28 April 2006
James Stanford
Diesel engines are the last thing most Australians associate with Alfa Romeo.
The Italian brand is known in Australia for style, spicy engines and in the past rust and the occasional breakdown.
Alfa Romeo has come a long way. It has dramatically improved its quality and is now introducing diesels to its Australian cars.
Diesel may be new for Alfa Romeos sold in Australia, but 76 per cent of Alfas sold globally are diesels.
Diesel Alfa sales are not just limited to the cheapest car in the range, the 147. Ninety per cent of sexy Alfa GT coupes sold around the world are diesels.
Better fuel economy is the main driver for diesel in Europe, because diesel is cheaper than petrol in most European countries.
Even so, the torquey characteristics of new turbo diesels are adding to their appeal.
Alfa Romeo's first diesel in Australia is the 147 JTD five-door hatch at $39,990. That represents a $2500 premium over the same car with a 2.0-litre petrol engine.
The 147 JTD runs a 1.9-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel with high-pressure direct injection (common rail).
It generates the same amount of power as the petrol engine, a total of 110kW when the engine spins to 4000 revs.
The big difference is in torque. The diesel pumps out 305Nm compared with the petrol's total of 181Nm.
All of this torque is on tap from just 2000 revs, very low in the rev range.
Turbo diesels such as the JTD engine of the 147 are perfectly suited to automatic gearboxes, so it's a pity the 147 JTD is available only with a manual gearbox.
No automatic is available from the Italian factory because automatic demand in Europe is limited. The manual, designed for the diesel engine, is a six-speed.
Alfa Romeo's fuel-economy figures claim the 147 JTD sips only 5.9 litres/100km of combined city and highway driving.
That compares with factory figures of 8.9 litres/100km for the petrol 147 model.
Apart from its engine and 17-inch alloy wheels, the 147 JTD is essentially the same as the rest in the 147 range, which starts with the 2.0-litre manual three-door at $35,990.
ON THE ROAD
Sitting at the traffic lights rattling away is not the Alfa Romeo experience that we expect.
Even worse is pulling away and shooting out enough soot to make pedestrians look a lot like 19th-century chimney sweeps.
We tested two 147 diesels and they both blew smoke — one more than the other.
Alfa Romeo says both test cars were early build models with the old fuel-injection calibration — which is why they smoked so much.
We briefly tested a third car, which didn't show signs of blowing smoke, but didn't have it for long enough to conclude the soot problem has been completely fixed.
What we did notice in all three test cars was the terrible rattle at idle.
It shakes like a diesel of old, is nowhere near as smooth as a diesel in a Peugeot 307 or Volkswagen Golf, and we can feel the vibration through the steering wheel and the body of the car at idle.
Then there is noise. When the engine spins up it sounds quite good, but rattles away like a delivery van before about 2000 revs.
But the pay-off for putting up with this is the engine's great performance.
If you like a rush of torque off the line and can put up with the rough and noisy idle, you will really enjoy playing with this engine.
It is unlike any other Alfa that we have driven before.
Past Alfas were known for their lusty, free-revving petrol engines with a delicious sound.
This diesel comes on song at 2000 revs, then drops off at about 4000 revs.
Alfa says the diesel is actually quicker than its V6-powered GT coupe, and we have no reason to doubt it.
Thanks to a high gear ratio, the 147 JTD rolls along at 1800 revs at 100km/h in sixth gear.
So how about fuel consumption? We used an average of 7.1 litres/100km, well down on what the car is capable of.
The average ran as low as 6.6 litres after some highway driving.
The fuel-injection tuning issue that Alfa identified may have affected the figures, so they are not conclusive.
Even so, we have to question how much you will save when you have to pay the extra $2500 for the JTD, then pay an average 10 cents a litre more for diesel at the bowser.
With diesel or petrol power, the 147 is a lot of fun on curving roads with good road-holding and comfort.
The high level of standard equipment, including the supportive leather seats, is very good. When it comes to style, the Alfa comes out on top.
The unique nose with the Alfa shield grille is not for everyone, but customers love it.
THE BOTTOM LINE
63/100
Diesel engine has tremendous torque but is too rough and noisy for a prestige car.
Herald Sun
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Alfa diesel more torque but more rattles too
Alfa eye candy
24 May 2006
Chris Riley
I've got to admit having a soft spot for Alfa's chunky 147 hatch.
While it falls short in key areas, it is still a great piece of eye candy and one that's a hoot to drive.
While the 156 on which the 147 is based is about to be supplanted by the new 159, it won't be until at least 2008 before we receive a replacement for the hatch.
In the meantime, Alfa has spiced up the range with the release of a special Ti edition, a moniker that is sure to bring back memories for followers of the marque.
The Ti or TI in the strictest sense of the term stands for Turismo Internazionale and is the mark of a car designed for the young at heart.
Who for instance could forget the remarkable Alfasud Ti of the '70s?
For an extra $4000, the three-door Ti delivers Ti embossed alloys, a roof mounted rear wing, top of the range sports seats and specially stitched leather.
Trimmed in light grey with fine red stitching, the same treatment is also used on the door trims.
The gearknob and steering wheel also get the leather treatment and black cloth roof lining completes the picture.
The wing comes courtesy of the heaving hitting GTA.
What the Ti doesn't get is the more sophisticated 2.0-litre JTS engine that is fitted to the 156 which is itself about to be supersdeded.
It makes do with the original Twin Spark four that develops 110kw of power at 6300rpm and 181Nm of torque at 3800rpm.
As it's name suggests it features two spark plugs per cylinder for more efficient combustion.
With variable valve timing the JTS engine with variable valve timing delivers superior power, performance and economy 121kW and 206Nm of torque.
The Ti is available with a choice of five speed manual or Selespeed sequential manual gearboxs.
Our test vehicle was the five-speed manual, with a short, sharp change that enthusiasts will love.
The car comes with Alfa's signature exhaust note, with a spring to its step that transforms the chore of commuting.
Although it remains front-wheel drive, the 147 responds quickly and accurately to input from the driver, with cornering limitations that the average driver is unlikely to exceed.
Rougher roads however are a test of the car's front suspension limits, particularly its ability to soak up bumps without affecting traction and/or steering.
The car takes premium fuel with fuel consumption a claimed 9.3L/100k. We averaged 10.2L.
Standard equipment includes six airbags, ABS brakes and electronic stability control.
There's also twin air, fully featured trip computer with distance to empty and a high quality eight-speaker CD sound system with steering wheel audio controls.
Alfa Romeo 147 Ti is priced $39,990 for the manual and $42,990 for the Selespeed clutchless manual version.
