Alfa Romeo 156: comfortable winner with sportiness

摘要

Alfa Romeo has enjoyed a reputation for sporty and stylish cars, particularly so in the days before the company became part of the Fiat Auto Group. It came as no surprise that its new car, the Alfa 156, came top of the list for 40 of the 56 leading motoring journalists from 21 European countries who selected the car of the year. It is the first time that Alfa Romeo has won this prestigious award. The result, giving the 156 such a clear lead over all the other cars, must surely please the company. Its success, which could not have been attained without massive investment by Fiat Auto in R&D and modernising the manufacturing plants, is well-earned. Coming first is not, as some would have us believe, by default, on the grounds that the baby Mercedes had its image tarnished to such an extent by failing the moose test that the jurors could not conceivably give the A-Class the award. Whether Mercedes would have walked away with the trophy had the cars they handed to the jury been to the specification of the cars now being produced at Rastatt will remain an intriguing speculation.