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The Alfa
Romeo Q2 system, which is available exclusively on the
Alfa GT fitted with the 110 kW 1.9 JTDm engine, has now
arrived in South Africa to join the range, extending
further the coupé's reach. The Bertone-styled Alfa GT
has been a success story across the world for Alfa Romeo
and more than 67,000 have now been built.
The Alfa GT 1.9
JTDm Q2 is being priced in South Africa at R299,000,
slightly above the standard GT 1.9 JTDm model, which comes
in at R286,000, while the third GT version available on this
market is the 3.2 V6, still present on the South African
pricelist at R342,000.
Essentially what
Q2 is, is a self-locking front differential which
incorporates all the strong points of a front-wheel drive
system in terms of active safety, increasing driving
enjoyment and control, while providing some of the
advantages typical of four-wheel drive, but at a
significantly lower cost and weight. In a nutshell, the
sophisticated ‘Q2’ system guarantees maximum control and
traction in all driving conditions.
In addition to
this mechanical upgrade, the Alfa GT ‘Q2’ is cosmetically
distinguished by specific 18” rims, dual chromed exhaust
terminals, a satin finish grille complemented by front
‘whiskers’ and mirror housings, a lower stance and a ‘Q2’
logo on the tailgate.
The styling of
the interior underlines Q2’s sporty character: an instrument
panel with a red background and white lighting, black
leather seats with red stitching and the Alfa Romeo logo,
the steering wheel, gear lever and handbrake gaiters in
black leather with red stitching, special ‘Q2’ heel-high
scuff plates, grey anthracite facia trims and aluminium
pedals. And finally, radio controls on the steering wheel,
radio with CD and MP3 player, and a Bose® Hi-Fi system with
sub-woofer are all standard.
How the Alfa
‘Q2’ system works
The main element
of the ‘Q2’ system is a limited slip differential, of the
Torsen mechanical type. This differential splits torque
between the front drive wheels dynamically and constantly,
according to driving conditions and the road surface.
Combined with the exclusive double wishbone front
suspension, the system allows very effective fine tuning of
the car.
Alfa Romeo
started from the excellent reputation that front-wheel drive
enjoys with customers (in fact it is the layout chosen by
the majority of car-makers). Suffice it to say that, in
addition to the overall benefits of this type of
architecture (weight, roominess, etc.), in extreme
conditions, the understeer typical of front-wheel drive
enables the driver to respond more intuitively to the car’s
reactions: this gives the impression that front-wheel drive
is more ‘responsive’ than rear-wheel drive.
To highlight
these benefits, Alfa Romeo has developed the ‘Q2’ system
which embodies all the strengths of front-wheel drive,
significantly increasing roadholding, traction and stability
on the release, while attenuating understeer on
acceleration, the intervention of the electronic control
systems and steering wheel vibration.
The two
practical examples below highlight the technical potential
of the ‘Q2’ system.
Case no. 1: when
the car corners
Taking a corner
when grip is poor (wet road, mud, snow etc.) or with a
sporty driving style, grip is often lost on the inside
wheel. When the transfer of the lateral load takes weight
off the suspension, torque on the inside wheel is reduced,
and a conventional differential (which splits the same
torque value between both wheels) transfers an equal amount
of torque to the outside wheel, but this is insufficient for
good traction.
In this
situation the car can respond in two different ways,
depending on the equipment mounted. On a model without ASR-VDC
(Traction Control/Stability Control), the perceived result
is the slipping of the inside wheel, a loss of control of
the car (strong understeer) and a loss of acceleration
coming out of the bend. If, on the other hand, the car is
equipped with ASR-VDC (standard on SA models), the
intervention of the driving assistance systems takes power
from the engine, acting on the throttle valve and the
braking system, so that it becomes impossible to modulate
the accelerator, producing the unpleasant sensation of a
drop in power. In both cases, the result is that as the car
comes out of the bend, the driver has the feeling that it is
‘stationary’.
What happens
when the ‘Q2’ system is present? When the inside wheel
starts to lose grip, torque is partially transferred to the
outside wheel, producing less understeer, greater stability,
and increasing cornering speed. The improved mechanical
efficiency of the ‘Q2’ transmission delays the intervention
of the vehicle control systems, guaranteeing better traction
as the car exits the bend, which makes driving more
enjoyable and maintains complete control of the vehicle.
