Alfa 147 hatchback drives into fun new sales territory

The Alfa Romeo 147, Europe's Car of the Year, will arrive in New Zealand next April. DAVID LINKLATER took it for a spin in France.

There is no drop-off point at Nice airport's departure terminal. Instead, the signs send you straight to the Kiss and Fly lane. That's the thing about the southern parts of Europe - even the everyday is imbued with a sense of passion.

And that's the thing about the new Alfa Romeo 147, the European Car of the Year for 2001. Ostensibly a practical hatchback charged with getting young buyers into an Alfa for the first time, it's also still a car for the flair-aware.

Out go the controversial folded-cardboard styling cues and so-so cabin quality of the old 145. In come astonishingly pretty curves and a Germanic attitude towards cabin materials and finish.

Alfa launched the 147 to nearly 900 journalists from 62 countries in Monaco last month - hence the trip through Nice for the Kiwi contingent.

Speaking at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo, Fiat Auto boss Roberto Testore put the newcomer in context: "The 147 is the culmination of a design and industrial cycle that has resulted in a comprehensive renewal of the models in the Alfa Romeo range.

"The brand's potential is now even greater with the 147. We expect to capture the large public of the young, for whom we hope that the 147 will be the first of many future Alfa Romeos."

The 147 is purposeful looking but practical. There's up to 1030 litres of luggage space when the back seats are down and the hatch is cut 100mm into the roof for ease of loading. The 147 is a three-door only at the moment, but photographs of the five-door - which looks little different thanks to its 156-style hidden door handles - were revealed at the launch. It's set to hit European showrooms by April 2001. The 147 doesn't just borrow its styling cues from the 156. Its platform is a development of big brother's, too. Double wishbone suspension is used up front, with MacPherson struts at the rear. The 147 uses Twin Spark four-cylinder engines: 77kW and 88kW 1.6s, plus the 110kW 2.0-litre. The smaller engines get a five-speed manual transmission, while the 2.0 litre has been launched with the robotised Selespeed clutchless manual only. The European range will fill out with a three-pedal 2.0-litre in April. Also due at that time is an 81kW 1.9-litre common rail turbo diesel.

Our test drive took place in the finest rain the South of France could provide. At least it provided plenty of opportunity to admire the cabin, which sports classic cockpit styling cues but is also beautifully built.

Alfa has gone all-out to make the 147 the best-equipped car in its class - especially in terms of safety. Anti-lock brakes are standard and all but the base 1.6 litre also have an automatic traction control system called anti-slip regulation (ASR).

The 2.0-litre cars add vehicle dynamic control (VDC), which prevents the car sliding by braking individual wheels and adjusting the fly-by-wire throttle.

The 147 has six airbags as standard - two front, two side and two across the windows. Seatbelts are pretensioned and load limited.

The 147 is no more demanding to drive than any other mainstream hatchback.

The steering resists kickback over rough roads, the gearchange is slick and even the 1.6-litre engine does not need to be worked hard to produce good performance.

But the car is also in synch with the level of commitment from the driver.

The steering is quick in tight corners, the clutch is beautifully progressive for quick gearchanges and the engine makes the right Alfa-like sounds.

You don't need to be an Alfa aficionado to want this car, nor do you have to compromise compared with more mainstream hatchbacks.

The 147 is up with the game in terms of quality and ahead on equipment.

No wonder Alfa Romeo intends to increase its worldwide sales in the hatchback segment by 80 per cent.

The focus for New Zealand will initially fall on the 2.0-litre model when the 147 arrives in April.

The three-door will come fully loaded with leather trim and 17-inch wheels, and the option of conventional manual or Selespeed transmission. Expect it to cost as much as $47,000.

Those who yearn for a true entry-level Alfa will have to wait until the five-door arrives in the third quarter of 2001.

Local importer Ateco Automotive is considering a price-leading 1.6-litre variant at that time, to round out the range for family focused buyers.

Which, I'm certain, would make Mr Testore very happy.

Quite a wait? Well, yes. But quite a car.