MAKEOVERS, as many Hollywood stars will testify, do not always work.
But when you enlist the talents of Italian design house Giugiaro, success is virtually guaranteed.
Having spent the previous week with the brute power of the stylish Alfa GT, the prospect of driving its smaller less expensive sibling could have seemed a letdown.
But the new 147 is a former European Car of the Year and is a star in its own right.
Guigiaro has been successful. The improved looking, revised 3 and 5-door 147 range has just gone on sale in the UK and features a new 150bhp M-Jet diesel engine, uprated interiors and revised handling.
The makeover has more than a passing resemblance to the GT with the familiar swooping bonnet and the offset number plate, but the new front bumper, deeper trademark grille and restyled headlights give it an even more sporty appearance.
This is apparent even on the five-door model where the rear door handles are cleverly concealed high up on the door.
It's the same inside. Alfa has really got its act together with build quality and attention to detail, which is light years away from earlier models.
The seats are firm and comfortable, the switchgear and controls placed comfortably to hand and housed in smart two-tone livery and the car now has a durable feel while still maintaining the sporty and distinctive Alfa personality.
There is a raft of standard equipment on all models including ABS with EBD, climate control, six airbags - front, side and window bags and adjustable steering wheel.
Also standard is a height adjustable driver's seat, electric front windows and heated door mirrors, tinted windows, remote control central locking, 'follow me home' headlamps, 60:40 split folding rear seat and an Alfa code immobiliser and alarm system.
The Lusso trim test model adds dual zone climate control, a superb eight-speaker sound system, leather steering wheel and gearknob trim and remote audio controls, plus trip computer.
Performance, as you would expect, is sporty. The model tested, the 1.6 Twin Spark is a lively customer with precise and agile handling thanks to revisions to the chassis and suspension.
The 120bhp powers the car from 0-60mph in 10 seconds with a top speed of around 120mph. The torque is also good, with power on tap even at relatively low revs.
The gearbox is also precise and the car is a pretty refined cruiser even at high speeds, with just the faintest hint of wind noise. Tyre noise is more noticeable however.
Alfa clearly hopes to build on the the success of the original 147, launched in the UK in February 2001,which sold nearly 360,000 examples worldwide.
The 147 offers 1.6 litre petrol engines of 105 and 120 bhp and a 150 bhp two litre Twin Spark guise, while the 115 bhp 1.9 litre JTD common rail turbodiesel engine was joined in 2003 by the 140 bhp 1.9 litre JTD MultiJet engine. Its adoption of higher injection pressures and multiple, but smaller, injections deliveries, says Alfa, provides even greater performance and fuel efficiency, together with reduced CO2 emissions.
Priced from £13,660-£19,040 on-the-road, the Alfa Romeo comes with a choice of three and five-door versions and Turismo and Lusso equipment options.
FAST FACTS
Alfa Romeo 147 1.6 TS Lusso
Price: £15,905
Mechanical: 120bhp, 1,598cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 121mph
0-62mph: 10.2 secs
Combined mpg: 34.4
Insurance group: 12
CO2 emissions: 194g/km
BiK rating: 25%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 3yrs paint; 8yrs anti-rust