The revised three- and five-door Alfa Romeo 147 range has just gone on sale in South Africa, featuring new Giugiaro styling, the addition of the awesome 110 kW M-Jet diesel engine, uprated interiors and revised chassis dynamics.

With recommended pricing ranging from R183,000 to R219, 000, Alfa Romeo’s sporty mid-size hatchback continues to offer a distinctive alternative within the upper sub-C segment of the market. Even more so than before, the new 147 model line-up will suit a wide range of tastes and pockets. You can choose from: three- and five-door versions, two petrol engines, two diesel engines (the new MultiJet being the big news), and Progression and Distinctive equipment options.

Launched in South Africa in May 2001, the 147 has gone on to record over 360,000 sales worldwide. Its special blend of Italian design flair and advanced engineering, which translates into great handling and sparkling performance, has won Alfa’s prestige compact sports hatch no fewer than 27 awards, including European Car of the Year in 2001. In the words of Giorgio Gorelli, Managing Director of Fiat Auto South Africa, the New 147 is “proof that hatchback motoring can be exciting”.

“Unashamedly an Alfa Romeo, the new 147 is the perfect marriage of style, practicality and technology. The design revisions combined with the under-the skin-technology in the form of the comfort suspension and the addition of the award-winning MultiJet diesel, take the New 147 to even greater iconic heights than its predecessor,” Gorelli added.

The New 147 retains the original’s well-proportioned, muscular lines, but the bonnet, front wings and front bumper are all new to give a cleaner, more dynamic front end. In particular, the distinctive shield-type grille is now larger and positioned lower and further forward. The most dramatic change, however, has been applied to the headlights – they now sweep back to follow the lines of the V-shaped bonnet. Headlight units have also been made more stylish thanks to their clear covers and three projector style light elements. There’s now a mesh covering to the lower air intakes and this adds extra dynamic appeal. The overall result is a car with a far keener sporting bias. The new-look front end adds to the front overhang so that the New 147 is around 5cm longer than its predecessor.

The new face is complemented by subtle design changes at the rear, where the designers have reworked the tailgate and extended the tail-lights in towards the centre line of the car, to create a more triangular outline which mirrors the lower edge of the rear tailgate glass. The tailgate continues to be hinged 10 cm forward from the trailing edge of the roof to make loading easier. The shape is uncluttered by any handle, the tailgate being released from inside the car or via the central locking remote, when it is automatically released from the body to ensure it can be conveniently raised.

The South African Alfa 147 range offers a choice of 13 colours, five of them new: Radicofani Red, Pergusa Orange, Giannutri Green, Dijon Blue and Navona Grey metallics.

One of the strengths of the Alfa Romeo 147 range has been the breadth of its engine choice. Petrol engines in 88 kW 1.6 litre, and 110 kW 2.0 litre Twin Spark guise were joined in 2004 by the 85 kW 1.9 litre JTD common rail turbodiesel engine.The two Twin Spark engines feature 16 valves and twin-overhead camshafts and offer great flexibility and seamless power delivery, with plenty of torque even at low engine speeds. Both the 88 kW 1.6 litre and 110 kW 2.0 litre engines feature variable valve timing, while the 2.0 litre also uses a variable geometry intake system for strong performance allied to good fuel economy. 100 km/h is reached from standstill in 10.6 and 9.3 seconds respectively, while Combined cycle consumption figures are 8.2 l100 km and 8.9 l100 km respectively.  Twin counter-rotating balancer shafts enhance further the refinement of the 2.0 litre mill.

Now entrenched in the 147 range, the 85 kW JTD common rail diesel engine continues to offer spirited performance but with a small appetite for fuel. Vital statistics for this model are: 5.8 l100 km (combined cycle), a top speed of 191 km/h and 0-100 km/h acceleration in 9.9 seconds.
 

But, the big news for 2005 is the debut of the groundbreaking, 110 kW 1.9 litre JTD MultiJet engine in the New 147. This engine, first seen in the GT, marks the first appearance in South Africa of second-generation common rail technology (bear in mind that Fiat pioneered common-rail diesel technology). Its adoption of higher injection pressures and multiple, but smaller injections, delivers even greater performance and fuel efficiency, together with reduced carbon dioxide emissions.

This engine, is a twin-overhead cam 16-valve unit with a variable-geometry Garrett turbocharger, delivering 110 kW at 4000 rpm, while the remarkable maximum torque figure is 305 Nm at 2000 rpm. The unit produces a smooth, reliable and quiet delivery of power, with remarkably low fuel consumption allied to sparkling performance and impressive flexibility.

The maximum torque figure is actually greater than that generated by the 176 kW 3.2 litre petrol V6 of the 147 GTA, and the result is exceptional flexibility: 90% of maximum torque is available between 1750 and 3250 rpm. The 0-100 km/h acceleration time drops from 9.9 seconds to 8.8seconds (in comparison to the 1.9 JTD UniJet), while the combined cycle fuel consumption remains at a frugal 5.9 litres/100km.

MultiJet versus UniJet

MultiJet technology is based on the same common rail principles as those employed in UniJet engines, represented in the New 147 by the 85 kW 1.9 JTD unit. Within a UniJet engine, a pilot injection raises temperature and pressure inside the cylinder to improve combustion at the time of the main power stroke. The MultiJet divides the main injection into a number of smaller injections, affording a fuller, more gradual combustion, while the amount of diesel burnt at each stroke remains the same; smoother, quieter combustion, reduced emissions and increased performance are the result.

To facilitate multi-injection, the injectors reduce the time lag between injections from 1500 to just 150 microseconds, and reduce the minimum quantity of fuel injected from 2 to less than 1 cu mm. The control unit constantly monitors engine rpm, torque required at any given time by the driver, and coolant temperatures, and adjusts the injection strategy accordingly.

Thus, when coolant temperature is less than 60 degrees and torque requirement low, two small and one large injection are performed. As torque demand increases, the number of injections drops to two; one small and one large. Under conditions of high rpm and high torque demand, only one injection is required whilst, with coolant temperature at over 60 degrees, emissions are minimised with one small, one large, then one small injection in the sequence.

Hence, start-up times and exhaust smoke are reduced, noise levels and vibration are lowered to ensure a quieter drive and improved passenger comfort, fuel consumption is reduced by a further 10% and emission control reduction amounts to 50%. The MultiJet engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission, while other versions in the New 147 range are equipped with a five-speed manual ’box.Precision handling and great roadholding make the Alfa 147 a real driver’s car, one that enhances everyday driving satisfaction. Now, subtle changes to the damper characteristics and suspension design have brought even higher standards of ride comfort to complement its dynamic ability. The proven and successful arrangement of double wishbones at the front and MacPherson struts at the rear continues to deliver exceptional lateral grip, swift cornering, great efficiency and crisp steering response.