IN THIS FEATURE Worth the wait? One of the great comeback cars Sufficiently upmarket Keeping it in the family It wouldn't be an Alfa unless...

Seen on the Continent way back last year, the Alfa Romeo 159 has at last arrived in right-hand-drive form.

It looks as if it has been well worth the wait. With a series of new engines, an all-new - and exclusive-to-Alfa - platform and underpinnings, a roomier cabin and thorough attention to detail to address the niggling problems suffered by its 156 predecessor, it clearly marks the progress Alfa Romeo is making under its new CEO, ex-BMW man (and dedicated petrolhead) Karl-Heinz Kalbfell.

159 looks absolutely fantastic

Oh, and it looks absolutely fantastic, too.

The varied - and variable-quality - output from Alfa Romeo has long been a bit of an acquired taste, especially from the mid-80s onwards. Enthusiasts (or rather, apologists) for the brand were particularly stretched by cars like the 155 - not much of a looker to even the most sympathetic of eyes, and unreliable to boot.

Things looked up with the 156, however: a winner of numerous industry awards, it won back the Alfa faithful who had strayed and did much to restore the company's reputation.