Alfa GT Coupe undercuts BMW

23 March 2004

Alfa Romeo's new GT coupe is now on sale in the UK, with lower prices and higher equipment levels than the rival BMW 3-series Coupe.

The GT is a full four-seater, and prices will range from £20,995 to £26,695. The cheapest model, with a 150bhp 1.9-litre diesel engine, undercuts the £24,410 BMW 320Cd by £3415, while the other models, with a 165bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder or 240bhp 3.2 V6 engine, are also cheaper than similarly powered BMW rivals.

Standard safety kit looks impressive and includes six airbags, ABS and a stability control system, while luxury items such as dual-zone climate control, cruise control, a CD player and alloy wheels will also be included. In addition, the V6 has leather upholstery, twin exhausts, sports suspension and larger alloys.

Practical features on all models include a split-folding rear seat to extend the 320-litre boot, and ISOFIX child seat mounts.

Both the diesel and V6 have six-speed manual gearboxes, while the 2.0-litre has a five-speed 'box. This model costs £21,495, but it is also available with Alfa's semi-automatic Selespeed as a combined option with leather upholstery, bringing the overall price to £23,545.

The 2.0-litre versions hit 62mph in 8.7 seconds, return 32.5mpg on the combined cycle and produce 207g/km CO2, putting them in the 27% company car tax band for 2004-5. By comparison, the V6 hits 62mph two seconds quicker, returns 22.8 mpg and incurs the maximum 35% tax liability. The diesel is the most economical, returning over 40mpg, and sits in the £24% tax band.

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