European Luxury with a Mediterranean Twist

Motoring Channel Staff - 1/June/2006

The all-new Alfa Romeo 159 has finally arrived in Australia, and priced from under $50,000 for the 136kW 2.2-litre JTS version, complete with a quick-shifting 6-speed manual gearbox and leather seats, the new model range is expected to boost Alfa sales significantly.

The highly anticipated European luxury car goes on sale today in Australia and the range consists of three models:

$49,990 159 2.2 JTS (136kW) L4 petrol

$55,990 159 2.4 JTD (147kW) L5 diesel

$74,990 159 3.2 V6 (191kW) V6 petrol

Alfa Romeo reckons the 159 will be the new benchmark for stylish sports sedans, as well as signifying the first of a whole range of new cars that will arrive over next six months.

"If the Alfa Romeo 156 was the car that redefined Alfa Romeo, then the Alfa Romeo 159 is the car that takes Alfa Romeo to the next level," explained David Stone, the GM of Alfa Romeo in Australia.

"Indeed, it would be fair to say that the 159 is even more important than the 156 as it will provide not just an expanded range of sports sedans, it is also the basis for three more new models due this year, the 159 Sportwagon, Brera and Spider, as well as models as yet unannounced."

Could Mr Stone be talking about an upcoming Alfa super car, perhaps the Alfa Rome 8C Competizione Concept? It's possible, but a more likely addition to the Alfa Romeo range in Australia is that of the 159 Sportwagon or even the AWD Crosswagon.

Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro in collaboration with the Alfa Romeo Centro Stile at Arese in Milan, the new Alfa 159 combines superlative engineering with outstanding performance, explains the Italian automaker, with handling characteristics appropriate to the pedigree of one of the world's most famous sporting marques.

Alfa says that the 159 is built on a brand new platform, making it one of the toughest cars around, with a best-in-class torsional rigidity of over 180,000 daNm/rad. In terms of safety, it has nothing to fear from the competition, and has recently been awarded the prestigious 5-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, which puts it ahead of the field for its segment with regard to crash safety performance.

One of the Italian sporting car manufacturer's aims with the Alfa 159 project was to take the lead in the field of automotive passive safety. An Alfa Romeo engineered all-new premium floorpan, which incorporates high performance materials, multi-ply sheet metal, and laser welding, was the starting point.

The construction of the bodyshell also benefits from numerous measures, such as the use of boxed elements that are connected rigidly both transversely and vertically; three ‘load lines’ in the front, longitudinal beams that run the entire length of the car, built-in deformable structures, and a large number of spot welds around structural nodes.

The result of the new construction methods is class-leading torsional rigidity of the bodyshell, which contributes to the agile handling nature of the car, but also to its inherent safety in the event of an accident. This is achieved by using cutting edge technology, innovative materials, and the use of high-strength steels (58% of the total), and dual-phase steels (7%).

The Alfa 159 also boasts an impressive complement of airbags - seven all told - including a special bag to protect the driver's knees, and sidebags that extend all along the complete window area, covering rear seat passengers too. In addition, there are innovative restraint systems with pre-tensioners and load limiters on the seatbelts, and front seats with an anti-whiplash system that automatically brings the head restraint closer to the occupant's neck in the event of a rear impact.

The central (B) pillar has three reinforcement levels to protect passengers from side-on collisions, whilst the high-strength steel floor has been designed with three load lines to prevent it from folding even in high speed head-on collisions.

Three versions of the new Alfa 159, priced from $49,990 to $74,990, are on sale now with a choice of three powerplants.

Two new direct injection petrol engines - the 2.2-litre 136kW 4-cylinder unit and a 3.2-litre 191kW V6 - combine Alfa Romeo's JTS (Jet Thrust Stoichiometric) direct injection technology with continuously variable valve timing, (both inlet and exhaust), for the first time.

The result of these engine component upgrades is simple: more power and more efficiency.

With specific power outputs of between 60 and 62kW/litre, and almost 90% of maximum torque available at just 2000rpm, both new JTS petrol units boast outstanding performance, yet offer significant fuel savings and readily comply with stringent Euro 4 exhaust emission regulations.

Better yet, for those drivers sick of paying through the nose for expensive premium petrol blends, the 159 will be available with the 2.4 litre 20-valve 147kW 5-cylinder JTD turbo diesel engine powerplant from launch. The 5-cylinder engine features the company's JTD MultiJet common rail direct injection systems and exemplify the company’s on-going pre-eminence in the field of diesel technology.

The JTD unit also features variable geometry turbocharging that helps the diesel engine develop an impressive 400Nm @ 2000rpm, and incorporates a 'for life', maintenance-free particulate trap (DPF) in anticipation of Euro 5 emissions regulations.

