SPEED US NOT INTO TEMPTATION (some text hidden) --NONE--

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Introductionword count: 88

With the 156 GTA, Alfa Romeo propelled themselves back into the premier league of sports car manufacturers. Here was a car offered as a saloon or a sleek Sportwagon estate, that was savagely quick and which boasted one of the greatest engines ever built. Of course, it didn't hurt that it was so beautiful it made your head swim either. Used examples occasionally make their way onto the market at rather attractive prices. So many modern cars are emasculated, dumbed down, politically correct palehearts. Here's a notable exception.

Modelsword count: 8

Models Covered: (4DR [3.2 SALOON AND 5DR SPORTWAGON])

Historyword count: 157

Alfa Romeo's competition Giulia Sprint GTA blazed a trail of success across the racetracks of Europe in the '60s and '70s, taking three consecutive wins in the European Touring Car Championship in 1966, 1967 and 1968 - and it deservedly occupies a proud position in the annals of international motorsport. Thirty-seven years later the company introduced two high performance road cars that combined an enviable motor racing pedigree with the sort of contemporary appeal that won the Alfa 156 the European Car of The Year title. The 156 GTA and 156 Sportwagon GTA went on sale in the UK in May 2002 and proved very popular with the sort of enthusiast who'd grown disillusioned with a parade of quick, soulless German alternatives. The 156 range was given a facelift in autumn 2003 but the GTA models carried on unchanged. The 159 arrived in February 2006 and that spelt the end for all the 156 models, GTA included.

What You Getword count: 213

No garish spoilers or side skirts, though slim skirts do feature and the front chin spoiler is deeper than on standard 156 models. Essentially however, the aggressive look is achieved simply through more aerodynamic redesigned front and rear bumpers and a lower stance with wider 225/45 ZR Michelins on 17" alloys. Circular front foglamps set like jewels into the new front spoiler, wider wheelarches, xenon headlamps, twin chromed exhaust pipes and red brake callipers bearing the Alfa Romeo script complete the visual package. Inside, the GTA benefits from dual-zone climate control so that driver and front passenger can set their own temperatures. There's also an impressive Bose eight-speaker stereo system - and the clever CONNECT 'telematics' system was an option - offering satellite navigation, internet use and access to the emergency services. There are six airbags as standard, plus the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) stability system, brake assist and Isofix child seat mountings. None of this, however, is really enough to make the GTA feel particularly special, so you also get special leather seats and carefully pleated door inserts, as well as bespoke alloy pedals and different speedo and rev counter graphics. No change to the steering wheel position though, so despite four-way adjustment, many will still find it just too far away.

To see the full road test text contact us on 0330 0020 227