Last Friday the
Italiaspeed team used an Alfa Romeo 159 1.9
JTDM, supplied by Cheshire-based Mangoletsi, to undertake the
journey from the Mondial de
l'Automobile at the Paris
Expo at Porte de Versailles, back to London.
Mangoletsi are the UK's
largest and longest-established authorised Alfa Romeo
dealership, with the brand's famous traditions and
values ever-coursing through their veins.
The new Alfa 159 saloon is proving to be a real hit for
Mangoletsi, and in
particular the 1.9 JTDM, with more than 100 examples
having been delivered by them to their customers
already.
This year's Paris Mondial de
l'Automobile has been an
important occasion for each of the Fiat Auto
brands. Alfa Romeo though, have stolen the international
motor show with the dramatic Alfa 8c
Competizione sports car, now
fully production ready after an agonisingly long three
year will-they-won't-they gestation period that has kept
Alfisti
worldwide on tenterhooks. This car is simply awesome,
with Alfa Romeo CEO Antonio
Baravalle promising a top speed of over 290 km/h
and a sub 4.2 second 0-100 km/h time from its brand new
450 bhp 4.7-litre V8 engine.
A car in the finest historic traditions of the brand it
evokes legendary memories, and is certainly the most
anticipated new production sports car for several years.
Along with the Alfa 8c Competizione,
Alfa Romeo is also presenting upgrades to the Alfa 147
and GT Coupé, including the
new Q2 differential.
At the end of the second press day we collected the
Mangoletsi-supplied Alfa 159
1.9 JTDM from the multi-story car park. Finished in Alfa
Silver, with a stylish red leather interior, and with their
famous 'arch M' logo in red splayed on the doors, and the
traditional Alfa Romeo 'serpent' slicing across the
roof, the car blended neatly with the freshly painted
red car park decking.
For the fast motorway journey across North West France
and through the South East of England, into London,
after two tiring days, few cars could be more suitably
attired for this trek than the new Alfa 159. A huge step
forward in every conceivable area, at last Alfa Romeo
has a genuine product platform that pitches the brand
firmly into the "premium" automotive segment and a car
that is a real alternative to its rival
offerings from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. It can take
on their best wares, and beat them hands down. The cosseting red leather
interior is superbly finished, with the finest attention
to detail having been applied to the stitching of the
seats and door panel trims. The use of real aluminium on
the dashboard adds to the overall impression of quality,
making the cockpit of the Alfa 159 feel not only more
upmarket than its direct competitors, but also compared
to cars in substantially higher price brackets.
The handsome, chunky multi-purpose ignition key, with
its embossed 'Alfa' shield pattern, slides firmly into
its slot on the dashboard. Pressing the red "engine
start" button, and the 1.9-litre
turbodiesel purrs into life: for a diesel though
it’s hardly audible on tick over. With our laptops,
cameras and other equipment loaded in the spacious boot
we are ready to roll. The controls are direct and
precise, with an excellently weighted steering wheel and
clutch. As the car sets off, the doors automatically
lock with a solid clunk, providing a very secure feeling
within. A relatively tight turning circle, large
rear-view mirrors and the optional parking sensors ease
manoeuvring the beautiful Alfa 159 in the bustling
centre of Paris. Despite being a right-hand-drive model
the Alfa 159 is very easy to drive on European roads
thanks to its impressive visibility.
The Alfa 159 exudes Italian style
and unmistakable presence on the Parisian
roads, and with its bright red
Mangoletsi decals gleaming
in the autumn sunshine it attracts much attention as we
dodge the heavy congestion around Porte de Versailles
and swiftly climb up onto the
Périphérique,
right in the middle of the city's notorious rush hour. A
large car, it is however one that is easy to become
accustomed to quickly, and it is very responsive as we dart through
the heavy - but fortunately constantly flowing -
traffic. Alfa Romeo have
always prided themselves on building cars that make
all aspects of driving a pleasure, and the Alfa 159 is no different.
Once off the
Périphérique
and heading up the A1/E15 to Calais,
the Alfa 159’s touring capabilities begin to shine. The
car rapidly eats up the miles of the busy French
autoroute;
and wafting along at speeds far higher
than you actually realise it
is certainly a car that could easily add points to your
driving licence without the most extreme care. Wind noise is
reduced to a
minimum, thanks to excellent sound insulation from the
4mm thick glass used in the front doors.
