Category: Hot Hatchbacks 
Price Range: £14,950 to £17,850
Fabulous engine when worked hard, great grip, muscular yet subtle looks, neat gearchange.
Steering less keen than expected, doesn't cope with sharp bumps, poor turning circle, restricted rear view.
Most powerful hot hatch is a lot of fun, but somehow you're left wanting more.
Alfa Romeo's 250bhp 147 GTA was launched to challenge the Volkswagen Golf R32, and also featured a 3.2-litre V6. This engine is the same as in the 156 GTA, as is the six-speed manual gearbox.
It's a thorough makeover to warrant the GTA name, taken from the 1960s Giulia GT-based racing cars. In these, the A stood for 'alleggerita', or 'lightened' but it's no lighter than its mainstream counterparts. It does, however, have wide-ranging alterations to its suspension, new sheetmetal for its wings with their flared-out wheelarches, heavily-revised front and rear valances, and a tricked-up interior.
Various electronic devices such as ASR, MSR and Vehicle Dynamic Control (Alfa's own version of ESP) help channel the engine's 250bhp to the front wheels with some form of discipline. You'll notice, then, that the GTA doesn't have the four-wheel drive of its obvious Golf rival - but nor does the Ford Focus RS.
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