Italian Hatch Gets Timely Face-Lift

By The News Editor - 22/7/2005

Alfa Romeo has announced pricing for its new-look 147 hatch, which gives the model a more contemporary, cleaner look that past models, as well as lowering the price of the Italian import.

The Alfa Romeo 147 Twin Spark now costs $35,990 in 3-door form and with the versatility of 5-doors the new Alfa 147 is $37,490.

Fitted with the Formula One derived sequential manual gearbox, the Alfa Romeo 147 Selespeed is $38,990 in 3-door form and with 5-doors the new Alfa Romeo 147 Selespeed is $40,490.

Front and rear, the new Alfa Romeo 147 has a new, aggressive look, with a larger, repositioned Alfa Romeo shield and new headlights providing a new, more purposeful attitude, while the revised bumper includes a new spoiler with a discreet new mounting point for the new fog lights.

At the rear, the Alfa Romeo 147 has revised lights, hatch trim and bumpers endowing the rear of the 147 with a new, purposeful stance, boosted by the 17-inch alloy wheels, which are now standard on all models.

Inside, the Alfa Romeo 147 retains the interior against which all cars with sporting pretensions must be judged. From the hip-hugging, sports seats, to the triple-cowled instruments, the Alfa Romeo 147 interior screams unique.

For the new Alfa Romeo 147, this unique interior has been enhanced and honed to perfection with a revised instrument binnacle that houses improved instrument graphics that offer both improve clarity and a new touch of style. The entire dashboard now uses new surface finishes that are softer to the touch and have a new refined patten design, including the option of new two tone colour schemes. The passenger compartment is completed by a new premium cloth trim that is as durable as it is good looking. Even the boot has been improved with a subtle interior redesign lifting space by 15 per cent.

The Alfa Romeo 147 is spectacularly well equipped, whether it's the technical specification, with ASR, EBD and VDC all included in the equipment roster, or safety features, with six air bags, ABS brakes, fire prevention system, all included. And as for luxury. Power windows, mirrors and locks are included, as is cruise control, trip computer and dual zone climate control Air Conditioning. All versions have 'Super Sport' 17 inch alloy wheels fitted with low profile/high grip tyres.

In addition to the melodious sound provided by the renowned Alfa Romeo Twin Spark engine, the Alfa Romeo 147 is fitted, as standard with a digital radio/CD system, powering eight speakers, controlled by finger tip controls on the steering wheel.

And what of that unique engine? Efficiency is the name of the game, with two spark plugs per cylinder means that every drop of fuel sucked into the 147's engine is burnt for maximum effect.

In addition to producing 110kW @ 6300rpm, the Twin Spark unit pumps out 181Nm of torque @ 3800rpm with a commendably flat torque curve. This combines to produce a vital, exciting driving experience, whether the rev counter is being wrapped around to the red line or the torque is being left to push the 147 down the road.

Either way, 100 kmh comes up in 9.3 seconds and - where the law permits - the Alfa 147 maxes out at 208 kmh. That remarkable engine also means that all pleasure is not paid for at the fuel pump: The Alfa Romeo 147 will effortlessly offer a fuel consumption of 7.0 litres per 100 km on the open road.

And when it comes to those open roads, the Alfa 147 reveals another part of its impressive armory, a revised chassis. Already one of the best on the road, how could Alfa Romeo make it any better? By making it more comfortable. Alfa Romeo's skilled engineers have dialed in more suspension travel, which means that it can cope even better with the worst conditions on some of Australia's back roads. At the same time, the engineers have not forgotten that this is a sports a car, so that extra suspension travel is superbly well controlled, keeping body roll to a minimum and ensuring that the 147 goes where its aimed.

This has been achieved by fitting longer travel shock absorbers with revised rebound rates, the use of Teflon on the shafts to ensure smoother operation and the use of revised spring with more travel. A new hollow anti-roll bar saves 1.7 kg and improves resistance to body roll.

Supporting this new suspension are the set of computer controlled electronic chassis controls that stunned the world at the launch of the original Alfa 147, all honed and sharpened for the new model. VDC - vehicle dynamic control - makes ESP look pedestrian. Designed specifically for Alfa Romeo, its steps in to enhance the driving experience, not dampen it.

ASR allows both front wheels to spin together for a quick get away, but stops one wheel spinning for stability. EBD steps in and ensures each wheel brakes to maximum of its ability, maintaining vehicle directional stability.

The Alfa Romeo 147 already has 27 leading automotive awards in its account, including 'Car of the Year 2001', 'Volante d'Oro', 'Trophées du design 2000' and 'Auto Importado del Año en Brasil 2002', not to mention accolades from motoring magazine readers: 'Auto Europa 1' in 2001 and 'L'auto che preferisco' in 2001, 2003 and 2004. This is been followed by sales that have made the 147 one of the most successful Alfa Romeo in the company's history, with 360,000 people choosing the 147 between October 2000 and September 2004, including more than 4,000 in Australia.

"The awards won by the Alfa Romeo 147 and its outstanding sales have made it one of most successful Alfa Romeos in the company's long and illustrious history," says David Stone, General Manager for Alfa Romeo in Australia. "But even the best can be improved and that is exactly what Alfa Romeo has done with the 147, improved it but without affecting the fundamentals of style, performance and ability that have made it such a success."

"Although the 147 looks as fresh and appealing now as the day it was born - it has the ageless style of a true design icon - Alfa Romeo has provided the new 147 with a sharper, more aggressive stance and, with subtle enhancements, lifted the entire look of the car," explains Mr Stone. "Inside there are many changes that augment the character of the 147, while under the skin, the revised suspension provides a more fluent and comfortable drive for Australia's demanding roads, whilst not compromising its sporting prowess."

"But the biggest change to the Alfa Romeo 147 isn't in the car itself," explains Mr Stone. "It's on the price list. Despite all these changes and improvements, the Alfa Romeo 147 costs significantly less than when its launch captured the world's imagination five years ago. With an opening price of $35,990, the Alfa Romeo 147 maintains its unique combination of performance, style and ability matched to real value for money."