Alfa's first oil-burner

ALFA Romeo’s first diesel-powered model variant in Australia - the five-door 147 JTD - has arrived in limited numbers ahead of a full shipment in January.

Priced from $39,990, the JTD uses a 110kWkW/305Nm 1.9-litre turbo-diesel engine which, when combined with the standard six-speed manual (the only gearbox available), can send the vehicle from 0-100km/h in a claimed 8.8 seconds. It also consumes 5.9L/100km across the ADR 81/00 fuel consumption index.

By comparison, the $37,490 Twin Spark version uses a 110kW/181Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine (mated to either a five-speed manual or optional Selespeed sequential-manual) and is 0.5 sec slower from rest to 100km/h. It consumes 8.9L/100km.