THERE was a time when Italian cars were excused for a myriad of faults and idiosyncrasies simply because they were Italian. Unrelenting suspension, tortuous ergonomics and frequent lapses of reliability were thought to be the price one paid for owning a vehicle with a genuine, hot-blooded Italian heart.
Fortunately for motoring enthusiasts, and for the Italian manufacturers themselves, times have changed. Reacting to the ever-growing level of quality, efficiency and sophistication of modern-day products, particularly those from Japan, companies like Milan's Alfa Romeo have responded with a new generation of Italian contenders that are accounting well for themselves in today's highly competitive marketplace.
A prime example is the Alfa 155 four-door sedan. Replacing the outdated rear-wheel drive model 75, the new offering is a mid-range, transverse-engined front-wheel-drive sport sedan aimed directly at the young family men and women who want a little dash, zip and Italian flair in their motoring.
The 155 is available only with a manual five-speed transmission, which may somewhat limit its appeal in the snarls of bumper-to-bumper Hongkong, but it definitely fills a niche.
Just over 30 have been sold since its local introduction last November.
The official name for the new sedan is the Alfa 155 Twin Spark, denoting the dual ignition and two spark plugs atop each of the four cylinders of the 1955 cc engine. Alfa engineers claim the system boosts engine efficiency and performance as well as promoting lower fuel consumption.