Alfa Romeo's 147, a past Car of the Year (it won by just one point from the Mondeo), is one of the most attractive small family hatchbacks on the market. The romance of its Alfa Romeo badge enhances its appeal, and for the 2005 model year it gains a gentle, Giugiaro-guided facelift to bring it in line with Alfa's latest look. Most obvious are the broader front grille and the wider, pointier head- and tail-lights, while inside new colour schemes and fluted door panels give a visual lift....
Paddle shift : The 2.0-litre model, unusually, was initially available only with the Selespeed transmission. A floor gearlever selects forward gears, reverse or neutral, while F1-style paddle switches, mounted behind the wheel, are flicked to go up or down the gearbox. Alternatively, left in City mode, the transmission changes gear automatically. The steering wheel itself is particularly attractive, and very pleasant to hold. Besides the transmission, various other items can be operated from the wheel, including the stereo and telephone.
