I’ve always believed that the underrated Alfa Romeo 159 range needed at least one automatic model and a diesel derivative to gain a larger clientele. So what was Fiat Auto SA’s solution? Launch a diesel model with an automatic transmission. The 2,4 JTDm Q-tronic is very accomplished – in terms of aesthetic appeal and driver satisfaction. Unfortunately, its price tag will scare many buyers off.
The Alfa Romeo 159 is, by my estimation, the best-looking compact executive on the market and there are few, if any, substitutes for style. The car is on the plumper side of voluptuous, which explains why the 1,9-litre JTS model, in particular, feels underpowered – and to make things worse, the rear legroom is poor. And, yep, 159s are a bit dear, even though the standard five-year maintenance plans soften the blows. On balance, the 159 is the nicest car that Alfa has ever launched in South Africa – if you look at that nose directly from the front, it looks just like a Brera – absolutely gorgeous!
With a price tag of R345 000, this Alfa Romeo needs to be pretty spectacular to draw the well-heeled masses away from their usual German compact executive fare, however. There’s no doubt that the 2,4-litre turbodiesel powerplant, which delivers 147 kW at 4000 r/min and 400 N.m of torque at 2 000, will boost the 159’s pulling power (excuse the pun) for buyers at the Reef, where most of SA’s new vehicles find their owners.
By virtue of its variable geometry turbocharger, the JTDm makes 90 per cent of its peak torque available from between 1 750 and 3 500 r/min, which makes the turbodiesel powerplant well suited to its six-speed Q-tronic gearbox with a sequential gearshift mode for sportier driving as well as additional Sport-Winter settings. Alfa Romeo claim that the newcomer will sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 8,4 seconds and reach a top speed of 228 km/h, but it is uncivilized to participate in a sprint race when you’ve stepped out in a pair of swanky Size 11s that were Moda Italia!
The 159 is such a wonderfully sophisticated animal… It has a very refined ride, its well-balanced handling belies the Italian saloon’s exterior dimensions and the interior quality is admirable. When the Q-tronic’s in sequential mode, it won’t automatically change to a higher gear when engine revs hit the limiter – and although that function sounds refreshingly liberal, the actual shifts – when prompted by a nudge up (or down) on the gearlever – takes much too long to execute and, unfortunately, reduces the JTDm’s smile-per-mile factor.
If you choose to procure a JTDm Q-Tronic be sure to order the optional Blue and Me communication and entertainment system (or pick a demo model installed with the factory-fitted system). It comprises a USB jack for playing MP3s, voice recognition and SMS interpreter system and a hands-free Bluetooth function, and for R3 500, makes a lot more sense than a sunroof or electrically-adjustable driver’s seat.
Featuring 7 airbags, ABS with EBD, Vehicle Dynamic Control, ASR, Hill Holder, dual-zone climate control, radio/CD front loader and full-leather interior, 17-inch alloys, the JTDm includes a 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan. R345 000 is, however, a steep premium if you want to make a style statement – the newcomer is priced between its respective 2,0- and 3,0-litre turbodiesel competitors and when asking Germanmobile obsessed yuppies to part with their cash, a keen price tag would certainly have sweetened the espesso…
