Latest Car News From DIGIADS

Latest Car News

New Car Review Areas

General Car Topics

Standard Production Alfa 147 Comes First At The Auto 24 Hours Review

May 2005
Filed under: ALFA ROMEO Car News | ALFA ROMEO Headlines
5/16/2005 -- An excellent result for Alfa Romeo at the "24 Hours" race organised at the Misano Adriatico circuit on May 11 and 12 by the monthly motor magazine “Auto”.

Alfa 147 1.6 Twin Spark at Auto 24 Hours

The Alfa 147 1.6 Twin Spark was first across the finishing line in the exhausting endurance race that the Italian trade paper organises every year to compare the reliability, resistance and performance of cars in a certain category when they are pushed to the limit.
The cars chosen this year were all standard production Segment C models, with petrol and diesel engines, and power deliveries of about 115 bhp for both types. There were 21 cars in all, from 11 different manufacturers, driven by Italian and foreign journalists and test drivers who took turns on the various models.

After 24 hours without a let-up, interrupted only by pit stops to fill up, and change drivers and tyres (supplied by Michelin), the Alfa 147 1.6 Twin Spark crossed the finishing line 27 seconds ahead of the BMW 118d and 4 laps ahead of the Honda Civic 1.6 V-Tec.

To achieve this exploit, the Alfa 147 covered 642 laps, the equivalent of 2606.5 kilometres, at an average of 108.5 km/h, replacing the front brake pads just once and changing its front tyres three times. 626.1 litres of petrol were consumed, for an average consumption – in extreme conditions – of 4.163 km/litre.

The 24 Hours were followed from start to finish by the telecameras of RAI TG2 Motori, and by three prestigious European magazines: Autocar (United Kingdom), Autovisie (Holland) and ViBilagare (Sweden).

“Auto 24 Hours” – Standings petrol category

1) Alfa Romeo 147 1.6 TS 642 laps (2,606.5 km) at an average of 108.542 km/h
2) Honda Civic 1.6 V-TEC Sport 4 laps
3) Citroen C4 Coupe 1.6 16V 7 laps
4) Toyota Corolla 1.6 VVT-i 11 laps
5) Mazda 3 1.6 16V 12 laps
6) Ford Focus 1.6 Ti-VCT 13 laps
7) VW Golf 1.6 FSI 15 laps
8) Audi A3 1.6 FSI 16 laps
9) Renault Mégane 1.6 16V 19 laps
10) BMW 116i 21 laps

The Alfa 147’s extraordinary reliability was also confirmed last week by a racing version which won the Nürburgring 24 Hour race for the third consecutive time, in the highly competitive Diesel Class. An Alfa 147 JTD 20V Multijet led the 23 competitors in the Diesel category, ahead of the BMW 330d (4 laps) and the VW Bora TDi (8 laps). That was not all, in the overall standings, the car took 13th place out of 216 participants, ahead of petrol-engined cars, some of which boasted twice the 147’s power delivery.

The strong points of the Alfa 147

The Alfa 147 guarantees exciting performance combined with distinctive “Italian styling” that gives the car its unmistakable line, and harmonious but “muscular” form.

Available with a 3 or 5-door body, on the Italian market the Alfa 147 comes in four versions (Impression, Progression, Distinctive and Exclusive), thirteen colours, and four interiors (two shades of black, grey or beige) with fabric, Alfatex or leather upholstery. There is a choice of three petrol engines and three turbodiesels: the petrol engines are two 1.6 Twin Spark 16 valve engines delivering 105 and 120 bhp, and the 150 bhp 2.0 16V, all from the Twin Spark family that has proved so popular with Alfa Romeo customers. The turbodiesels are the brilliant 1.9 JTD (100 and 115 bhp) and the powerful 1.9 JTD 16v M-Jet which delivers 150 bhp at 4000 rpm, but above all supremely enjoyable driving and amazing performance.

The Alfa 147 sets off its sports car credentials with an outstanding level of safety. The merit goes to the high torsional and flexural rigidity of the bodyshell (110,000 kgm/rad for the 3 door version and 95,000 kgm/rad for the 5-door), the excellent braking system and the array of equipment: from VDC to ASR, ABS complete with EBD, and curtain-bags. It also guarantees excellent handling on the road thanks to the generous tyres, which achieve an outstanding compromise between handling and comfort, and to the suspension layout (high double wishbones at the front and MacPherson struts at the rear). The result is a compact car that blends the superb control typical of front-wheel drive with the outstanding precision and response of a thoroughbred sports car.

The Alfa 147 produces excellent lateral roadholding, easy cornering and highly efficient, responsive steering; the new model transforms everyday driving, turning a simple journey into an emotional experience. This comes naturally to a model that was born to compete, but without exaggerating, guaranteeing excellent roadholding in all situations and on all surfaces. An “adult” sportiness which ensures that this exuberant compact responds promptly to the demand for power and performance, but is utterly safe at all times.

The Alfa 147 offers a long list of equipment and options, such as parking and rain sensors, a radio complete with a CD and MP3 file player, a Bose hi-fi system, two CONNECT levels and Xenon headlights.

Turin, May 16, 2005

Latest ALFA ROMEO Headlines

Latest Car News

All images courtesy of and copyright their respective manufacturers, unless otherwise indicated. They may not be reproduced or retransmitted in any way without the express written permission of their respective owners. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Model news and specifications are presented as provided by manufacturer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of DIGIADS. No warranty is made by DIGIADS with respect to the accuracy or timeliness of the information contained herein.
Copyright © 2000-2024 DIGIADS Australia All Rights Reserved. Contact Us
Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the DIGIADS Privacy Policy and User Agreement. 		Loading...