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Production version of the new compact crossover from the Italian auto manufacturer. @Theoldjaffa your cup of tea?

Worrying signs. Article first linked from Jalopnik http://www.driving.co.uk/car-reviews/first-drive-review-2016-alfa-romeo-giulia-2/?CMP=Spklr-_-Editorial-_-FBPAGE-_-SundayTimesDriving-_-20160516-_-Driving-_-470274143-_-Imageandlink&linkId=24540857 However, in other areas, Alfa Romeo seems like a stuck record, its needle unable to play past a reputation for poor quality. One Giulia was wheeled off like an A&E casualty after the infotainment system failed. Another I drove had an engine warning light screaming for attention from the instrument binnacle, and the cruise control refused to switch on. A third car tested suffered a frozen infotainment system, which could only be brought back to life by stopping the car and switching the ignition off and back on, and at times some air vents stopped blowing air whilst others continued. One colleague suffered jammed parking sensors, so they drove around with the car going “beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep”.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/alfa-romeo-and-jeep-dealership-to-close-by-june SINGAPORE – Capella Auto, the agent for Alfa Romeo and Jeep cars in Singapore, is winding up its business by June and will sell its remaining stock of cars over the next few months.

This will be a New Thread For Alfa Discussion: Cheers

Are there any old alfa owners around? Old as in excluding the newer models like Giulia & Stelvio. Don't seem to be able to find any ongoing chats here

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/alfa-romeo-showroom-shut-staff-laid-off-as-spore-distributorship-set-to-change-hands https://m.sgcarmart.com/articles/articleinfo.php?AID=27419&CT=n SINGAPORE - EuroAutomobile will cease to be the official importer and distributor of Alfa Romeo cars in Singapore, while Komoco Holdings is set to take over the exclusive distributorship next year, The Straits Times has learnt. On Sept 30, the firm, which has held the distributorship since 2004, shut down its Alfa Romeo showroom at Leng Kee Autopoint and laid off four sales staff. EuroAutomobile is a wholly owned subsidiary of Catalist-listed EuroSports Global –known as a distributor of both new and pre-owned ultra-luxury and luxury cars including the Lamborghini brand in Singapore. ST understands that Mr Melvin Goh, founder of EuroSports Global, informed the affected staff of the company's decision when they turned up for work last Friday. One employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was not shocked by the news as "business has not been great". Sources with knowledge of the situation told ST that Stellantis, which owns Alfa Romeo, picked Komoco as the firm also distributes other Stellantis brands including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Maserati. Komoco is also the dealer for Alfa Romeo and Maserati in Shanghai. When contacted, Ms Tracy Teo, Komoco's marketing director, said: "At this present moment, Komoco has no comment on the matter." EuroSports Global's Mr Goh declined to comment. ST has also contacted Stellantis for comment. ST understands that EuroAutomobile has over 10 Alfa Romeo cars in stock, including test-drive cars and the firm will be selling them with the standard two-year factory warranty. Mr Gabriel Leong, 39, said the Giulia QV – the highest performance model sold in Singapore – which he bought from EuroAutomobile just over a year ago, had came with a two-year maker's warranty and an additional three years warranty from EuroAutomobile. "I hope whoever takes over the distributorship will honour the warranty," said Mr Leong. Data from the Land Transport Authority showed 10 units of Alfa Romeo were sold between January and August in 2022. In 2019, Alfa Romeo registered 60 units, with the number falling to 39 in 2020 and 37 in 2021. For its last financial year ended March, the group reported a net loss of $1.3 million on revenue of $54.4 million. The gross profit of its automobile distribution business fell 10.7 per cent to $8.98 million, while the gross profit margin for the segment dropped 1.3 percentage points to 16.2 per cent due to lower prices in some new car sales. Lamborghini sales rose by $6.22 million to $41.95 million or 77.2 per cent of the group's total revenue. But sales of Alfa Romeo cars dipped by $0.31 million to $6.9 million. In a bourse filing in July, EuroSports Global said it was undergoing a strategic review to consider options for its various businesses to evaluate opportunities and positioning, with a view to unlocking value and maximising potential value for stakeholders. The group said the review, which would include assessing options including potential fund-raising exercises or restructuring of companies within the group, "is timely to assess the future of the business and optimal path for the group to realise its potential".

