Alfa's new badge puts the marque in clover

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Alfa Romeo is calling it the Monza, a 156 model update equipped with gear designed to emphasise the Italian marque's sporting heritage.

But the real clue to the package lies in the new-look badging. There on the boot and body of the 156 is the famous cloverleaf, the symbol of good luck that Alfa Romeo introduced to its competition cars in 1923.

The first car to carry the cloverleaf was a single-seater model called the RL Targa Florio.

Alfa Romeo importer Ateco Automotive New Zealand Ltd has added the cloverleaf badge to give its renamed Monza (after the Italian race track obviously) range an identify all its own.

The 156 Monza range includes the Twin Spark, Selespeed and V6 sedans, as well as the V6 Sportwagon. The updated package adds 40.5cm (16in) alloy wheels, leather interior, side skirts and red-on-black instruments.

"The 156 is already a well-equipped car," said Ateco general manager Lawrie Malatios, "but the Monza models add to its sporting edge."

The 2-litre, five-speed manual Twin Spark Monza costs $59,995 and the Selespeed variant $63,995. The 2.5-litre V6 with the six-speed manual costs $69,995 and the V6 with the sequential Q-system transmission is priced at $72,995.