Full deliveries of the Alfa Romeo 147 JTD, a car that offers better acceleration than its larger engined petrol counterpart while using little more than half the fuel, won't start until January, but ten lucky Australians are going to be able to get behind the wheel of this car in time for Christmas.

"The first delivery of the Alfa Romeo 147 JTD M-JET has just arrived and, such has been the demand for this outstanding performer, we can't keep them locked up until the full stock arrives in January," says David Stone, General Manager of Alfa Romeo in Australia. "So we are releasing the first batch of cars and that means ten lucky Australians are going to be able to have a faster, more economical and environmentally friendly Christmas."

Although the Alfa Romeo 147 JTD is the first diesel powered Alfa Romeo to arrive in Australia, Alfa Romeo has a reputation with diesel powered cars and, indeed, worldwide, diesel accounts for 76 per cent of Alfa Romeo sales. This sales performance has been achieved with an ability to allow its owners to continue having the performance, luxury and style expected of an Alfa Romeo, while dramatically cutting fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.

The new Alfa Romeo 147 JTD exemplifies this new generation of performance motoring. Although the diesel engine is, at 1.9 litres, slight smaller than its petrol counterpart, the 2.0 litre Twin Spark engine, they both produce same power, 110 kW. But it is when it comes to torque that the JTD engine really punches above its weight. Compared to the Twin Spark engine's 181 Nm of torque, the 1.9 JTD unique produces an epic 305 Nm, or, to look at it another way, 5 Nm more torque than the 3.2 V6 engine in the 147 GTA.

The 147 JTD is quicker to 100 km/h by half a second compared to the petrol car and goes on to the same 208 km/h top speed. The huge torque figure and the low engine speed at which it is achieved means that the 147 JTD offers remarkable in-gear performance right across the speed range.

But the 147 JTD does not just offer superior performance. On the open road, the 147 JTD is using just 4.7 litres per 100 km/h, a figure normally reserved for the slowest, smallest cars. There's more good news when it comes to emissions, too. Carbon dioxide emissions, the so-called greenhouse gas, are slashed from more than 210 grams per km to 157.

The fact that the 1.9 litre JTD engine is also unusually light and compact not only enhances economy, it also further improves handling and roadholding as it reduces weight over the front wheels and enables even more effective use of that 305 Nm of torque.

So how is this combination of performance and economy achieved?

The answer is simple. With the use of one of the most advanced diesel engine available. The Fiat Group invented what has become known as common rail, direct injection diesel engines, but which are more correctly known as Unijet. The next generation of engines are called Multijet and, as the name suggests, each cylinder now gets an injector with six, rather than one hole, allowing for more efficient and effective fuel burn. The turbocharger is a variable displacement unit that can offer the lag-free, low engine speed operation of small turbo at the same time has been able to generate increased boost at high revs without getting breathless.

And the only place that this technology is available is from Alfa Romeo. While the Fiat Group has licensed Bosch to produce Unijet for a wide range of other car makers, Multijet remains the preserve of Alfa Romeo.

The Alfa Romeo 147 JTD, therefore, provides the previously unheard of combination of exemplary performance and economy. But what about luxury? Have all the desirable features that have made the 147 one of the best equipped cars in its class been removed?

Of course not. Alfa Romeo's reputation for performance and style goes hand in hand with its reputation for value for money and, therefore, the Alfa Romeo 147 JTD shares its entire equipment and feature list with the five door Alfa Romeo 147 TS.

Which just leaves one question: The price. The recommended retail price of $39,990 should not just be contrasted with the price of the 147 Twin Spark. It has to be remembered that the Alfa Romeo 147 JTD offers superior performance, as well as economy and a six speed gearbox, so it truly is variant that sits above its petrol counterpart.

"The Alfa Romeo 147 JTD is truly a car the like of which has not been seen in Australia before," says David Stone. "On one hand it offers the economy and emissions of the smallest, most efficient economy car, while on the other it has the performance of true hot hatch and its driving dynamics, a combination of an agile chassis, a light engine and a huge torque punch at low revs means its drives not just like an Alfa Romeo should but some have said even better. In December just ten lucky drivers will have this experience, but we believe once the word gets out about just what an incredible car the 147 JTD is, they will be joined by hundreds of others!"

Just one question remains. Can Alfa Romeo meet with the same success which has been claimed by Audi, Peugeot and Volkswagen in the Australian car market?

The Next Car team has scheduled numerous diesel cars for road tests. Stay tuned for some interesting views and road test reports.

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