There will be 1,770 of these patrolling Italy. The Carabinieri is the division of the Italian military that's responsible for policing the country, and the force has a long historical relationship with Alfa Romeo. As the latest step in this connection is Alfa delivering the first specially equipped Giulia for the Carabinieri's Nuclei Radiomobili patrol units. The force will eventually have a fleet of 1,770 of these vehicles. Under the hood, there's a 2.0-liter engine with 197 horsepower (147 kilowatts) and an eight-speed automatic transmission. This gets the sedan to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) in 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 143 mph (230 kph). Special sedan The Carabinieri-spec Giulia gains B4-level armor for the windows and front doors. This is enough to protect against pistol cartridges up to a .44 magnum. There are emergency lights on the roof, and each one has a separate fairing, which makes them look aerodynamic and stylish. There are also flashing lights on the side and LED flashers on the mirrors. An interesting touch on the inside is that the detention cell can only hold one arrested person. The advantage is that three officers could ride in this Giulia. An Important Anniversary The delivery of the new Alfa Romeo Giulia falls exactly 70 years from the date when the first Alfa entered service: this was the 1900 M "Matta." It was followed soon after by the arrival of the 1900 sedan and the consequent birth of the emergency response car of the Carabinieri. Then came the Giulia in the '60s, followed by the Alfetta, Alfa Romeo 90, Alfa Romeo 75, Alfa Romeo 155, Alfa Romeo 156, and Alfa Romeo 159. In 2016, Alfa Romeo delivered two Giulia Quadrifoglios to the Carabinieri for use in Rome and Milan.

It has been quite some time on a thread for Alfa 147 (aka 937 Model)... Well, this model is a decade old this year and no longer in production since the Giulietta is replacing the 147. If i'm not wrong last production came out of Turin in 2008? I understand there are less than 250 147s on the road currently based on 2 reliable sources and i believe since the 147 is launched back in 2000, this year onwards we may see more and more 147 on the chopping board. I've been in Kranji a couple of times this year and already since 4 chopped 147s within a month... The 147 GTA is even more rare now and believe to be less than 20 on the road... given the chance i would consider selling my 2.0 for a GTA and keep it for many many years to come. Those who owned, still owning or even driven the 147s, do share your experience on the beautiful bella! 147 specs that was launched in the 10 years of production (Some specs not available locally): Alfa Romeo 147 1.6L TS (Manual) Alfa Romeo 147 2.0L TS (Selespeed/Manual) Alfa Romeo 147 3.2L V6 (Selespeed/Manual) Special Edition: Alfa Romeo 147 TI Alfa Romeo 147 Q2 Alfa Romeo 147 Murphy&Nye Alfa Romeo 147 C’N’C CoSTUME NATIONAL Alfa Romeo 147 Ducati Corse Alfa Romeo 147 Collezione Alfa Romeo 147 Blackline

Anyone selling their GT, AR147 or 156? Or maybe even the 159, from the earlier batch, if the price is right. Prefer 2005-2006 car due to budget limitations (159 might be far fetched at this price point). Best if it's a manual, wouldn't mind a selespeed if I cannot find manual transmission. Can call 9838 3435 if you thinking of selling. Cheers.

