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| Alfa
Romeo GT |
Broadcast
dates : 11th September 2005
17th September 2005 |
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Let’s
get one thing out of the way right now. The Alfa Romeo GT is
one of the most beautiful motorcars on the blue planet!
Scalloped bonnet lines curving seductively into the
traditional heart-shaped grille, eighteen-inch alloys and
fine-mesh intakes also hint at serious performance
potential. We’re looking at a true sports touring machine!
The interior is very similar to the 147 GTA with some detail
changes.
The GT is none-the-worse for that, as the sporting character
is perfectly in keeping with the pin-sharp exterior lines.
The seats are perhaps a bit snug for larger people, but they’ll
hold you firmly in place during fast cornering.
The oh-so-chic exterior is the work of long-time Alfa
collaborator Bertone. This Italian styling house also
designed the now much-sought-after Alfa GT Junior of the
1970’s. And there’s little doubt that the 2005 GT will
be just as iconic in years to come.
The GT is available, oddly enough, with a 1,9 litre diesel
engine. But our test model had the glorious 3,2 litre V6
engine, replete with trademark polished inlet tracts.
This is, in effect, a GTA motor, detuned slightly from a 184
to a 176 kiloWatts. It’s fitted with a six-speed manual
gearbox driving through the front wheels.
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The
suspension is based on re-calibrated 156 Sportwagon
specs.
Rumour has it that Alfa is forsaking front-wheel-drive for
its performance models and reverting to rear-wheel-drive
after a twenty-year hiatus. This is to compete with the
ever-more-powerful German sports models from the likes of
BMW and Mercedes.
Those who remember the 1984 Alfa GT V6 three-litre will not
be unhappy with a rear-wheel-drive renaissance.
There’s plenty of potential in that soul-brother V6 that’s
impossible to fully exploit with front-wheel-drive. But for
now, the GT is inspirational in its own right.
What price do you place on such sexiness? For R329 000 you
get 0-100 km/h in seven seconds, a 250 kp/h top-speed, and
real-time space for four-people.
As for style, Giorgio Armani must be eating his heart out!
Alfa Romeo GT 3,2 V6
- Engine: V6
petrol, 3 179 cc
- Power: 176 kW @ 6
200 rpm
- Torque: 300 Nm @
4 800 rpm
- Transmission:
Six-speed manual, front-wheel-drive
- 0-100 km/h: 7,04
seconds
- Top speed: 242
km/h
- Fuel consumption:
14,3 litres/100 km (Car Magazine figures)
- Price: R329 000
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