First Drive
Alfa GT 1.9 JTDm Cloverleaf
Test date 01 December 2008
Price as tested £21,980
What’s new?
It’s a limited-edition version of the Alfa GT. You get leather upholstery, lowered suspension, 18in wheels and a bodykit, mated to a 168bhp version of Alfa’s 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine and, intriguingly, its Q2 limited-slip differential.
What’s it like?
First, the good stuff. The Alfa GT still looks stunning, particularly in the Atlantico Blue of our test car; it’s possibly the only small coupé that can compete with the Audi TT on styling.
The LSD does a half-decent job of coping with the diesel’s 243lb ft, with only occasional torque steer. The gearbox is slick.
And, er, that’s it. The cabin packaging is poor, the dash ergonomics are patchy at best, the ride quality on those 18in wheels is marginal, the diesel engine is peaky and far too vocal for its own good, and fit and finish are too hit-and-miss to be convincing.
The Alfa GT might look great in your office car park, but it’s nowhere near special enough on the road. Alfa’s website blurb says: “Nuvolari would have been proud of it.” Somehow, we doubt it.
Should I buy one?
At just shy of £22k, the Alfa is usefully cheaper than a diesel Audi TT – which is just as well, because it’s a lot rougher round the edges.
However, the Alfa GT is a few hundred quid more expensive than BMW’s 120d ES. Unless looks are everything, we can’t recommend it over Bavaria’s finest.
John McIlroy
First drive data
How much?
- Price as tested £21,980
- Price as tested £21,980
How fast?
- 0-62 mph 8.2 sec
- Max speed 135 mph
How big?
How thirsty?
- Combined 46 mpg
- CO2 emissions 164 g/km
Engine
- Layout 4 , 1910 cc
- Max power 168 bhp at 3750 rpm
- Max torque 243 lb ft at 2000 rpm
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