https://jalopnik.com/the-alfa-romeo-gtv-is-back-with-more-than-600-horsepowe-1826477782 Alfa Romeo’s GTV is a storied nameplate if there ever was one. The GTV, which stands for “Gran Turismo Veloce,” or Fast Grand Touring, has been an Alfa Spider, an Alfa Giulia, an Alfa Alfetta, and a Spider again. And now it’s back with a lot of power. If you can’t read the powerpoint slide helpfully provided to everyone from Alfa’s parent company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, it’s set to have a 50/50 weight distribution; more than 600 horsepower from “E-Boost,” or what’s more than likely a hybrid setup, all-wheel-drive, and “four-passenger seating.” Or, in other words, it’s going to be a coupe. In case you couldn’t tell already from the faint single line on the side of the car, implying one (1) door per side. You know. Like a coupe. With two doors. That’s what coupes are. In fact, it looks remarkably like an Alfa Giulia coupe, and if we’re doing our math properly, it all sort of implies there’s going to be an Alfa GT as well, in addition to the GTV. Alfa’s got all the engines for a more down-market GT coupe to complement the GTV, complete with a range of four- and six-cylinder engines, after all. And we’ve got no problems with an Alfa Giulia coupe, seeing as how the Giulia is one of the best cars on sale today, when it works. Already we’re seeing this thing aimed at the BMW 8 Series and Polestar One. Not that we’re complaining. More on FCA’s plan as we get it. Alfa Romeo brings back 8C and GTV, and adds two more SUVshttps://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/alfa-romeo-brings-back-8c-and-gtv-and-adds-two-more-suvs Alfa Romeo will reintroduce two iconic models, the 8C and GTV, by 2022 as part of a bold five-year strategy announced today. It will also launch a new mid-sized SUV and a large SUV that sit, respectively, below and above the Stelvio, which has brought huge success to Alfa Romeo since launching last year. The Italian brand also confirmed long-wheelbase versions of the Giulia and Stelvio. LWB variants are a growing trend, thanks largely to demand in China, where chauffeur-driven cars are popular. The strategy should mean 400,000 sales for Alfa Romeo by 2022, said brand boss Timothy Kuniskis. This year's sales are projected at 170,000 units. The new additions coming by 2022 will almost double Alfa Romeo's line-up, bringing the range to nine models. Currently, it consists of the Giulia, Giulietta, Stelvio, 4C Spider and Mito. The Mito had been highly tipped to be axed, and although there was no mention of it in today's announcement, a product plan slide suggested that the model will be phased out by 2022. The new 8C will be a twin-turbo mid-engined sports car with an electrified front axle delivering at least 700bhp with a 0-62mph time of less than three seconds. The last time we saw the 8C nameplate was during 2007-2010 with the 8C Competizione, which was a front-engined model that used a 4.7-litre Ferrari-derived V8 and achieved the benchmark sprint in 4.2sec. Meanwhile, the GTV — essentially a coupé version of the well-received Giulia — will have more than 600bhp with E-Boost technology, all-wheel drive torque vectoring, 50/50 weight distribution and room for four occupants. The last GTV went off sale in 2005. Talking about its plans to relaunch the 8C and GTV sports cars, Kuniskis said: "Alfa will deliver the sports car of each segment it enters. We know our future depends on staying true to our sports car roots; cars designed to represent the brand’s position and inspire the next generation of customers. “The 8C is a true supercar with a mid-engined, carbonfibre monocoque chassis and electrified AWD system. It’s a car that will be born for the track here at Bolocco. “We also want a sports car as attainable as it is aspirational, so we’re bringing back one of the most fabled names in Alfa history, the GTV. The Quadrofoglio model will deliver more than 600hp." On the two new SUVS, Kuniskis said: "The timing of our expansion plans couldn’t be more optimum. The premium market is growing and there are considerable opportunities int hat segment. “There are two key segments: compact UV [utility vehicle] and full-sized UV. These segments represent 81% of global premium market growth. We will ensure each new product embraces our brand principles. “What we’ve learned in last four years is that when we stay true to Alfa DNA, we can stand out in any segment, as we did with Stelvio.” He added that, by 2022, Alfa Romeo will compete in more than 70% of the premium industry: “We will launch the sports cars of every segment.” As with all FCA brands, Alfa is phasing out diesel engines from its range, and is launching a range of mild hybrids, hybrids and plug-in hybrids. It aims to offer an electrified version of every model in its range by 2022, including six PHEVs. Alfa’s PHEV system will allow cars to complete around 31 miles on pure electric power, and offer 0-62mph times in the mid-4sec area. All of its models will also offer level two or three autonomous driver assistance systems. Talking of the brand's struggles, FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne said: "We got two things wrong - we underestimated the industrial complexity of launching a brand as complex as Alfa. This caused delays in launch, additional cost, and slowed down the development portfolio. We also underestimated the reaction of Germans to the reintroduction of Alfa." "Would I do it again? Not in the same way, but certainly would do it again."

