New Alfa Q2 sticks like glue
By: Henrie Geyser
As all passionate Alfa fans will tell you, Alfa Romeo cars are (and have always been!) synonymous with performance, sexy styling and the thrill of enthusiastic driving. And now they've got two more reasons to get excited about - a super roadholding system called Q2 plus a glorious diesel engine.
The new Q2 system and the smooth diesel engine come stylishly wrapped in the newly-launched Q2 branded version of the Alfa Romeo GT.
And to differentiate this diesel from the other Alfa GT's, the Q2 version brags with big 18-inch alloys, dropped suspension, double exhaust outlets, aluminium side mirrors, slinky black leather sports seats with red stitching and the Alfa Romeo logo, matching leather steering wheel (also with red stitching), racing metal pedals, chrome gear level and metal scuff plates sporting the new Q2 badge.
With a red-blooded diesel engine squeezed in under the hood, the clever Italian white coats have created an exceptionally classy oil-burning sports coupe for less than R300,000.
And what really makes the Q2 rank like Victor Matfield above the rest is its clever self-locking front differential which elevates this Alfa GT's roadholding and steering from good to fantastic.
In essence, the Q2 system incorporates front-wheel drive strong points such as active safety, control, and enthusiastic cornering with the advantages of four-wheel drive - but with much less weight to carry.
The system sharply improves roadholding, traction and stability through corners and it enables the car to be driven harder and sooner on acceleration out of the corners without allowing electronic nurse-maids such as traction control to take charge.
The result is the Q2 goes where it's pointed and it sticks to the tar with the same determination as an Italian mama to a rich potential son-in-law.
I drove the GT Q2 on a tight and very wet slalom course set out on a large skidpan, and then afterwards along a fast, narrow and winding tar track at the Gerotek testing facility near Pretoria - and it was quite amazing what a difference the Q2 system makes.
It gives ace designer Bertone's beautiful creation a whole new dimension.
Other than the fact that the gap between second and third gear is much too big and the engine could do with a few more revs before spluttering in the red, the Q2 is a lovely car to drive, typically Alfa Romeo - the harder, the more fun!
After Gerotek, we took the Q2 out on a stretch of fairly quiet road with long straight sections and a pleasant combination of tight corners and fast sweeping bends and it cruised along, quietly and very pleasantly, even with four up and at fairly enthusiastic speeds.
And I must say the Q2's diesel engine is an absolute gem. Although not scorchingly hot, it produces 110kW and 305Nm which is quite sufficient for a 0-100km/h dash of just over nine seconds and a top speed of about 205km/h.
As to be expected, the diesel is frugal on the juice and Alfa claims it will use less than seven litres per 100km in the combined circle. And that's good for any sporty coupe.
Of course, being from the land of vino, pasta and pretty women, the Q2 does have a few niggles; getting in and out of the back seats is not easy (and there are no roof handles to hoist yourself out with), the headrests of the back seat tend to jab into your shoulder area, the roof-line is low enough to cause head bumps on rough surfaces, and the small side windows make things a little claustrophobic when traveling in the back.
But these are minor irritations and vastly over-shadowed by the car's impressive range of classy comfort and safety features, including front, window and side airbags, ABS brakes with EBD, traction control, stability control, follow-me-home lights, 60/40 split folding rear seat, central locking, electric windows and mirrors, trip computer, dual-zone aircon, cruise control, a high-quality BOSE sound system and electric controls on the steering-wheel.
You can buy the standard Alfa Romeo GT 1.9 JTDm for R286,000 and the Q2 version for R299,000 - and there is always the flagship 3.2-litre V6 to be had for R342,000. Service intervals for the Q2 pops up at 20,000km and it comes with a three-year/100,000km warranty, a three-year/60,000km maintenance plan and AA Fleetcare 24-hour roadside assistance for 12 months.
More by Henrie Geyser
More...ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Henrie Geyser has worked as a journalist in Cape Town, London and Windhoek for the Argus Company (now Independent Newspapers) and spent 12 years at The Cape Argus in Cape Town. He then owned and ran a public relations consultancy for 13 years. He joined the online publishing industry through iafrica.com, where he worked for five years as News Editor and Editor. He now freelances for a variety of print and online publications, on the subjects of cars, food and travel, among others; and is a member of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists.
Connected by: Uninet
muti
del.icio.us
stumbleupon
yahoo
google
facebook
newsvine
Digg
Reddit
GoGuide
