Review of the new Alfa Romeo GT Blackline Special Edition

Has any model been shoved into the background quite so rapidly as Alfa Romeo's GT? Launched in March 2004, this pretty 147-based coupe was undermined right from the get-go by the commotion caused by the Brera coupe prototype exhibited at the 2002 Geneva show. Many Alfa owners petitioned their dealers to put the Brera into production and ignored the pert GT when it appeared, keeping their money in their pockets until the Brera hit the streets.

And appear it did, in March 2006, albeit with rather different dimensions to the car on the 2002 show stand. Better looking from some angles than others, it has to be said that the Brera lacks the GT's front to rear cohesion in its styling and perhaps this latest model, the GT Blackline, could spark a resurgence in appeal for this criminally underappreciated car.

Alfa Romeo offer two engines in Blackline trim. First up is a 'typical' Alfa Romeo unit. Performance from the 2.0-litre JTS petrol engine is zingy. It's capable of accelerating the GT to 60mph in 8.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 135mph but a less characteristically Alfa powerplant, the 1.9-litre JTDM diesel, is the star of the show here. On-paper performance figures are only slightly down on the petrol car at 9.3 seconds and 130mph respectively but the 225lb/ft of torque means that it feels almost comically powerful in the mid range for such a modestly sized engine.

Handling is safe and secure with drive going to the front wheels. Grip levels are high and steering is feelsome with the car lapsing into benign understeer if the stability control is switched off and the GT is really pushed hard. In other words, it hides no nasty surprises. Just about the only black marks are all-round visibility and the diesel car's propensity to occasionally bottom out its suspension travel on the worst bumpy B-roads. Ride quality is otherwise very good and chassis rigidity is also fairly decent, although the 18-inch alloys shod with very low profile tyres will inevitably send a good thunk through the chassis over potholes.

".there is absolutely nothing for sale that offers quite as much ego-stroking for less than £20,000"

The styling house Bertone were responsible for most of the design and the GT was originally pencilled in to be assembled at their Turin plant where spare capacity had been freed up by the demise of the Fiat Punto Cabriolet. After many beans were counted, however, Alfa Romeo thanked Bertone very much for their penmanship and decided to build the GT alongside the 147 at their own Pomigliano d'Arco plant just outside Naples. Given the solid feel of latest generation 147s, that's perhaps no bad thing and the first impression one gets dropping into the driver's seat of the GT is of rugged build quality.

The cowled instruments and sporting logos that can look a little overblown on a base 147 hatch suddenly make all sorts of sense in a 'proper' coupe. The script on the dials has been revised for the GT, the centre console has been redesigned and the material used for the dashboard is of a different texture to standard 147. Many will be sold on the GT long before their slacks hit the seats. Much of that will be due to the swoopy styling. The look of the car is very much contemporary Alfa Romeo, particularly around the front end where few will be able to distinguish GT from 147 as it arrives in their rear view mirror.

So what do the Blackline models offer over and above the standard GT range versions? The 18-inch alloy wheels are a big draw and the metallic black paint does a beautiful job of highlighting the GT's delightful economy of line. Satin effect wing mirrors and a chromed exhaust are the other exterior details, Alfa preferring a low profile but classy look rather than anything deliberately OTT. Inside, there are black leather sports seats and a steering wheel with red stitching, aluminium sports pedals, an aluminium gear knob with red stitching on the gaiter and a Bose sound system.

Alfa Romeo will want £19,980 for the 2.0-litre JTS model and £20,980 for the 1.9-litre JTDM diesel version, which is less than it charges for the entry-level Turismo versions fitted with these engines. Naturally, the list prices quoted for the Turismo will have a little more scope for negotiation than these Blackline figures but it's still a lot of style for the money. The 2.0-litre model is priced similarly to the Hyundai Coupe 2.7, a car which isn't as good looking, is only marginally quicker in a straight line, is way thirstier and doesn't handle as well. By most measures the Alfa represents better value.

The JTDM diesel is usefully economical, averaging 45mpg. The emissions of 165g/km are a fair return for such a fun vehicle. The .20-litre JTS is less impressive in terms of fuel returns, managing 33mpg which still isn't too bad for an engine with this sort of infectious personality. Emissions of 207g/km need some context. While not bad for a medium sized coupe, hot hatches such as Renault's Clio 197 are cleaner. Mark that down as a 'must try harder' for Alfa.

Special edition models have a hit and miss record when it comes to residual values. The best performing models are the ones which have had their engines breathed on with the next best being low-volume specials like the Alfa GT Blackline. It'll be worth haranguing your Alfa Romeo dealer for a reduction on the standard GT Turismo models and then adding a few options such as big wheels and metallic paint to see if that works out more economically than the Blackline package. After all it's not worth paying extra for parts that you won't need.

We can talk about carbon dioxide emissions, suspension layouts, interior accommodation or any number of prosaic criteria all we want but the fact remains that most prospective Alfa Romeo GT Blackline customers will know within three seconds of clapping eyes on the thing whether or not they're going to sign on the dotted line. Put simply, the shape just works and combined with the best colour and an attractive set of alloys, the GT Blackline looks as if it has just rolled off a motor show stand.

There are better cars to drive for the money Alfa is charging for the GT Blackline but there is absolutely nothing for sale that offers quite as much ego-stroking for less than £20,000. Drop into the leather-lined cabin and you can't help but smile and that, as a customer satisfaction indicator, is as good as anything I can think of right now.