Case no. 2:
surfaces with poor grip
On surfaces with
poor grip, it is quite common for the drive wheels to have
different degrees of grip. For example, grip under the two
wheels can differ on snow-covered or wet roads. In these
conditions, starting off or accelerating sharply could cause
the wheels to slip, generating critical friction conditions,
a strong reaction on the steering wheel, and inadequate
take-off, making it necessary to correct the steering-wheel
continuously to maintain the trajectory.
What happens
when the ‘Q2’ system is present? The negative effects are
attenuated by the gradual transfer of torque to the wheel
that can exploit the best friction coefficient i.e. the
wheel with the most grip, simplifying a hill start, for
example, and making driving on all roads with changing
surface conditions safer and more comfortable.
Some key
technical GT Q2 specs at a glance: 1910 cc Multijet direct
injection diesel with turbo and intercooler. Bosch EDC 16
electronic control system; Power – 110 kW @ 4000 rpm; Torque
– 305 Nm @ 2000 rpm; C02 emissions – 178 g/km; 0 to 100 km/h
in 9,6 seconds; Maximum speed of 209 km/h; Fuel consumption
– 8,7 L (urban) / 5,4 L (extra-urban) / 6,7 L (combined)
Some key
standard equipment features of the GT Q2 at a glance: Q2
exclusive features comprising 18” alloys; lowered
suspension; satin finish grille, front ‘whiskers, gear lever
and mirror housings; Q2 scuff plates and badging, aluminium
pedals; sports leather seats and steering wheel with red
stitching; and unique instrumentation; Six airbags – front,
side and window; ABS with EBD, ASR (Traction Control) and
VDC (Stability Control); Electric windows/mirrors & central
locking; Cruise control; Steering wheel audio controls; Bose
Hi-Fi system; Dual-zone climate control; Trip computer;
Split-folding rear seat (60/40)
Enhancing the
ownership prospect, the new Alfa GT Q2 has 20,000 km service
intervals and enjoys full after-sales support in South
Africa thanks to a comprehensive parts inventory (housed and
distributed in an all-new, state-of-the-art facility) and
the back-up of trained technicians at Alfa Romeo dealerships
countrywide. A three-year 100,000 km Warranty (three years
on paintwork and five years on rust anti-perforation) as
well as a three-year 60,000 km maintenance plan. The new
models are covered by the AA Fleetcare roadside assistance
for 12 months. The service is active 24 hours a day, 365
days a year and is available by calling the dedicated
toll-free number 0800 223 727.
Alfa GT: the
‘sports coupé’ as Alfa Romeo sees it
Designed jointly
with Bertone, the Alfa GT embodies original styling, lavish
accoutrements and exciting performance, and a new conception
of sportiness that embodies comfort and elegance, while it
respects the brand’s tradition. The Alfa GT packs the
results of Alfa’s superlative engineering heritage into a
shape inspired by a sense of style and flair that could only
be Italian. The stylists were also able to call on a great
Alfa Romeo tradition that has brought us models that remain
benchmarks for the category: from the 1900 SS to the
Giulietta Sprint, the Alfetta and the Giulia Sprint GT. This
latter car in particular, designed by Nuccio Bertone in
1963, shares with the new coupé the same sporting character,
soft, tapered lines and great Italian elegance.
With a length of
4.48 metres, width of 1.76 metres and a height of 1.37
metres, the Alfa GT is aggressive and compact (its wheelbase
is 2596 millimetres), with a shape marked by certain
distinctive traits that define its strong personality and
render it immediately recognisable as an Alfa. Hence the
designers’ decision to go for smooth, clean motifs and
shapes marked by an unmistakable sense of Italian flair. The
result is a strong, spare front end dominated by an Alfa
Romeo family resemblance encapsulated by the distinctive
three-lobed motif bearing a shield that is slightly larger
in size than at present. The entire car appears to grow from
this point to combine a slight edge of styling aggression
with outstanding elegance of form. This impression is
reinforced by two side air intakes and light clusters that
are objects of beauty in their own right.
