Alfa Romeo GT

Think of a proverb to describe the Alfa Romeo. Sexy and Italian, beautiful and full of character - these two would probably depend on your list. Brilliant handling and frame of mind? Unlikely.

As positive start with early Alfasud, a front wheel drive Alfas rarely had the frame to preserve their appearance. Too much power is transmitted to the front wheels meant that Alfas athletes often do not have credit, say, a BMW.

Therefore Alfa announces Q2. This is an optional limited-slip front diff, which controls the torque sent to the corners. The problem with front wheel drive cars still face is that under load in a corner on the inside front wheel goes light and wants to turn. With a normal diff, power is transmitted equally to both sides, which means that your wheels to keep spinning away.

With Q2, the sending of the first impulse diff to the wheel with more traction. This is a "mechanical Torsen based on the gear torque transfer. In theory this should mean that you can maintain a tight line as the nose resistant to leaching out of the corner.

And all credit to Alpha, as in the GT and 147 (the other car to take advantage of this to date), this seems to have worked. So good, in fact, they rarely need a traction control. There are plenty of front grip in corners, even the wettest, and you get much less understeer. You may even feel the clamp of the line that applies more power.

I remember what the diffs you get into Evos and Impreza - walk more upright means more traction. Great. Unless the demand is soft, pure Japanese machine you generated when pressed.

However, it is worth noting that the Alfa executives are not stupid, and have launched their own test track in Q2, which means no asphalt flat camber drop-off for the British side of the road. Q2 back to Blighty to see if it really works.

It would be nice also to really test it with some of the most powerful cars Alfa 147 GTA also as the V6 and GT. The problem is, he insists Alfa Q2 has been tested on these cars and the diff is still not enough to stop the problems of lack of grip they have. They want a fully configured drive four-wheel drive Q4 similar to the 159, Alfa has been testing prototypes.

Q2 will be available all the time in other models, but is currently limited to 150 GT and 147 hp diesel engine which is a shame, because the other models could do more. Only then drives the Alfa begin to feel as good as him.

Posted in: Alfa Romeo GT