Wow! Alfa's GTA is back in style

NEXT month sees the return of a legend. An Alfa Romeo GTA or, to spell it out, an Alfa Romeo Gran Turismo Alleggerita. It has been a long wait since the last GTA-badged Alfa , a competition Giulia Sprint which blazed a trail of success across the racetracks of Europe in the Sixties and Seventies, to make its name in the annals of international motor sport.

Today, Alfa's engineers have developed a new and exciting version, a GTA saloon and Sportswagon based on the revised 156 but with a new, bespoke 3.2-litre V6 24V engine providing all the power, a completely new suspension layout and settings, a much more powerful braking system, more direct steering, new gearboxes and sporty new 17-inch alloy wheels.

The result, as discovered on the open and twisting roads of northern Scotland, is a car providing safe and tremendously thrilling ride and handling. Throw this car into bends with a flick of the steering wheel and accelerate out and it is brilliant. The GTA sticks to the road like glue, powering its way through bends or straights with superlative appeal.

All-in-all it is a Wow! of a car. Seriously fast but reassuringly safe, vibrant and lusty, packed with excitement for those who seek it, yet at the same time capable of leisurely progress without strain. Nonetheless, it is overtly sporting.

To match that high performance rate, the car's design has also been slightly altered: the front end dominated by wider wings (necessary to cover the 17-inch wheels), while the fog lamps have been shifted towards the outside of the car, to allow the air intakes to do their job, sending more air to the engine. There is also a new, and larger, rear bumper which adds to the car's purposeful and muscular stance.

Inside there is much to comfort the driver and passengers. Good, firm sports seating, with adjustable thigh support, as well as built-in heating and head-restraints for the front seats.

The driver is faced by a dashboard featuring new-look gauges on a black background, and a multi-function display screen. The steering wheel is a unique spoked design, and the gear knob and leather gaiter are also exclusive. Foot pedals are aluminium with rubber inserts.

Much of the GTA's road holding is down to a reinforced suspension, special struts and different steering link fastening position, a lower ride height, new shock absorbers and spring settings and a larger diameter anti-roll bar.

Safety is paramount, with the GTA fitted with massive brake discs, with ABS anti-lock braking and electronic brake distribution, as well as vehicle dynamic control, which constantly monitors tyre grip, and with the aid of brake and engine can correct instantly any slide to keep the car on a stable course. The car is also fitted with emergency brake assist which helps the driver during panic braking, guaranteeing maximum deceleration, regardless of the force used on the brake pedal. Understeer or oversteer are reduced to a minimum with the car settling reassuringly and immediately by just lifting the foot from the throttle.

If a car ever speaks for itself it is the GTA ... a quintessential Alfa built for everyday use.

Of course the GTA would not be the car it is without its engine, a unit derived from the classic 3.0-litre V6 24-valve used in the 166, GTV and Spider. However, it differs in revised crankshaft and pistons, an increased cylinder capacity and larger intake and exhaust ports. Consequently, power has been raised to 250bhp at 6200rpm, with an impressive maximum torque of 221lb.ft at 4800rpm. This allows the driver to cruise in sixth gear at less than 2000rpm and still flex its muscles to accelerate away fast without changing gear. And, yes, it does have the Alfa Romeo deep throaty growl.

The six-speed gearbox to the front-wheel drive provides comfortable short throw, while an optional selaspeed with its F1 steering wheel change is available allowing for a more sporting drive.

The GTA can rocket to 60mph in just over six seconds and its top speed is way, way over the legal.

Finally, the GTA is a demanding badge to wear, in particular for Alfa Romeo dealers..

Pricing has still to be finalised but it is expected to be around £27,000, competing in particular with Audi and BMW in the same market. New conquest customers are also expected.

However, probably only 40 of the country's 82 Alfa dealers will at first sell the GTA, which could get up the nose of some of those left on the side-lines.

The philosophy behind this unusual sales approach is because the GTA Centres, as they will be known, is aimed at driving standards upwards. It is not a matter of cutting dealers out, reassures Alfa Romeo's United Kingdom bosses, but of encouraging dealers to improve their standards. It will not be a two-tier system. As standards improve so other dealers will receive GTAs.

"Because we will have only a limited number of GTAs available we want the owners to receive only the best attention possible, and other dealers will be encouraged to improve their dealerships, showroom space, servicing areas and so on, in order to join the GTAs," says Peter Newton, Alfa's public relations director.

As standards improve so other dealers will receive GTAs. The 40 dealers appointed will sell between 10 and 20 cars each, or more if the cars are available.

Whatever, the future of dealers, the GTA is here to stay because a lot of time and effort and money has gone into it.

Details at a glance

Model: Alfa 156 GTA (saloon or sportwagon form).

Price (likely): £28,000.

Dimensions: Length 4430mm, width 1765mm. height 1402mm, wheelbase 2595mm

Engine: 3.2-litre V6 24V; 3179cc.

Maximum power/torque: 250bhp at 6200rpm/221lb.ft at 4800rpm.

Performance: 0-62mph in 6.3-seconds, top speed 150mph.

Economy: Urban 15.3mpg, extra urban 32.2mpg, combioned 22.9mpg.

Tax emission: 293g/k

Brakes: Front discs ventilated, rear discs, with ABS anti-lock, electronic brake distribution.

Suspension: Front independent double wishbones, rear independent MacPherson struts.

Steering: Rack and pinion power steering. Lock to lock 1.75 turns.

Updated: 12:51 Friday, May 24, 2002