Dashing and
solid but also dynamic and sturdy. It took a clever
balancing act to wed such disparate features. This contrast
is evident in the Alfa GT’s profile where a side shelf
conveys the idea of a car that is agile but also anchored to
the ground. And there is more. The taut lines that meet at
the rear and the small area of glass (compared to the sides)
add elegance and a heightened sense of protection. The
slightly raked and tapering tail design is also brand new
and paired with large, integral bumpers. The rear window is
drop-shaped, while the light clusters are embedded in the
body to create an attractive wraparound look.
The Alfa GT is a
sports car, but one that is unmistakably comfortable and
elegant. The aim of the car is to offer all the driving
satisfaction of a top-performing coupé, but combined with
practicality and versatility. In fact, the luggage
compartment offers a capacity of 320 dm3, one of the best
for this segment, and it can be extended to 905 dm3 by
exploiting the many different combinations of the split,
completely reclining seats.
Like the
exterior shape, the interior of the Alfa GT is as sporty as
Alfa Romeos get, thanks to the ideal position of the
steering wheel, pedals and gearbox (designed specifically
for maximum vehicle control), the functional, easy to read
instruments, and the multifunction display that gives access
to several menus (each with their own submenus) with a wide
range of functions, plus the trip computer. In addition to
which, a built-in radio and all the controls for the elegant
automatic dual zone climate control system are positioned at
the centre of the facia. The radio, which incorporates a CD
player/MP3 player, also offers an outstanding acoustic
system, designed and calibrated to the passenger
compartment, that consists of eight speakers and delivers a
power output of 4x40 Watts. The Alfa GT adds a host of
sophisticated devices and systems to this array of
equipment, such as the Bose® Hi-Fi system and Cruise
Control, that make it a new benchmark in its price segment.
Powerful, smooth
engines
Behind
fascinating styling and a strong personality, the Alfa GT
hides a comprehensive range of excellent engines with
cutting-edge technologies and generous performance. They are
the best proof of the ‘cuore sportivo’ that has always been
a feature of Alfa Romeo models, past and present. The Alfa
GT is no exception. First of all, the sparkling 3.2 V6 24
valve which delivers 176 kW at 6200 rpm, with a torque curve
of 300 Nm at 4800 rpm, thanks to which it guarantees
exciting performance with a sporty driving style, but also
during everyday use. The second Alfa GT engine is the 1.9
M-Jet 16v turbodiesel which delivers 110 kW, the first of
the second generation of Common Rail engines. Both the 3.2
V6 24V and the 1.9 JTDm 16v are mated to a six-speed manual
gearbox.
The most
sophisticated technology at the service of safety
Maximum
protection for driver and passengers thanks to the adoption
of the most sophisticated systems and devices on the market
today. This is what the Alfa GT promises, and maintains. For
example, where preventive safety is concerned, the new model
boasts an integral diagonally split hydraulic braking system
complete with the latest generation ABS and EBD brake effort
distribution, VDC (Stability Control) with Brake Assist for
total control of the car’s dynamic stability in all
conditions, an ASR (Traction Control) function that prevents
longitudinal wheel slip, and the MSR system that reduces
torque to control slip. The standard passive safety outfit
includes six airbags: two frontal, two front sidebags and
two curtain-bags.
The Alfa GT
adopts a high double-wishbone suspension at the front to
ensure maximum lateral hold, and very efficient and precise
response to the steering wheel, and excellent traction. All
these characteristics combine with the capacity to absorb
and dampen road roughness typical of the most comfortable
cars in this segment. The high double wishbones achieve
outstanding longitudinal flexibility on the side of the
wheel with no negative influence on cornering efficiency and
steering dynamics.
The car’s
behaviour on the road is also the result of a rear axle that
enhances stability in high-speed manoeuvres and guarantees
the agility of a true sports car on mixed narrow roads. This
is why the choice went to a MacPherson system at the rear,
with asymmetrical struts and improved elastokinematic
specifications. The rear suspension on the Alfa GT is
connected to the chassis by a cross beam in vacuum cast
aluminium. The advantages of the MacPherson system are its
low weight, excellent comfort (guaranteed by the possibility
of ample wheel shaking and longitudinal flexibility) and the
many possibilities to adjust the trim control.
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