15.05.2004 The world's most extreme 'hot hatch', Autodelta's 325bhp 3.7 Alfa Romeo 147 GTA takes on the ultimate challenge as it goes in front of the TV camera's of BBC's 'Top Gear'

Less than six months ago, leading design and tuning house Autodelta, launched their own ‘extreme’ Alfa Romeo 147 GTA, into the public glare at the MPH03 Motor Show held at Earl’s Court, London.

Alfa Romeo had first presented the 147 GTA at the Paris Mondial in autumn 2002, and with its 250bhp 3.2-litre V6 engine, it heralded a return to producing truly exciting sporty cars.

After pressure from their customers, Autodelta, a company legendary for squeezing the last cubic centimetre out of Alfa Romeo engines, decided to push this rapid hatch ‘to the max.’

Their experienced and highly skilled engineering team bored the block out to a mind-numbing 3.7-litres, and, along with a re-worked cylinder head, which included new camshafts, re-mapped electronics, and a Ferrari-sourced throttle system, power was lifted to a quite staggering 328bhp.

The suspension was revised to cope with this extra horsepower, a new limited slip differential installed, new lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels added, and the brakes tweaked. Finally, their in-house styling arm Creativestudio, gave the car a new, more aggressive, yet still subtle, final appearance.

The end result was the world’s hottest hatch, by far! A blistering missile, proudly bearing the famous Alfa Romeo badge, capable of 0-60mph in five seconds flat and a top speed of 175mph.

Jeremy Clarkson, who drove it for the first time last month, summed it up in his ‘Times’ column as, “Mad amount of power and astounding grip make this the hottest hatch ever.”

The intervening months have seen an unbelievable response to the car. Earl’s Court was followed by an appearance at January’s Autosport International in Birmingham, while at the same time the media’s response was enthusiastic to say the least, and more orders have started to roll in.

Features in publications from national dailies to specialist titles such as EVO magazine, culminated in an invite by Jeremy Clarkson, still highly impressed after his first spin in the road rocket, for the 147 GTA to appear on this Sunday’s prime time BBC Top Gear TV show.

Easily the UK’s most prestigious automotive television program, the invitation was a real coup for a small company like Autodelta to line its product up next to the stream of major manufacturer’s big budget offerings.

The track test was scheduled for last Wednesday and the Autodelta team, along with the 147 GTA, headed for Dunsfold Airfield to meet the BBC film crew and presenters.

Others cars at the test were as good as it gets, a 306km/h 380bhp Flat-6 Porsche 911 GT3-RS was joined by the race-bred 300km/h 425bhp 3.6-litre V8 Ferrari Challenge Stradale.

While the Porsche and Ferrari were not going head-to head with the 147 GTA, Autodelta’s hugely enthusiastic boss Jano Djelalian was clearly delighted to be in such company. “People keep asking what the car’s like, can it handle all the extra power, this is such an opportunity to show what it’s capable of.”

By mid morning Top Gear’s resident test driver ‘The Stig’ was putting the 147 GTA through its paces, the Alfa Romeo V6 screaming gloriously around the wide sweeping straights and curves of this airfield track.

After half a dozen or so laps in the dry but overcast conditions, ‘The Stig’ brought the car back in and Jeremy Clarkson asked him what the thought. He was clearly impressed, “mad”, “powerful” and “grippy” were among the words he used.

Late afternoon saw a switch to the studio, with the red car being joined by two Alfa Romeo stablemates, a facelifted 166 3.2-litre V6 executive saloon and the new GT Coupe in 1.9 M-Jet format, for some light hearted banter and discussion.

It wrapped up a day that exceeded the expectations of the Autodelta team. Last word to Jano, “It’s been a really fantastic day, far better that I could have dreamt of. We have pitched our car in front of the TV cameras, joining cars with proven pedigrees and I am sure we have impressed the Top Gear team. They all seemed to like it, I can’t wait to see the programme now!”

Top Gear will be broadcast on BBC2 TV at 8PM GMT, Sunday 16^th May.

Photos: Sarkis Boyadjian