Fast and efficient - surely an oxymoron in motoring parlance. You get one or the other, but both exist merely in the realm of car manufacturers fantasies, writes Michael McAleer
Alfa Romeo, however, claims its latest incarnation of the popular 156 brings the dream a step closer to reality. This week sees the arrival here of the 2.0 litre version of its new engined 156 range. Four years since it arrived on our shores, Alfa is replacing the now familiar T-Spark moniker with the abbreviation JTS.
This is Alfa's new direct-injection petrol technology and its unabbreviated title is Jet Thrust Stoichiometric, not the sort of term to trip lightly of the tongue. In layman's terms, it offers an extra 15 bhp on the 2.0 litre version, bringing it up to 165 bhp, and more importantly, improved torque.
Alfa claims the new engine offers the performance of a 2.3 litre, yet consumes 10 per cent less fuel. The JTS will feature initially in the 2.0 litre saloon and Sportwagon, but in time will replace the more popular 1.6 and 1.8 litre variants.
The 156's sporty design remains contemporary - the work of Walter da Silva who cast off the boxy shapes of the 155 it replaced. The model underpinned Alfa's renaissance in the late 1990s, bringing it into competition with such established models as Mercedes C-Class and the BMW 3 Series, and it still oozes Italian style.
Alfa hopes the introduction of the JTS, along with a more powerful 2.4 litre five-cylinder JTD engine and the muscular 250 bhp 3.2 litre GTA version, shows its keeping abreast of technological developments. A 1.9 JTD is also set to hit the Irish market before the end of the year.
The Italians have preserved the 156's stocky racing lines and it takes a very close inspection to spot the new clear-lensed headlamps and revised grille - the most noticeable visual clue to the car's subtle revision. However, the major changes occurred beneath the bonnet and in the cabin, with a revised centre console.
An electronic stability governor dubbed Vehicle Dynamic Control, which quells oversteer and understeer, is among a number of standard features in the new version. Curtain airbags join the front and side airbags, bringing the total to six.
The test car we drove on Monday fulfilled expectations of handling and power flow we have come to expect from a car that has become a major force in Irish motoring.
It offers a firm ride and smooth cornering and the new engine begs to be driven enthusiastically. While it is slightly quieter than its predecessor, it still sings sweetly when asked to perform.
The steering, with just over two turns of the new three-spoke steering wheel between locks, makes threading it through a series of corners a pleasure.
Prices on the road range from €32,500 to €35,500 for the Selespeed sequential automatic gear-change system. The Sportswagon 2.0 JTS begins at €36,000, and goes €37,000 for the Selespeed version.