys say it's wanted. Acceleration is a fairly brisk 6.8 seconds for 100km with no loss of traction.The $69,990 model lacks none of the looks and specs of its glamour partner but expect to work the 2.2-litre harder around hills, especially when revs sink in third. Alfa is not looking at volume in this range but thinks it can eye off Audi TT, Chrysler Crossfire and Nissan 350z GT in similar price range.

The two-plus-two coupe was drawn by Giugiaro but built by Pininfarina and shares much with its four-door 159 sibling (including the V6-AWD powertrain that also debuts on the sedan at the same time) but with a shorter wheelbase. The platform has proved versatile for the Italian marque, with the new 169 and the Kamal SUV also built on the same underpinnings. Measuring 4410 mm in overall length, the Brera sits on a 2528mm wheelbase – 175mm shorter than the 159 – and measures a stout 1830mm wide and just 1341mm tall.Starting price for the svelte and attractive coupe is $69,950 for the 2.2-litre front-wheel drive model, rising to a steep $94,950 for the V6 all-wheel drive range-topper.The base-model uses a familiar 2.2-litre JTS direct-injection variable-valve four-cylinder, which produces 135kW of power and 230Nm of torque at 4500rpm – although Alfa says 90 per cent of that is around at 2000rpm.The all-wheel-drive model uses a 3.2-litre JTS V6 (with its origins at Holden's Melbourne engine plant) also with direct injection and variable valve systems. All four wheels are driven using a Torsen centre differential system by 191kW of power and 322Nm of torque at a lofty 4500rpm, although the V6 is also laying claim to 90 per cent available at 2000rpm.The local Alfa staff acknowledge the new coupe has a battle of the bulge on its hands, with the four-cylinder weighing 1470kg and the all-wheel drive V6 a portly 1630kg.Alfa Romeo says platform changes are under way now that the underpinnings are no longer shared with GM and don't have to accommodate V8 drivetrains – expect the GTA versions to have much leaner figures.The features list has plenty to offer, with a full-length glass roof (with sliding screen), seven airbags as standard (including a driver's knee airbag), the anti-lock and stability control systems, leather trim, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, trip computer, 18in alloy wheels and a six-speaker sound system with single CD slot sound and 10-disc stacker. The V6 shares the wheel diameter but gets a different wheel style, as well as adding premium leather trim, heated front seats, xenon headlights, a Bose sound system and Bluetooth for mobile phones.The range-topping V6 offers a muted but growly low-speed engine note that promises plenty but is stunted by the high kerb weight.A slick and solid gear change means keeping the V6 on the boil is anything but a chore – the flexible powerplant allows decent progress but its feels better in the mid-range. The cabin is plush, with comfortable seats that could do with a touch more later support and to be lower set, as head room is at a premium for anyone who is above 180cm.With the glass roof's sliding screen retracted, the head room improves slightly, but in mid-summer heat the screen will have to be in place.The rear part of the cabin might be fine for children but only four short-ish adults are going to be able to fit comfortably in the Brera.Pushing up the pace sees the AWD V6 providing a decent – if firm – ride for the most part, but the weighty nose and drivetrain conspire to push the nose wide when cornering briskly.The V6 returned figures in the high teens after some enthusiastic Hills driving (it can be swift if the heavy nose is compensated for), with Alfa claiming an official combined figure of 11.5.The 2.2-litre drops that claim to 9.4 and feels lighter in the nose and despite the reduced horsepower is a more pleasant car to steer, but the four-cylinder's performance suffers for the weight as well.The Brera has a shelf load of trophies for its styling and plenty of buyers will go for the coupe's sparkling looks, but time will tell if its lighter German competition suffers from conquest sales of the gorgeous little Alfa.SMALL TORQUEJoining the wagon trainALFA Romeo also has added a V6 AWD model and Sportwagon, below, to the local 159 line-up.The 159 uses the same drivetrain as the Brera – a Torsen all-wheel-drive system with 191kW of power and 322Nm of torque available.The 159 also gets 18in alloys, with heated front seats, bi-xenon headlights, a Bose sound system and Bluetooth for mobile phones.The 159 AWD V6 with a six-speed manual will be priced at $74,990.The Sportwagon also has been revived in 159 guise and will be available with a wide variety of engine derivatives, but only with a six-speed manual gearbox until next year.The Sportwagon 2.2 JTS will start at $52,990, while the 2.4 JTD starts at $58,990 and the range-topping Sportwagon AWD 3.2-litre V6 is priced from $77,990.