A video from @SG Road Vigilante has been circulating showing an Alfa Romeo hitting the road kerb before lurching to the right and flipping over! The incident happened along the long stretch of road before the State Courts and the Ministry of Manpower. The car suffered extensive damage throughout this incident. Credits: Mothership It is definitely a well-loved car, with one sgCarMart consumer reviewer, Michaelkoh, describing the car as something, "Under the radar gem. (With) Striking design and styling without the excessive price tag. Definitely a top consideration for those looking for cars in the $100-120k range." After searching on our sgCarMart used car section, we found that there isn't any current pre-owned Giuletta in the market. If you guys are looking out for an Alfa Romeo Giulietta for your next ride, please keep a lookout for one with an uneven sloping roof and perhaps tyres that are painted with "POTENZA" in white.

This is what a modern Alfa Romeo supercar should look like. When looking at Alfa Romeo's lineage, a handful of models come to mind: The Guilietta, the Spider, and the GTA are a few. But the lovely Montreal, introduced in 1970, often goes overlooked. Maybe because it was a more-expensive, less-impressive alternative to the Jaguar E-Type and Porsche 911. Nevertheless, one designer wants to see the nameplate back in the Alfa Romeo lineup, and his take on a modern Montreal could influence us to say the same. Luca Serafini (the same rendering artist behind the Mustang SUV concept) presents his futuristic take on the old-school Alfa Romeo Montreal. And it's stunning. He calls it the "Montreal Vision GT," and like other Vision GT-branded concepts before it, this one would look at home in the game Gran Turismo Sport. But this concept is more than just a look at what could be; Serafini channels his personal history in this handsome creation. "Back in 1986, my father bought a shiny orange Alfa Romeo Montreal," Serafini notes. "It was all original, except the exhaust system. I remember the night he came home with the quite irregular V8. He parked it in the rear garage. The smoke was surrounding it, and the first thing I saw was the red tailights and chromed mufflers." "As a young boy, I can say it was the beginning of my growing love of the automotive world. Quite often I went downstairs to uncover the orange Alfa to see its reflections, lines, and shapes. Smelling the leather interior and acting like a pro driver. I loved the concave steering wheel, especially. Nowadays, it's not a unicorn – but for me it was." The visual comparisons to the original Montreal are obvious. Alfa Romeo's signature triangular grille, hood-mounted vents, and dual headlights with nifty louvers all carry over. We can only hope that a modern take on the Montreal's original 2.6-liter V8 (maybe with the help of an electric motor) would find its way underhood.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2017/11/alfa-romeo-to-return-to-f1-with-sauber.html The Sauber F1 Team have signed a multi-year technical and commercial partnership with Alfa Romeo, returning the Italian car manufacturer to F1 after an absence of more than 30 years. The deal will see the Swiss squad renamed Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team from 2018, with the car bearing the Alfa Romeo logo and being equipped with 2018-spec Ferrari engines. “This agreement with the Sauber F1 Team is a significant step in the reshaping of the Alfa Romeo brand, which will return to Formula 1 after an absence of more than 30 years,” said Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne, who also acts as CEO of Alf’s parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. “A storied marque that has helped make the history of this sport, Alfa Romeo will join other major automakers that participate in Formula 1. The brand itself will also benefit from the sharing of technology and strategic know-how with a partner of the Sauber F1 Team’s undisputed experience. “The Alfa Romeo engineers and technicians, who have already demonstrated their capabilities with the newly-launched models, Giulia and Stelvio, will have the opportunity to make that experience available to the Sauber F1 Team. At the same time, Alfa Romeo fans will once again have the opportunity to support an automaker that is determined to begin writing an exciting new chapter in its unique, legendary sporting history.” Pascal Picci, Chairman of Sauber Holding AG, added: “We are very pleased to welcome Alfa Romeo to the Sauber F1 Team. Alfa Romeo has a long history of success in Grand Prix racing, and we are very proud that this internationally renowned company has chosen to work with us for its return to the pinnacle of motorsport. “Working closely with a car manufacturer is a great opportunity for the Sauber Group to further develop its technology and engineering projects. We are confident that together we can bring the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team great success, and look forward to a long and successful partnership.” Alfa Romeo was the dominant force as the Formula 1 World Championship began in 1950, with the Italian marque claiming an historic 1-2-3 in the first ever race at Silverstone before claiming back-to-back world championships with Nino Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio. The Milan-based marque then served an engine supplier for several teams from 1961 until 1979, before returning with a works team from 1979 to 1985. Sauber have not yet revealed who will race for them in 2018, but having strengthened their ties with Ferrari – which carries Alfa logos on its cars - the Scuderia’s junior drivers Charles Leclerc (the recently crowned F2 champion) and Antonio Giovinazzi are thought to be firmly in the frame for seats.

