The Alfa could be described as the poor man’s Ferrari however I’m here to fight its case as the smart man’s Ferrari. From a purely visual point of view the Alfa Romeo GT is a stunning piece of kit. Fresh from the Bertone parlor the smooth and sleek lines create a machine fine enough to take along to any party, yet inexpensive enough to ease your mind when the valet walks off with it.

In all fairness it’s expected, I wouldn’t expect to see anything that wasn’t utterly gorgeous rolling out of the same design studio that brought us the Lamborghini Muira.

The model we had was the 1.9 turbo diesel, and because I expected this to be its downfall I was surprised when the responsive, torque-enriched lump accelerated the car at a violent pace. The copious amount of (traction control monitored) wheel spin is only one of the many surprises the setup offers. Although the engine note is extremely rough the pickup and mid range acceleration is very smooth, as with any diesel engine the power disappears after 4500rpm leaving any active driver shifting furiously to get the full experience.

The suspension is suitably stiff offering a sporty driving experience but for the roomy tourer it’s claiming to be, the motorway ride is a little on the bumpidy side. At high speeds it seems slightly unsettled but in the mid range, and particularly under acceleration the ride is inspiring and active.