New Coupe coup for Alfa Romeo

We first saw the Alfa Romeo GT at the Geneva Motor Show last year, catching the eye of every passer-by like Italian beauties are supposed to.

At this year's show, the Italians stole the show again, mixing feminine beauty with motoring style in a stew of masculinity, that perhaps stereotypes the Italian character. Regardless, all the Italian marques were playing to the strengths of this stereotype, none more so than Alfa Romeo.

In many ways the GT fulfills the stereotype as well. It's got real road presence, a certain arrogance and cheeky looks that suggests good breeding, and when partnered to the right power unit, a fiery temperament.

The style and flair is as Italian as a Gucci suit. But you also get a genuine four-seater coupé, though you wouldn't want to squeeze more than two people in the back unless they were intimately acquainted.

Yet, the new GT is the first properly habitable Alfa coupé since the wedge-shaped GTV6 died in 1987. Though it bears the label of the Bertone design studio on the doors, the designers didn't have a free hand and were clearly told to keep the GT very much in theme, with the distinctive Coupé based on the 156 saloon, but also sharing many parts with the 147.

Front seats are figure hugging and in keeping with the sporty theme, though they could be more easily adjustable. Rear view is through a letterbox of a back window.

On the roads of Kildare it offered us all the charm of an Italian racer, hugging the corners, powering out and fidgeting slightly over bumpy roads, thanks in part to its front-wheel-drive format.

But its steering is crisp. All this to the operatic sound track of its 2-litre V6. For the out of tune but more financially aware, there's a 1.9-litre multi-jet diesel available as well, and for the ultimate racer there's a 3.2-litre 240 bhp V6.

However, with Alfa predicting sales here in the region of 200, the best selling variant will be the 1.8-litre Twin Spark petrol unit due here this summer. Prices are: €38,495 for the 1.9-litre M-jet diesel Lusso version and €40,495 for the Sportivo version; €38,995 for the 2.0 JTS Lusso and €40,995 for the Sportivo. The 3.2 V6 Sportivo tops the range at €49,995.