Juz like Alfa Romeo Giulia. Sibeh Chio

The Alfa Romeo Tonale is a surprise addition at Geneva, with the compact SUV based on the same platform as the Jeep Renegade. There's a new arrival in the compact premium SUV market in the form of the Alfa Romeo Tonale. The Italian auto manufacturer revealed a concept version of the new model at the Geneva Motor Show, and it slots into the range below the Stelvio. Under the skin, the Tonale is based on the same platform as the Jeep Renegade, but it gets a completely different look to its US sister model. The Tonale looks very much like a shrunken Stelvio. Styling features include a distinctive nose with an extended front overhang, the traditional Alfa shield grille and slender three-bulb headlights. A long bonnet leads back to the rakish windscreen, a low roof and curved rear end. Some of the concept's design touches, such as the slender wing mirrors and small tail-lights, are likely to be tweaked for the final production model. There’s no information on engines or specs, but we expect power units to be pulled from elsewhere within the FCA Group, with likely options including the latest Firefly petrol engines seen in the mechanically similar Fiat 500X, but with the added attraction of hybrid drive. Also, the new Alfa is likely to be one of the better handling models in the class, as the Italian firm focuses of offering a range of sharp-handling models. When it does go on sale, the Alfa Tonale will enter an exceedingly crowded SUV market at the very closely-fought small SUV end. The exact size of the newcomer is unknown but it's likely that the brand will be pitching its effort at the likes of the BMW X2, Volkswagen T-Roc and Audi Q3, as well as more mainstream models such as the SEAT Ateca and Nissan Qashqai. The Tonale follows on from the Stelvio in taking its name from a mountain pass. At 1,883 metres the Tonale pass in Northern Italy is lower than the famous Stelvio, which sounds about right for Alfa’s more diminutive SUV model.

How do you think of it? Thanks Google for the images.

With lesser demand for small three door hatches in Europe, Alfa has decided to pull the plug on its MiTo come the start of 2019. Based on the same platform as the Opel Corsa D and Fiat Grande Punto, the hatch has been on sale since 2008. According to Autocar, Alfa Romeo's Europe Chief, Roberta Zerbi, said that “people are choosing more and more five-door cars”, and the “MiTo is a three-door”, making it not relevant in today's market. Unfortunately, the car will not be replaced by a newer version. Instead, a new small crossover will be launched to hopefully capture a wider market. The unnamed crossover is expected to arrive in 2020.

