Alfa Romeo 147

Alfa Romeo 147
Alfa Romeo 147 five-door, 1st series (2000-2004)
Overview
Manufacturer	Alfa Romeo
Production	2000–2010
Assembly	Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy[1]
Designer	Walter de Silva and Wolfgang Egger at Centro Stile Alfa Romeo[2]
Body and chassis
Class	Small family car (C)
Body style	3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Related	Alfa Romeo GT Alfa Romeo 156
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L Twin Spark I4 (petrol) 2.0 L Twin Spark I4 (petrol 3.2 L Alfa Romeo V6 (petrol) 1.9 L JTD I4 (turbocharged diesel)
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 5-speed Selespeed semi-auto 6-speed Selespeed semi-auto
Dimensions
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)
Kerb weight	1,200–1,360 kg (2,650–3,000 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Alfa Romeo 145 (3-door) Alfa Romeo 146 (5-door)
Successor	Alfa Romeo Giulietta

The Alfa Romeo 147 (Type 937) is a small family car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo from 2000 to 2010.^[3] The 147 was voted European Car of the Year in 2001, ahead of the Ford Mondeo and the Toyota Prius.

The 147 was launched at the 2000 Turin Motor Show as a replacement for the Alfa Romeo 145 and 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. A sequential, paddle operated 'Selespeed' transmission was available from launch.

Two trim levels were available, Turismo and Lusso. The 147 was the first Alfa Romeo to feature dual-zone climate control and electronic traction control. 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. In total around 580,000 cars were made.

Styling

Pre-facelift Alfa Romeo 147 Selespeed Twin Spark 3-door hatchback (Australia)

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.^[4]

Development

Alfa Romeo 147 (facelift)

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 (125 kW; 168 hp) JTD diesel engine and Q2, a front Torsen limited slip differential.^[5]

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 (184 kW; 247 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. Most models have 6-speed manual transmissions; whilst a smaller number of other models use the semi automatic Selespeed system. In total 5,029 147 GTAs were built, 1004 of which were Selespeeds.

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),^[6] and a split-axle differential gear for the front wheels. Autodelta has also made a Rotrex supercharged version producing 400 bhp (300 kW).^[6]

Engines

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.

Reception

Euro NCAP test results
Alfa Romeo 147 (2001)[7]
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.^[8]

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.^[9] 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...".^[10]

Awards

Interior

The Alfa Romeo 147 has won more than 27 awards^[11] including the following:

• The European Car of the Year in 2001;^[12][13]
• 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.

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,^[14] 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 ^[15] and later finishing first in group 8 on Rally Monte Carlo 2012 (42nd in total) ^[16]

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. The car won the 2003 and 2004 Italian Superturismo Championship.

References

External links

Media related to Alfa Romeo 147 at Wikimedia Commons

• Internet Movie Cars Database: Alfa Romeo 147 in movies and TV series

Alfa Romeo
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