How did the Alfa Romeo 147 GTA stack up against other hot hatches of its year?

In the early 2000s, Alfa Romeo's answer to the hot hatch market was the Alfa Romeo 147 GTA — a car featuring a 3.2 liter V6 engine good for 250 horsepower. It battled established players in the form of Volkswagen Golf R32, Ford Focus RS, Renault Megane RS. Its naturally aspirated V6 was the GTA’s selling point in a segment full of turbocharged four cylinder engines. Its handling, the task of getting so much power to the front wheels, its performance versus the competition are all subjects of debate among enthusiasts. The discussion usually includes whether the GTA is rare enough, about the soundtrack, and how much its Italian looks make up for any inferiority in raw speed or ease of driving.