Just saw this article by a foreign GTA owner. thought I'd post it Do Share your experiences My wife took the GTA to the shops and on a few errand runs today while I moved people in the bus. She said after spending a day with it that some unusual behaviour came her way: At junctions she was let out immediately where she'd usually end up stuck and waiting a long while. In one case, the guy who let her out waved and said Thank You to her. She found that going along dual carriageways, cars in front veritably jumped to get out of the way. In M and S car park, as she was prowling about trying to find a parking space, a fella waved at her as he walked towards the car park and said he was going and she could follow him back to the space he was about to vacate. Which she did. She also said that when she started it (She tends to step on the gas when starting cars as the bus needs this to start at all) to come out of M and S a large crowd of teenage yoofs nearby cheered, smiled and waved at her. She commented that people smiled at her and she received a number of thumbs up and waves as she prowled out and when stopped in traffic she found she was being glanced at a lot. She was quite confused by it all. She actually praised The Beast which is rare as I usually get more negative comments involving 'waste of time and money' and 'haven't you got anything more useful to do?' Type comments in reference to the GTA. I was pleasantly surprised and felt the need to share. Do any of the assembled male GTAists find their ladyfolk are treated differently in a GTA than in a more day to day car. Or indeed visa-versa?

Alfa Romeo has been on a roll recently with both its Giulia and Stelvio getting good reviews around the world. So what is next for the company? According to Auto Express, the brand is probably going to update the Giulietta and the 4C. 'In order to complete the Alfa range of products,' Alfa's Chief Technical Officer Roberto Fedeli was quoted in the article that 'we need another couple of pillars - something in the C-Segment and then obviously a sporty product, a very sporty product.' It was suggested that the Giulietta could use a shortened version of the Giulia sedan's platform, allowing the car to be rear-wheel driven but recent years have shown that its parent company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has been trying to avoid this segment by discontinuing the Lancia Delta and Dodge Dart as it is not a good monkey-making segment. On the other end, the 4C fans might be happy to hear that Alfa Romeo is studying the possibilities of installing a different engine or using another architecture for its successor. However, purists will be sad to hear that the company will not allow the car to have a manual transmission.

Alfa Romeo has announced its future plans at a conference recently and we are happy to share that its GTV and 8C are making a comeback. Details for the GTV that will be launched by 2022 include having a perfect 50/50 weight distribution and space for four occupants inside. Also it will have in excess of 600 horsepower from an undisclosed powertrain with E-Boost technology and all-wheel drive torque vectoring. Likely to be sporting a Quadrifoglio name, it is expected to go up against the BMW M4, Audi RS5 and Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe. Meanwhile, the 8C supercar will have more than 700bhp that is generated by a hybrid powertrain, with a twin-turbo mid-engine powering the rear wheels and an electric motor channeling the output to the front axle. It is said to be able to complete the century sprint in under three seconds. It will also feature a carbon fiber monocoque chassis and will also make use of the Quadrifoglio logo too.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia has been well received by the press since launch but the car has been hit by problems since then. Touted as one of the best high-performance sports sedan in the market, the car is rated by most publication to be as good as a BMW M3 or Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. However, things aren't looking that great for the brand in America. Road & Track took the car out for a review and during the test, the car struggled to complete a single lap on the Gingerman Raceway without issues. The incident was then published on the american magazine and it caught the attention of Reid Bigland who is the head of Alfa Romeo and Maserati. Bigland apologised for the issues and went on to explain that the shipped straight from the factory and bypassed the normal dealer inspection process which caused it to miss several software updates. He also went on to say that the brand has "experienced some challenges" with the car's software. Read what happened to Road & Track encountered with the 505bhp Giulia here.

