- by Remi Blondet
Alfa roars in with sexy new models
24 February 2003: Alfa Romeo returns to the Geneva Motor Show in the first week of March with no fewer than three world premières and lots of additions to the current range.The standard production models on the stand rub shoulders with racing cars, concept cars and cars outfitted with the TI sports kit.
The world première of the Alfa GT Coupé (above) takes pride of place on the stand. The model was created in conjunction with Bertone and offers original styling and exhilarating performance.
With a length of 4.48 metres, width of 1.76 metres and a height of 1.39 metres, the Alfa GT Coupé is aggressive and compact (its wheelbase is 2596 millimetres).
The spotlights will also be on another world first: the new Alfa Spider (above) and Alfa GTV (below), now with a brand new look and a revised specifications and power units.
The third attraction on the Alfa Romeo stand is Concept X, a motoring concept that is a fusion of different vehicle types. The model combines the off-road performance of an SUV with the dynamic features of an Alfa Romeo saloon while also offering a versatile and functional passenger compartment.
Two 147 GTAs can also be seen on the stand: the fastest, most powerful car in its segment (250 bhp). These will be joined by a 156 GTA with a robotised Selespeed gearbox.
Not far away will be an Alfa 156 GTA, winner of the FIA European Touring Car Championship 2002. This car’s presence will remind visitors that last year Alfa Romeo won its third consecutive European Touring Championship title. This success is added to the two Italian titles previously won by the car.
The Alfa 147 is present in two versions: a 140 bhp 1.9 JTD 16V Multijet and a 150 bhp 2.0 T.Spark 16V that features the sporty TI (Turismo Internazionale) logo that Alfa Romeo once used to designate its high performance cars. Now those two letters reappear on a special kit that can be added to Alfa Romeo models on request.
©2003 irishcar.com