Since 2000 the Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo unveiled the tiny Alfa Romeo 147 and no later then 2001 the car was selected the European Car of the Year.

The 147 replaced the old 145 / 146 hatchbacks and hides under the hood a 1.9-liter diesel engine and 1.6- and 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder petrol engines.

Time has passed and this small family car is still very successful on the European markets.

The delicate design is signed by Wolfgang Egger and Walter de’Silva and won a few important styling awards in the last few years. Since 2004, the Alfa Romeo 147 changed its exterior styling looking more and more like the 159 and Brera models. The redesigned car received new front grille, new rear lights new headlights and new interior (for all models except for the GTA one).

The powerful 147 GTA hit the market in 2002 running on a 3.2 V6 engine that can reach a 246 km/h (153 mph) top speed. It’s an amazing car that will bravely challenge the successful BMW 130i, Audi S3, Renault Megane RS and Volkswagen Golf R32 models.

In the last 8 years, Alfa Romeo 147 won no less than 27 awards including: Carro Importado do Ano no Brasil – (Brazil Import car of the year) in 2002, The European Car of the Year in 2001, Trophées du design (Automobile Magazine – France) in 2000, Das Goldene Lenkrad ("The golden steering wheel", BILD am SONNTAG – Germany) in 2000 and Auto Europa 1 (Panel of engineers, drivers and journalists headed by Auto Bild – Germany) in 2001.

Despite the car’s incredible reviews, Alfa Romeo has a new ace up their sleeves. According to some new announcement they will release the new and improved Alfa 149 in 2009.