Cars-Pickup-Truck: >>Alfa Romeo 147

Alfa Romeo 147

Alfa Romeo 147
1st series 5-door 147
Manufacturer	Alfa Romeo
Production	2000–2010
Assembly	Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy
Predecessor	Alfa Romeo 145/146
Successor	Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Class	Small family car
Body style	3 and 5-door hatchback
Layout	FF layout
Engine	Petrol: 1.6 L TS I4 2.0 L TS I4 3.2 L V6 Diesel: 1.9 L JTD I4
Transmission	5 and 6-speed manual 5 and 6-speed semi-auto Magneti Marelli Selespeed
Wheelbase	2,546 mm (100.2 in)
Length	4,223 mm (166.3 in)
Width	1,729 mm (68.1 in)
Height	1,442 mm (56.8 in)
Curb weight	1,200–1,360 kg (2,600–3,000 lb)
Related	Alfa Romeo GT Alfa Romeo 156
Designer	Walter de'Silva and Wolfgang Egger at Centro Stile Alfa Romeo

The Alfa Romeo 147 is a small family car produced by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo from 2000 to 2010. The 147 was voted European Car of the Year for 2001, beating the Ford Mondeo and the Toyota Prius.

The 147 was launched at the 2000 Turin Motor Show as a replacement for the 145 / 146 hatchbacks, and is based on the running gear of the larger 156 saloon. It was available with 1.6, 2.0, and 3.2-litre petrol engines and a 1.9-litre diesel engine.

The model was in production for ten years, making it one of the oldest small family cars on sale in Europe at the time of its replacement by the Alfa Romeo Giulietta in late May 2010.

Styling

The 147 was designed by Walter de'Silva and Wolfgang Egger. The 147 received considerable praise for its styling on launch, later it was awarded with some styling awards. The entire 147 range was revamped in 2004, with the exterior styling changed considerably to be more reminiscent of the new 159 and Brera models, and Alfa Romeo Visconti concept car, most notably for its more aggressive look. The 147 achieved a drag coefficient (C_d) of 0.32.

Development

Alfa Romeo 147 (facelift)

The 147 was facelifted in the end of 2004: new front grille, new headlights, new rear lights and the interior was updated on all models besides the GTA version. Also a new more powerful diesel engine arrived and suspension was also tweaked. In 2006 the 147 1.9 JTD Q2 version was launched, which features a front Torsen limited slip differential. Alfa Romeo presented a new limited edition 147 called Ducati Corse at the 2007 Bologna Motor Show. The car is equipped with 170 PS (130 kW; 170 hp) JTD diesel engine and Q2, a front Torsen limited slip differential.

The 147 has been replaced by the new Giulietta in 2010.

High-performance versions

Alfa Romeo 147 GTA

The hot hatch 147 GTA model was launched in 2002. The GTA used a 3.2 V6 engine, produced 250 PS (180 kW; 250 hp) and could achieve a top speed of 246 km/h (153 mph). It has a widened body (15 mm at each side) to accommodate the 225/45R17 tyres. Earlier models have 6-speed manual transmissions; later models use Selespeed.

London-based after-market tuner Autodelta has produced a "bored out" version of the GTA sporting a 3.7-litre V6, producing 328 bhp (245 kW), and a split-axle differential gear for the front wheels. Autodelta has also made a Rotrex supercharged version producing 400 bhp (300 kW).

Reviews

Euro NCAP test results
Alfa Romeo 147 (2001)
Test	Score	Rating
Adult occupant:	21
Pedestrian:	17

The handling of 147 was praised in some reviews, in spite of criticism regarding the light (sensitive) steering, which makes some drivers feel less involved. However, light steering does help during parking maneuvers. Other criticisms of the 147 included a cumbersome gearshift, unsupportive seats and the lack of interior space compared to its rivals. The car became well known for its engine note, which is unusually mellifluous for a car of its class. The 147 suffers from fairly poor resale value in Great Britain. The 147 GTA and 147 Autodelta GTA have been road tested by Jeremy Clarkson, and featured on television show Top Gear with a power-lap around the track by The Stig. In his review of Autodelta 147 GTA car for The Sunday Times, Clarkson described the acceleration as "…Ferrari throttle? Forget it. When you stamp on the accelerator it’s like you’ve hit the Millennium Falcon’s hyperdrive. Suddenly all the stars are fluorescent tubes. …" and the handling as "....A corner was coming. And then it was a distant speck in my rear-view mirror. I vaguely remember turning the wheel and I have a dim recollection of being astounded by the grip . . . and then the moment was gone. No, really, the damn thing is a barnacle....".

