Big-engined GTV an unbelievable experience

Breathtaking style and speed combine in one stunning package to make Alfa Romeo’s irresistible 3.0 litre GTV V6 an unbelievable experience.

The GTV is the coupe, roadster version of the seductive two-seater open top Spider, which caused the biggest stir among those who saw it than any other car I have test driven. They drooled over it, cocked their ears at its gorgeous growl and even, just for the hell of it, sat in it. And I had to detail to each and everyone of them just how excitingly it performed – throb by bloody throb!

Well, the V6 roadster, not too surprisingly, didn’t generate that sort of interest, but it was, nonetheless, equally as satisfying and exciting to drive with its muscular outright performance.

Beautiful, charismatic and breathtakingly dramatic in its design, in profile the car appears to crouch on the road thanks to deep grooves running from the front bumper up towards the cockpit ending behind the rear screen.

The boot which stretches away from behind the screen, is angled down, at first gently, and then more sharply as it meets the rear bumper. Visually, the car is perfectly balanced and the sharply raked windscreen accentuates the aggressive profile.

Head on, the appearance is equally distinctive. The familiar Alfa shield sits between twin recessed pairs of small, but powerful headlights, which surmount wide air-intakes set into the front bumpers. From the shield, grooves form an expanding V-shape which run to the edges of the windscreen.

Cosmetically, there are new body colours, side skirts, colour co-ordinated bumpers and side strips and a new design alloy wheel.

Inside it is basically a two-seater with an excuse for a rear seat that will only carry say the smallest of kids and a boot that holds very little. Overall, the cockpit is quite a tight fit with an adjustable, but high driving seat. Access, even for not so tall me meant bending and twisting the neck and ‘sliding’ the head under the roof.

However, once the rear is in place, in the case of the luxurious V6, on a Momo leather covered seat, you’re ready for your remarkable driving experience. As your hand moves into turn the key the eyes are drawn to the slightly revised instrument and control layout – clear, attractive and sporty.

Standard features on this model also include automatic climate control system with pollen filter, seats and door panels in Momo leather, front and rear spoilers, red-painted brake calipers and, if required, 17 inch alloy wheels.

POWER: Turn the key, fire up the engine, squeeze the throttle and that instantaneous aggressive Alfa growl muscles in on your eardrums. Yeah, this baby breathes fire from the off. And you quickly realise: it not only looks good, it sounds bloody great!

And so it should with its mighty 24 valve 3.0 litre V6 Twin Spark under the hood, belting out a whopping 220 horses at 6,300rpm together with some right meaty torque) for a bump to seat sprint to 60mph in 6.6 seconds (100mph in 16!) onwards to a top speed of 145mph, all aided in no small way by the short throw, close ratio six-speed gear shift, which moves so positively, right through the range. I averaged 23mpg.

It’s a heavier engine, this V6, and to allow for such up front there are slightly stiffer springs and retuned dampers to cope with the extra 60kgs.

Not a bit of bother on the wet, showing perfect poise and proving that even without traction control, it can hold its ground remarkably well.