Ah, the 166, 164, 155, 75, 159, 147, 33..... All of these are numbers that actually relate to models of Alfa Romeo. I love Alfas, in one form or the other they stir something deep down in me. No, not my loins but a certain flutter in the heart, my knees go weak and my head goes light. The feeling is somewhat similar to being in love I suppose, or the feeling you would have if either Eva Longoria or Mila Jovovich just passed you by and flirted at you. But somehow these were cars that were designated mere numerals and this fact somehow does not dilute the Alfa Romeo passion in most of us. Even if we cannot bring ourselves to rush out and buy one. But things are getting better, Alfa Romeo is going back to the good ol' days of the 1960s and 1970s where they named most of their cars. Its not like it has been an Alfa habit to either name or number their cars. While we are aware that some of the classics like the 8c 2600 models from the 1930s or the Tipo 33 models were basically model numbers. But somehow cars with names seem more magnificent. Imagine the words 'Alfa Romeo Brera' rolling off the tip of your tongue or 'Alfa Romeo Giulietta'. Say it with an Italian accent and it sounds spectacular. Another non-Alfa example that makes the most sense in proving this argument is that other Italian car company called Maserati. The word 'Quattroporte' sounds exotic but all it means is 'four doors' yet it sounds like something epic. Yet if it were an American or an English manufacture, I strongly state that if Alfa named their cars 'Rufus', 'Chuck', 'Blair' or 'Mortimer' things would be so different, and really horrific. And maybe this is why Alfa is going back to using names for their latest models. The Brera was the first of the newly named Alfas and this was followed by the MiTO and now the new Giulietta, which is the Alfa 147 replacement. The Giulietta looks fresh in a retro sort of way and looks like no other hatchback in the market. Much like the the newly launched smaller MiTO model and also the Giulietta predecessor, the 147 when it was first launched. Which brings me to the 147, the last Alfa I had driven. The 147 was indeed a worthy Alfa due to the fact that it had pretty nice engines, 1.6liters right up to the GTA with that 3.2liter engine which must have been a real beast to drive. The metallic grey 147 (much like the picture) I drove had a 1.6 liter twin spark and a 5 speed manual transmission. It was a pre-facelift model without the 159 style tweaks. While it is a front wheel drive, it still could make me feel good after driving it. Maybe its the badge on the steering wheel. Or the fact that during sharp corners it responded in a dutiful, predictable way with the steering giving good if not great feedback from the road. If you were to really fling it into a corner it may not be the final word in precision due to some front wheel scrabbling when you're exiting the corner but that does add to the drama and fun. But while most front drivers also do that, when you add a sonorous twin spark sound to the picture it gets even better that usual. Not biblical or epic like but good enough for the average Joe. While the sound is pretty muted from inside the cabin and I wished for something louder, not many in-line 4 cylinders sound like an Alfa 4 cylinder. Oh yeah, the seats were pretty good with support in the right places and none of that infamous long armed, short legged Italian driving position we've all heard of. Now don't ask me about rear legroom or rear head room or any of that sort; it's an Alfa, and I was driving it. That's all that matters. It is a flawed gem. The reason I say this is because the ride was decent, the handling predictable, steering precise with some feel to it and the engine good to listen to when you want it to sing. The interior needs help. The gearshift felt like a Datsun 120y. It was loose and slightly vague. I dont know whether the one I tried had a tired gear change and the owner didn't fix it or whether it was a natural 147 character flaw. Also parts of the armrest felt like melted sticky plastic, most probably melted due to the hot, humid South East Asian weather. The gearshift I can live with, as we humans tend to get used to something (even something bad) after a while. I actually got used to the gearshift after awhile. And maybe I could live with the slightly sticky plastic. Heck, whatever I complained was actually forgotten when I started the car and drove off. Condemning the 147 for the details above would be like kicking out a certain beauty queen from a swimsuit competition instead of a competition that required her to speak English. This is because the main points of enjoying an Alfa are the soul, character and a sense of occasion it has that is built around its engine, chassis and heritage; and not marred by wonky gearshifts or bad plastic. So in conclusion, the Alfa 147 is a flawed gem that should be remembered by all. Of course, if this were something Korean, Chinese or Malaysian, we might simply call it rubbish. Now aren't Alfa Romeos great?

Is this a good buy, registered in 2008? Any known problems that I should check for? http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.ph...916&DL=1389

Turkish designer, Olcay Tuncay Karabulut has gone and made a stunning rendering of what Alfa Romeo's return to Formula 1 would look like after FCA boss Sergio Marchionne said that he would like Alfa Romeo to return to Formula 1 as a works team. While Alfa's return to F1 is far from firm, Alfa fans like Olcay have been busy fantasizing about the how the car might look like. We did find Olcay's rendering slightly too futuristic though. According to Olcay, this Alfa Romeo AW30 is a 1,000bhp monster and is capable of a sub 3-second century sprint timing.