The beautiful Brera coupe, which has just gone on sale, is the most expensive Alfa ever.The base four-cylinder Brera costs $69,950 and the all-wheel-drive V6 range-topper is $94,950.Add the hefty $1750 for metallic paint and the V6 Brera will set you back $96,700.To put that in perspective, you could buy a Nissan 350Z coupe and a Mitsubishi 380 and have more than $5000 left in your pocket.The V6 Brera's price matches it against the Mercedes-Benz 3.0-litre CLK ($95,100) and two potent models that will arrive soon — the Audi TT V6 and turbo-boosted BMW 3-Series.That is some pretty esteemed company, but Alfa Romeo Australia marketing manager Ross Meyer says the brand is ready."We don't see the price as a problem," Meyer says."The early demand for Brera V6 is very strong. It does very well against some excellent opponents with its high level of standard equipment and performance."Then there is the style.The Brera first appeared at the Geneva Motor Show in 2002 as a design concept by Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro.At that stage, Alfa Romeo had no plans to build the car, but the overwhelming response to the concept car meant the Italian carmaker just had to make it.Alfa decided to produce the Brera as a replacement for the GTV coupe, built off the same base as the new 159 sedan.It did some fiddling, reducing the length by 5 per cent to 4413mm and lowering the body height by 3 per cent to 1372mm.The Brera is a 2+2, that is, a two-seater with two rear seats for children or grown ups prepared to squeeze in for short trips.Two models are offered: a four-cylinder and a V6. Both are available with a six-speed manual only, but a six-speed automatic will be added to the options list early next year.The base Brera is front-wheel-drive and runs a 2.2-litre four-cylinder that generates a modest 136kW and 230Nm of torque.Standard equipment includes leather seats, dual-zone climate control, CD sound system with 10-disc stacker, glass roof section, rear parking sensor, cruise control and 18-inch alloy wheels.Standard safety gear includes seven airbags, anti-skid brakes and electronic stability control.The Brera four weighs 1470kg and is able to go from 0-100km/h in 8.6 seconds. Fuel use is 9.4 litres/100km of combined city and highway driving.The AWD V6 Brera uses a General Motors-based 3.2-litre V6, the block made in Melbourne by GM Holden, though Alfa says much of the engine is its own design. The result is a six-cylinder that pumps out 191kW and 322Nm of torque.The V6 Brera comes with all the gear of the four-cylinder model, but adds "clover leaf" alloy wheels, premium leather seats, electric heated seats, Bose premium sound, Bluetooth connection system and xenon headlights.The extra weight of the bigger engine and AWD system pushes up the mass of the V6 Brera to 1630kg. Even so, the extra poke means it can dash from 0-100km/h in 6.8 seconds.Fuel consumption for the more powerful Brera is 11.5 litres/100km of combined city-highway driving.ON THE ROADAnyone who has flicked through Vogue can tell you fashion is expensive, but people are prepared to pay a lot just to look good.The Alfa Brera is a case in point. If it looked plain, or just plain ugly, only the daft would hand over $70,000 for a 136kW four-cylinder.But the Brera is beautiful. It looks simply stunning with its lovely coupe rear, wedge tail-light cluster and gorgeous lines, all of which make it stand out in traffic.The Brera looks good on these pages, but just wait until you see it in the metal.Looks will be enough for some people, but others will expect that an Alfa that can cost as much as $95,000 also needs to deliver the driving thrills to match.The Alfa is competent, but the car doesn't drive as well as it looks.It's a lot better than the GTV it replaces, which looked lovely but had a terribly loose body that affected everything from ride comfort to handling.Alfa has stiffened the 159 and Brera bodies and the improvement is noticeable.The Brera is a solid car that is comfortable, sits well on the road and hangs on to the tarmac through the turns.It just isn't that exciting.The AWD V6 is the most disappointing, because it promises so much.It's great for Lygon St cruising, because it looks great and emits a thick and creamy six-cylinder exhaust note through its rear quad exhaust outlets at low revs.But on winding roads such as those in NSW's Hunter Valley, where Alfa launched the car last week, the V6 Alfa just doesn't shine.A run in some of its rivals along the same stretch of road would leave the driver beaming for hours afterwards.The Brera's V6 engine is torquey enough, with enough muscle down low, but it is not strong up the top end of the rev range. There is also very little exhaust or induction noise to be heard when you are wringing the engine.One of the best things about a six-cylinder is the note it belts out up the top of the rev range — just listen to the BMW in-line engines or even the 350Z Nissan V6.It is also hard to get involved in the drive because the seats have very little support and you have to concentrate on leaning against the force of the turn, rather than just driving.The steering doesn't give the driver much feel either.The traction level of the Brera V6 is excellent and the car can punch out of the turns with confidence that only an AWD system can deliver.You do feel the extra weight, though, and the car is definitely not as nimble as the four-cylinder.The four-cylinder engine does well enough — if you are not that interested in a really sporty drive.The Brera is a competent car that looks stunningly beautiful — just don't expect it to be a red-hot sports car.

And yes, I am talking about a car; the Alfa Romeo 159, to be precise.

The 156 has done Alfa a fine service over seven years and now it's time for the 159 to drum up more volume in a segment traditionally dominated by perennial favourite, the BMW 3-series.

While it falls short in key areas, it is still a great piece of eye candy and one that's a hoot to drive.