Performance Review: Alfa-Romeo 145 Cloverleaf - [1994]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Alfa-Romeo 145 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Alfa-Romeo 145 Cloverleaf is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1994. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1995 McLaren F1 LM 6.1 V12 and the 1995 Ford GT 90 6.0L V12.This particular Alfa-Romeo 145 has a 1970cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The 145 shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the 145's Front Wheel Drive, Hatchback combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1200 kgs (2645 lbs) this makes the Alfa-Romeo 145 Cloverleaf in the same weight category as the 2018 McLaren Senna 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Alfa-Romeo 145 shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp)

In terms of power the 1970cc 16V St4 engine produces 150 bhp (111 kW) @ 6200 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp) or the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (148 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated St4 throws out 138 lb-ft (187.1 Nm) @ 4000 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (162 lb-ft) or the 2016 Ford Fiesta ST 200 1.6 Turbo (159 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Alfa-Romeo 145 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2015 Seat Ibiza Cupra 1.8 Turbo (150.0 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Alfa-Romeo 145.

The Alfa-Romeo 145 has a Power to weight ratio of 125.0 bhp per ton and 115.0 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1994 145 competing with the 2015 Seat Ibiza Cupra 1.8 Turbo (150.0 bhp per ton) or the 2011 Honda Civic 2.0i 16v VTEC Type R - FN2 (150.0 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Alfa-Romeo 145 generating around 115.0 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1954 Ferrari 250 Europa (140.0 lb-ft per ton) or the 1980 Renault Fuego 1.6 Turbo (140.0 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 8.00 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 8.3 secs, this made the Alfa-Romeo 145 Cloverleaf as fast as the 2011 Citroen DS5 1.6 THP 200 (8.00 secs) the 2009 Porsche Cayenne 3.0 V6 Turbo Diesel (8.00 secs) the 2008 Alfa-Romeo Mito 1.4 155 T-Jet Veloce (8.00 secs) the or the 2007 Fiat Bravo 1.9 Sport Multijet (8.00 secs). This Alfa-Romeo 145 Cloverleaf is also faster than the 2014 Peugeot 308 GT 2.0 Blue HDI 180 (8.10 secs) the 2008 Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 T-Jet 155 Abarth (8.10 secs) the 2006 Volkswagen-VW Golf GT TDi 170 (8.10 secs) the and the 2005 Vauxhall-Opel Astra 2.0 Turbo SRI (8.10 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 145 and the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range

When talking about the performance of the Alfa-Romeo 145 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 16.1 secs @ 85.0 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range (16.03 secs), the 1999 Audi A3 S3 1.8T Quattro (16.04 secs), and the 2009 Ford Fiesta ST185 (16.06 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1994 version of the Alfa-Romeo 145 Cloverleaf has a maximum speed of 129mph.

Top Speed of the 1994 145 equals the 2021 BMW i4 M50 (140 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1994 Alfa-Romeo 145 Cloverleaf then how about the 2021 BMW i4 M50 (140 mph), the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (140 mph), or the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus (140 mph).

Related Links:

1994 145 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Alfa-Romeo

Car Comparison