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| Exotic-looking, with plenty of dangerous Mediterranean charm. Our Editor-in-Chief and the Alfa 159 have a lot in common |
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From its bold face to its seductive interior, the Alfa Romeo 159 looks every inch the 'sporting' saloon. Carefully thought-out design details, such as the triangular door handles and indicator housing, set this Italian apart from its less stylish rivals. Inside the cabin, brushed aluminium trim and gauges set back in individual, slanted cylindrical holes, add to the ambience. Everything smacks of top-end performance: including the turbo pressure gauge - on a turbodiesel?
Driving the 159 is a tactile experience, and in more subtle ways than the Alfa Romeo logo embroidered in red on the black leather seats of our test car. We had the upmarket TI trim level: hence the logos and leather. And if you're going to have an Alfa, why not? The only drawback is the £25,500 price tag. Ouch. But it's worth it. Supremely sporting, the 159 has an ultra-firm ride and - for once in an Italian car - an extremely comfortable driving position. A decisive action is needed to change gear. It's by no means a rough gearchange, but you're aware of every cog slotting into place, a satisfying experience that's the exact opposite of such rivals as the Peugeot 407, with the French car's soft, traditional luxury.
And, of course, the 159 with the new 2.0 JTDm engine (replacing the 1.9 diesel unit) is very rapid: 0-62mph in 8.8 seconds and a top speed of 136mph. The new powerplant develops 168bhp at just 4000rpm, with plenty of torque offering gutsy pulling power, combining to catapult you out of roundabouts with well-handled aplomb. Yet CO2 emissions are just 142g/km. The 159 is not just a pretty face. In fact it's not a pretty face at all - it's an aggressive, assertive, audacious face. But not pretty. I like it a lot.
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