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On the train with the
Mangoletsi Alfa 159 1.9 JTDM under the English
Channel (top and above) and autoroute service
station on the A15 about 50 km north of Paris. |
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The Mangoletsi Alfa 159
1.9 JTDM at the Calais terminal prior to embarking
on "Le Shuttle" (top), on the M25 (middle) and fuel
stop on the M25 (above). |
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The 150bhp direct-injection 16v diesel engine offers ample
power and torque, and coupled to the precise 6-speed
gearbox, provides excellent performance and economy. The
cruise control is simple to operate and, conveniently
located behind the steering wheel, it makes motorway driving
effortless and relaxing. Other welcome details include the
one touch indicators, and an impressive standard audio
system. The central console is fitted with a comfortable
armrest which flips up out of the reach of the driver's
elbow to provide a quickly accessible location for small
change, while the cigarette lighter / ashtray and a
cupholder
– are all welcome luxury items directly at hand to the
driver and passenger.
Although
ours is a motorway dash, the slip roads briefly demonstrate
a car that offers involvement to the driver, yet at the same
time making sure it still exudes a high level of comfort.
The car grips and cossets, and simply gives a perfect
balance of driver feedback and comfort never experienced
before with a saloon of this size. Our car is fitted with stylish 18-inch
"telephone dial" wheels and the
235/45 R18
Bridgestone tyres grip the road well, and despite their low
profile, do not offer a harsh ride even over poor surfaces.
Their large diameter also offers
excellent cooling to the highly effective disc
brakes.
We race up the A1/E15 in the warm
French evening sunshine, cruising past the cars and
lorries heading northwards on
this key artery route. Near Arras we seamlessly switch to
the A26/E15 for the final dash to Calais. The smooth ride
allows our laptops to remain in continual use, reports filed
and whizzed out over the internet. Approaching Calais and
the Alfa 159's wipers are very soon kicking themselves into
life and swishing across the windscreen as the weather quickly
changes and large rain drops start to hit the glass. By the
time we roll up to the
Tunnel Sous La
Manche the heavens
have opened and we are in almost monsoon conditions, the
Bridgestone tyres though reassuringly gripping the drenched
tarmac.
Le Shuttle is
pretty quiet for a Friday evening, and within minutes of our
arrival at the terminal we are already ensconced on the
train for the just over half hour journey under the English Channel.
Imposing its presence on the train, the
Giugiaro-penned lines of the Alfa 159 and its
eye-catching Mangoletsi colours
attract much attention with fellow passengers, interested to
know more about this car. For sure, as the Alfa 159 'family'
of models become more and more familiar to the car buying
public, it is destined to be a real hit, a favourable option
for the individual who wants to go their own way in life,
with style and panache, and of course in comfort. It has
easily picked up the baton passed on by the much-loved Alfa
156 but has taken the concept a huge stride forward.
Off the train and onto the M20 motorway we are racing into
the night, headlights piercing the darkness, and heading for
the M25, with the rain having now slowed to a drizzle on
this side of the Channel. The red glow of the instruments
provide a warm and very reassuring feel; the angled round
gauges on the centre console are easy-to-view and give the
driver the feel of being in a comfortable sports car
cockpit. The speedometer and rev counter needles, which kick
round from their downward-pointing resting positions make
one very aware of the long racing and performance tradition
of the evocative Milanese brand. The generous boot space,
rear legroom and optional split folding rear bench, also
help to make the Alfa 159 a very practical sedan.
The M25 motorway just wouldn't be the same without
roadworks and speed
restrictions, and the long-running road widening operations
near Heathrow slow our progress, the first time we have been
hindered on our dash from Paris. However it is just a minor
inconvenience and soon we are plunging into the bustling
Friday night traffic of London, and our destination
quickly hoves into view. Our thanks go
to Fraser Hudson and Craig Aspin
from Mangoletsi of
Knutsford, Cheshire, for
supplying us with this excellent car. For further
information on the entire Alfa 159 range and
on Mangoletsi, telephone 01565
722399 or visit
http://www.mangoletsi.com
by Edd Ellison &
James Granger
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