For the specifics on engine outputs and engine speeds, scroll to the bottom of the page for the breakout panel.

Alfa Romeo has confirmed that all three launch engines will be mated to its precise 6-speed manual gearboxes, while 6-speed automatic transmissions will become available on 2.4 JTDM and 3.2 V6 JTS versions of the new Alfa 159 in early 2007. A motor speed regulator (MSR) is also included to help modulate braking torque when changing down through the gears, and a unique Hill Holder function facilitates smooth hill starts.

Interestingly, the range-topping $74,990 3.2 JTS model, which is equipped with a 191kW V6 engine, comes standard with Alfa Romeo's state-of-the-art Q4 permanent four-wheel drive system.

Alfa's new Q4 system is far from a quick-fix AWD system. It employs three differentials, with a high quality self-locking Torsen C unit at the centre of the system which divides drive torque by a ratio of 57% to the rear wheels and 43% to the front in normal driving conditions.

The V6-powered 159 model generates 322Nm of torque, which is split between front and rear axles and constantly modulated by the central Torsen differential on the basis of available grip, with a bias towards the rear axle promoting handling characteristics appropriate to an Alfa Romeo sports saloon. Also promoting handling characteristics are the large tyre sizes, which measure 225/50 R17 on the 4- and 5-cylinder models, while the rapid V6 model gets slightly lower profile tyres, that are less prone to tyre wall flex: 235/45 R18s all round.

This new range of Alfa equipment, the 2.2 and 3.2 petrol engines and the new 2.4 diesel, plus the AWD/FWD transmissions, are the same units that will be used on the sexy new Brera, with both models ranges offering a higher level of performance.

Compared to the outgoing 156 model, the suspension of the new Alfa 159 features revisions to the high double wishbone and multilink rear set-up. Alfa Romeo says that the new system is designed to promote smooth, accurate steering responses, exceptional stability and controllability - even when close to adhesion limits - and first class body control allied to remarkable comfort over all road surface conditions.

Though the 159 is a front wheel drive vehicle, and with good reserves of power from all models, like many of the evolving FWD vehicles coming out of Japan and Germany, understeer isn't expected to degrade the car's handling nature. Responsive steering will be one of the talking points of the new 159 model as well, thanks to its speed-sensitive power assisted steering system, with a rack requiring just 2.3 turns lock-to-lock; a statistic that ensures it has the most direct steering in its class.

Other chassis revisions for the 159 range include new braking systems. 305mm ventilated front discs, and 278mm solid discs at the rear are standard equipment for the 4-cylinder 2.2 JTS model, while the high torque L5 diesel and V6 petrol models are gifted with larger, 330mm ventilated discs complete with Brembo 4-pot aluminium callipers at the front, with 292mm ventilated discs at the rear, which will supply the 159 with even greater, fade-free stopping power.

Though the 159 will be replacing the 156, the new Italian sedan is in fact a much larger car than its precursor, with increases in almost every dimension, and from any angle and at almost any distance, the 159 is unmistakably an Alfa Romeo car, where the sporting lines and cultured styling cues of the sports saloon make way for a spacious, flexible interior. The new car has a wheelbase 105mm longer than its predecessor, significantly improving both front and rear passenger legroom and, despite losing a little height to the 156, the new Alfa Romeo offers improved front and rear door access and an increase in interior headroom, particularly in the rear.

As with all Alfa Romeo models, insists the Italian automaker, driver orientated ergonomics, superior passenger comfort and lavish standard equipment levels are fundamental to the interior design of the new Italian sports saloon. Lavish may sound a little too strong, but bear in mind that soft leather seats, automatic dual zone climate control, rear parking sensors, auto dimming rear view mirror, a multi-function display and trip computer, fog lights, 17-inch spoked alloy wheels (18-inch on the V6), seven airbags and an RDS 8-speaker stereo with a subwoofer and a 10 CD stacker are standard features on all models. The only options available include metallic paint ($1600), electrically adjustable/heated seats ($2750) and a sunroof ($2250).

As well as the 159's increased body strength, both passive and active safety features are comprehensively represented in the new Alfa Romeo. In addition to seven airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, and a fully integrated fire prevention system, the Australian release of the vehicle comes with a comprehensive range of state-of-the-art electronic braking, traction control and stability systems fitted as standard. ABS anti-lock braking is combined with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution over all four wheels, and a sophisticated Vehicle Dynamic Control unit enhances cornering stability. VDC is further augmented by Anti-Schlupf Regelung (ASR) to limit wheelspin during acceleration.

Pricing:

$49,990 159 2.2 JTS (136kW) L4 petrol
$55,990 159 2.4 JTD (147kW) L5 diesel
$74,990 159 3.2 V6 (191kW) V6 petrol