Engines

Petrol

Model	Engine	Displacement	Power	Torque	0–100 km/h,s	Top speed	Years
1.6 TS	I4	1,598 cc	77 kW (105 PS) @5600 rpm	140 N·m (103 lb·ft) @4200 rpm	11.3	185 km/h (115 mph)	2000–2010
1.6 TS	I4	1,598 cc	88 kW (120 PS) @6200 rpm	146 N·m (108 lb·ft) @4200 rpm	10.6	195 km/h (121 mph)	2000–2010
2.0 TS	I4	1,970 cc	110 kW (150 PS) @6300 rpm	181 N·m (133 lb·ft) @3800 rpm	9.3	208 km/h (129 mph)	2000–2010
3.2 GTA	V6	3,179 cc	184 kW (250 PS) @6200 rpm	300 N·m (220 lb·ft) @4800 rpm	6.3	246 km/h (153 mph)	2002–2005

Diesel

Model	Engine	Displacement	Power	Torque	0–100 km/h,s	Top speed	Years
1.9 JTD 8V	I4	1,910 cc	74 kW (100 PS) @4000 rpm	200 N·m (150 lb·ft) @1750 rpm	12.1	183 km/h (114 mph)
1.9 JTD 8V	I4	1,910 cc	85 kW (115 PS) @4000 rpm	275 N·m (203 lb·ft) @2000 rpm	9.9	191 km/h (119 mph)
1.9 JTD 8V M-Jet	I4	1,910 cc	88 kW (120 PS) @4000 rpm	280 N·m (210 lb·ft) @2000 rpm	9.6	193 km/h (120 mph)	since 2005
1.9 JTD 16V M-Jet	I4	1,910 cc	103 kW (140 PS) @4000 rpm	305 N·m (225 lb·ft) @2000 rpm	9.1	206 km/h (128 mph)
1.9 JTD 16V M-Jet	I4	1,910 cc	110 kW (150 PS) @4000 rpm	305 N·m (225 lb·ft) @2000 rpm	8.8	208 km/h (129 mph)
1.9 JTD 16V M-Jet	I4	1,910 cc	125 kW (170 PS) @3750 rpm	330 N·m (240 lb·ft) @2000 rpm	8.0	215 km/h (134 mph)	since 2007

Connect

Connect is an on-board information system: an on-board telematic system located in the central console that via its 5 in (130 mm) monitor gives access to satellite navigation and hands-free GSM phone as well as allowing you to adjust the radio and CD player settings. If subscribed to the CONNECT system by simply pressing the green button you will be connected directly to a member of the service team for assistance.

Awards

The Alfa Romeo 147 has won more than 27 awards including the following:

The European Car of the Year in 2001;
Das Goldene Lenkrad ("The golden steering wheel", BILD am SONNTAG - Germany) in 2000;
Auto Europa 1 (Panel of engineers, drivers and journalists headed by Auto Bild - Germany) in 2001;
Trophées du design (Automobile Magazine - France) in 2000; and
Carro Importado do Ano no Brasil - (Brazil Import car of the year) in 2002.

147 in motorsport

The 147 JTD of Markus Lungstrass in the 2005 Sachsenring DMSB Production Car Championship

In Europe there was a one-car racing series, European Alfa 147 Challenge for Alfa 147 Cup race cars starting from 2003. In 2005 this series was driven alongside with World Touring Car Championship,winner of 2005 season was Irish driver Eoin Murray. The car used on the series was Alfa 147 GTA Cup producing 220 bhp (160 kW) from its straight-4 1970 cc Twin Spark engine.

Alfa Romeo 147 2.0 TS (200 bhp) is used by Czech rally driver Martin Rada, finishing second in N3 group (21st in total) on Rally Monte Carlo in 2009

The 147 also competed, briefly, in the British Touring Car Championship in 2001 with the JSM team, with a best finish of 3rd at Oulton Park, thanks to driver/team owner Tim Harvey.