Cars such as the Golf GTi and Astra GSi used to represent hot hatch nirvana but today they're just cannon fodder for a new breed of super hatchbacks such as Audi's A3 3.2 quattro, the Megane two-litre turbo Sport - and Alfa Romeo's 147 GTA.
These cars represent the stepping-stone between the GTi/GSi league and big-hitting muscle cars such as BMW's M3.
A month ago we reviewed the Audi A3 3.2 quattro and found it a better car than the Megane Sport. Despite being very fast, the turbocharged Megane is not the driver's car it should be due to its unnervingly light steering and torque steer.
However, we held back on saying the A3 was the ultimate hatch as we hadn't yet driven the Alfa 147 GTA, which packs an identical 184kW in its 3.2-litre V6 as the A3 but lags slightly in torque, 300Nm against the Audi's 320Nm.
Now that we've put the Alfa against the stopwatch, a definitive answer on which is the hottest car is still not a straightforward exercise. The reason is that the 147 GTA grabs a small advantage over the Audi in the 0-100km/h and quarter-mile sprints but the A3 hits back with a slightly higher top speed and better overtaking acceleration.
The Alfa is quicker off the mark, thanks to its 135kg lighter weight, but the Audi's superior torque delivery - with its 320Nm maximum available from 2500rpm - was always going to make it the better overtaker than the Alfa, which needs to be spinning at 4800rpm to hit its 300Nm peak.
It's horses for courses therefore, with the A3 providing slightly more accessible power while the 147's the choice for those seeking ultimate prestige in the quarter-mile dices at the WesBank Raceway.
And that's not the only reason the two cars attract slightly different audiences. The Italian stallion has the more flamboyant personality (surprise, surprise), with a hungrier howl and flashier styling.
The 147's already sexy shape gets the full X-rated treatment in the GTA with the addition of black headlight surrounds, wider air intakes, a sportier rear bumper, widened front fenders to accommodate the 17" 225/45 footwear and a pair of mean-looking oval tailpipes. The brake callipers are red.
The clutch is bigger and the six-speed gearbox offers new and sturdier components.
The GTA badge traces its heritage to the tuned GT coupes raced by Alfa Romeo in the 1960s on some of the world's greatest circuits. The tradition has come full circle now that Alfa is fielding a trio of 147 GTA works cars in South Africa's Production Car championship - quite successfully too, having taken several victories away from the formerly all-conquering BMW 330is.
Sitting low
Inside there's the obligatory three-spoked sporty steering wheel and aluminium pedals plus dual-tone leather sports seats in which you sit very low, almost low enough to peer into the tailpipes of SUVs.
The fascia has special gauges with a black background, with rpm marked "Giri" and the fuel gauge "Benzina" for that authentic Italian experience. A multifunction display shows engine oil temperature, fuel consumption and range.
With claustrophobic rear passenger quarters, a small boot and only three doors, the 147 GTA won't be the first choice for family conveyance. Neither is it a fun thing to park as it has an awful turning circle, worse than an all-wheel drive car. With Alfas, you always have to live with a few quirks.
All the right noises
But when used in its intended role as a high-adrenalin hell-raiser, the GTA hits all the right notes - not least of which is the raunchy war cry of that V6 engine, which doesn't need to be revved very hard to sound great.
That goes for the power delivery too and, despite being slower in overtaking than its Audi rival, the Alfa GTA never feels shy of grunt. It pulls strongly and cleanly from below 3000rpm while sixth is not an overdrive gear and capable of quite hearty acceleration.
Closer to the 7000rpm redline is where the real action is, however, as evidenced by our test car's fuel consumption average of nearly 14 litres/100km.
The GTA's suspension has been beefed up to cope with the extra performance, delivering a firm, juddery ride that has you avoiding manhole covers wherever possible.
Sharp handling
The reward is sharpened handling; the Italian car cuts through corners with impressive poise, feeling solidly pinned-down. The steering is sharp and direct as a sports car's should be and there's barely any torque steer despite all that power going through the steered wheels.
Nevertheless, the Alfa prefers smooth roads and feels less civilised than its Audi rival when the surface deteriorates. Hard cornering on bumpy tar makes the GTA's suspension knock loudly and the front bumper is prone to scraping.
Imperfect roads also throw the Alfa's directional stability out of kilter, with the wheels tending to follow grooves.
On slippery roads the two-wheel drive GTA is unlikely to keep up with the all-wheel drive Audi A3, although this is somewhat negated by the Alfa being equipped with a traction control system that steps in should a driver's exuberance exceed his skill.
It can be switched off but only results in expensive tyre smoke if the throttle's planted too early out of a tight corner.
Big anti-lock brakes haul the GTA to a standstill in a fair hurry, though the brake pedal feels soft.
Summary
Alfa's muscled hatchback is all about raw Italian passion. It's agile and fast, with easy, accessible power, and you have to take it for a test drive just to hear the melodic roar of its V6.
Overall the 147 GTA is a more charismatic car than Audi's A3 3,2 quattro but not quite as smooth and self-assured.