FIRST DRIVE: Michael McAleer at the wheel of the new Alfa 159
In a show of bravado, the Italians brought their Alfa roadshow to BMW's hometown of Munich last week. The choice of venue reflected a more aggressive approach to positioning its new 159 saloon.
The message was clear: no longer was Alfa happy to slug it out with the Ford Mondeo or VW's Passat - its sights are set on the BMW 3-Series.
Alfa sent out the same message when it launched the 156 - it was a revolution at the time, a truly gorgeous car in an ocean of bland metal. It left its mark on many other cars since, particularly with its prominent grille, a styling touch adopted by virtually every other manufacturer in some form since.
Yet what was billed as a battle for the hearts and minds of middle-class motoring turned out to be a relatively short-lived scrap. Alfa scurried back to the mainstream saloon market amid complaints about quality and finish. More style over substance was the conclusion.
The 156's replacement could be the re-match, in which the Italians put the new 159 where they believe it belongs - only this time Alfa knows it must offer more than good looks.
Like its competitors these days, Alfa embraces the principle that bigger is better - the new 159 is noticeably larger than its predecessor in every respect. Storage is generous, even if the boot is not quite the size of main fleet models.
Designed by Guigario, it's far more sporting in its looks than anything at the premium end. The new format for the light clusters give it a more aggressive, almost sneering look that may just send small children running to their mothers, while the higher rear end is reminiscent of the sort of lines adopted by its supposed arch-rival.
Apart from new lights, there have been other subtle changes. Alfa has clearly been watching as new 156 owners fumbled about, ringing dealers from car parks demanding to know why the factory forgot to put handles on the back doors
So out go the discrete pillar mounted levers and in come traditional rear-door mounted ones. (It did, however, keep a sliver of black plastic where the old handles were, just in case it a storm of protest demanded the decision be reversed.)
The new look perfectly fits the brand's sporting image of being more racy than its counterparts. If there is a criticism, it is that the prominent grille forces front number plates off-line. The relatively small German plates took from the overall look - and our bigger plates will look far worse.
However, you can't help but admire the 159's overall appearance.
Inside, as with all Alfas, the driver is king. It's touching to find a car maker still focused on the person behind the wheel. Most cars these days are designed around rear-seat passengers or luggage space.
The only downside is that, while the driver's seat is comfortable with plenty of legroom, the same can't be said in the backseats.
The straighting of the rear C-pillar has added some headroom for rear passengers, but legroom is still tight for those over six feet.
The central console is, as usual, turned towards the driver and features Alfa's usual collection of gauges and clocks. In particular we were taken by the beautifully designed central binnacle.
Choice of trim is good and the wood-and-plastic mix gives a finish that rivals anything from Audi, BMW or the rest.
The 159 feels like a premium car. It comes with eight airbags and various electronic stability programmes as standard, so it's no slouch on features.
The engine line-up features three petrol and three diesel versions. Of most import to Irish motorists is the dropping the smaller 1.6-litre petrol unit - quite simply, the car is too big for it, though there are plans to add the 1,742cc petrol unit from the upcoming Fiat Croma to the 159 line-up next spring.
For now, the engine line-up starts with a 1.9-litre JTS 4-cylinder petrol unit, offering 148bhp. Next up is another 4-cylinder, the 2.2-litre JTS with 182bhp. Topping the list is the 256bhp 3.2-litre V6.
Alfas are front-wheel-drive, but a new policy is that anything over 200bhp will feature the Q4 4-wheel-drive option. In the diesel range, there are two versions of the 1.9-litre JTDm on offer - 118bhp and 148 bhp - and a very impressive 2.4-litre JTDm outputting 197bhp.
Six-speed manual transmission is standard, with six-speed full automatic and Selespeed semi-automatic versions due out next year.
We tested three engine variations: the 1.9-litre diesel, the 2.2 JTS petrol and the 2.4-litre diesel. The 2.4-litre was the star of the show, with buckets of torque at the merest flip of the accelerator and plenty of meaty engine notes more reminiscent of a petrol than diesel engine.
The 1.9-litre JTD is competent, if a little lacklustre on the power front.
In petrol engines, the 2.2-litre carried the correct engine note and had respectable power.
Alfa prides itself on engine quality and handling. Certainly, there can be no complaints on handling, even if the smaller-engined diesel did feel a little bouncy on the long stretches of autobahn.
Suspension changes mean the ride is premium quality, if a little harsh at times on cobbled or rutted roads, particularly at the front.
SUCCESS or failure in the 159's fight for premium status will be decided by quality and reliability. This will determine whether it can win back disgruntled 156 owners.
Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, chief executive of Alfa Romeo and Maserati, knows that this car may well determine the brand's future. His no-nonsense German approach may grate in the Italian firm, but there's no questioning his pedigree. The former BMW director - previously responsible for the Bavarian's M-Sport division, the Mini project and Rolls-Royce - knows what needs to be done.
He's appointed former VW troubleshooter Stefan Ketter to head up quality control. While there has been the odd gripe from within about his pedantic attention to detail, it's just what the doctor ordered.
As a further act of reassurance, the 159 will come with three-year free maintenance cover as standard, which means no more bills for services or oil changes during that time.
Alfa management seems to know what it needs to do. Time will tell whether it will succeed. With prices likely to start around €35,000 when it arrives here in December, and the decision to drop the smaller engines, the 159 has no choice but to win over the premium market.