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Going back to its roots

Alfa Romeo has returned to the GT circuit, albeit after a surprisingly long break of over 50 years. The Italian carmaker has a strong heritage in GT making, going as far back as the 1900 SS, the Giulietta Sprint and Sprint GT of 1963. It's therefore not a great surprise that the all-new Alfa GT encapsulates perfectly all that is the essence of a modern day GT.

The stylish four seater has been designed by fellow Italian coachbuilder, Bertone, with the help of Alfa Romeo Stile at Arese in Milan. The Gran Turismo sports coupe has stayed true to the Alfa shape. Bold in design, it features a rising waistline and flared, prominent wheel arches that make it seem solid on the road. Most eye-catching on the face is the classic Villa d'Este Alfa shield with its five horizontal chrome bars, which bisects the front bumper. And, in true Alfa style the number set is offset to the left, giving the car a special quirkiness.

The car is compact all round at 4.48m long, 1.76m wide and 1.37m high, with a wheelbase on 2.596m. Despite this inside feels remarkably roomy. As with all Alfa's the cabin is driver oriented. The height rake and reach adjustability of the seat allows for comfortable driving position for most sizes. The instrument panel is not obtrusive, and the centre console houses everything a GT driver requires for a comfortable air-conditioned drive.

Four engines will drive the Alfa sports coupe from launch, starting with a top-of-the-range 3.2 litre V6 boasting 243 ps (179 kW) at 6,200 rpm and developing 289 Nm (213 lb ft) of torque at 4,800 rpm. With the 6-speed manual gearbox, it takes only 6.7 seconds to accelerate from 0-100 km/h, before peaking at 243 km/h (151 mph).

A midrange 2.0 litre JTS also takes its place in the new GT powertrain line-up, offering 167 ps (123 kW) at 6,400 rpm and a torque curve that peaks at 206 Nm (152 lb ft) from 3,250 rpm. The JTS engine, which is coupled to a 5-speed gearbox, drives the new GT to 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds and has a maximum speed of 215 km/h (134 mph).

Alfa has surprisingly added a diesel option to the GT line-up – the 1.9 JTD 16v M-Jets – that has been mated to a 6-speed gearbox that takes the new model to 100 km/h in 9.6 seconds before reaching a top speed of 209 km/h (130 mph). The diesel variant offers a power output of 150 ps (112 kW) at 4,000 rpm and develops 305 Nm (225 lb ft) of torque at just 2,000 rpm. An entry level 1.8 twin spark unit will be introduced in the GT range later in the year.

The GT is a pretty safe car, with six airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners and a fully integrated fire prevention system. There is also ABS anti lock braking is combined with electronic brakeforce distribution over the four wheels and a vehicle dynamic control unit that enhances cornering stability. There is anti-slip regulation to limit wheelspin in acceleration and motor slip regulation to modulate braking torque when changing down gears.

It is hard to seriously flaw the new GT. It is stylishly constructed and executed to a high level inside and out. There is also a generous offering by at standard and a choice of engines that will satisfy most driving enthusiasts, as well as Europeans saving a few euros with the diesel option.

Alfa Romeo's return to the GT circuit should leave the likes of BMW with the 3 Series coupe feeling a tad insecure. With more confident styling that perhaps reflects the GT segment better, it's sure to push the benchmark forward.

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