ALFA ROMEO 75 2.5 GREEN CLOVERLEAF

TESTED 4.6.86

Named to celebrate Alfa’s 75th anniversary, the boxy 75 used rear-wheel drive and the company’s magnificent V6 engine to produce an enjoyable, if typically flawed, package. Sharing much with its upmarket 90 sibling, the 75 used a frontengine/rear-transaxle layout and Alfa Romeo’s celebrated alloy-intensive V6 with fuel injection and one overhead camshaft per bank. Its fivespeed ’box had lower gearing for sportier performance, but the creamy, tractable powerplant almost rendered such measures unnecessary, serving only to harm economy and cruising refinement. Thumps from the sometimeschoppy suspension in town and significant wind noise on the motorway could both be overcome by the V6’s glorious yowl. Driven on the limit, the 75 could be encouraged from gentle understeer to easily controllable oversteer on the throttle. The all-disc brakes performed strongly and without fade, too. Flawed ergonomics resulted in a bus driver-style seating position for taller drivers, though. The tweed-covered seats were fairly comfortable and supportive, but the decently sized boot suffered a high lip.