If you've ever cast a glance at a row of new cars and thought how alike they all look, then feast your eyes on an Alfa Romeo.
These a cars for people who want something different. And the new GT surely counts as the sleekest Alfa of the lot.
That's not to say Alfa doesn't have its critics. It developed a largely undeserved reputation for poor reliability quite a few years back, and even now residual values fall a little behind some of its rivals.
But Alfas today are a much better package than they were in the 1970s, and they've avoided falling into the trap of making anonymous Euro-boxes. Alfas are different, and proud of it.
The GT is essentially a twodoor coupe which sets out to rival a whole host of bornagain coupes, most notably the BMW 3 Series Coupe but also Mazda RX-9 and Nissan 350Z.
It's best point is its looks. Alfa's stylists deserve commendation for the way they've made it quirky yet acceptable. It's also capable and spacious, capable ofcarrying four people and plenty of luggage.
Despite its stunning looks, the GT is pitched as a sports coupe which is a sensible option as an everyday car. Being based on the 156 chassis helps.
With the GT, Alfa engineers have revised the chassis' damper, spring and anti-roll bar settings, introducing more compliance and better bump absorption.
The changes have been made to make the car easy to drive swiftly over harsh surfaces but, thankfully, not at the expense of bodyroll.
Key to making the GT shine on the road is engine choice. Here, we have the 2.0 litre unit which is a sensible choice, but not perhaps as sensible as the 1.9 litre diesel which offers almost as much power and performance and much better economy.
I can't believe I'm recommending a diesel Alfa above a petrol one, but that shows how diesels have improved.
Whichever one you choose, you'll be thankful for the clever traction aids busy doing their stuff to keep you on the straight and narrow.
Add in the car's impressive ability to take lumps, bumps and serious road imperfections in its stride and you've got the complete package. Granted, the GT can get a little ragged if you decide to drive like an ape and the steering - although rapid at just over two turns lock-to-lock - lacks the ultimate precision of a rear-drive car, these are minor niggles.
The car's ability to cover all the relevant bases also stretches to its cabin, which will be familiar to anyone who's seen the inside of a 147 or 156. It's pure Alfa, even down to the hooded dials and red digits of the trip computer.
I imagined children would fit in the rear no bother, but adults might not want to travel too far. However, my 19-year-old stepdaughter coped with a 100mile spin with no complaints.
PRICE: £22,000 Range spans £21,500 to £27,300.
ENGINE: Four-cylinder petrol unit developing 165bhp.
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 135mph, 0 to 60mph in 8.9 seconds.
COSTS: Urban 23.2mpg; extra urban 42.2mpg; combined 32.5mpg.
WARRANTY: Three years, 60,000 miles mechanical, eight years' anti perforation.
INSURANCE: Group 16.
All T&A road test vehicles are independently selected and assessments are carried out impartially by members of our own staff who base their opinions only on the vehicle supplied for these purposes by the manufacturer.
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