2004 Alfa Romeo 156: First look

Click here for detailed pricing on the Alfa Romeo 156 range

Contrary to popular belief, not all Italians drive around in Masertis, Lamboghinis and Ferraris.

While the 'Alfa Romeo' moniker may not end in the hallowed "i" to which Italy's most famous sportscar makers subscribe, the marque could be seen as Italy's Ford or Holden - the vehicle for the working class.

Just as the latest VY Holden Commodore and, perhaps more appropriately, the BA Ford Falcon have really started to come of age, the latest Alfa 156 is also moving to a higher rung in the European car market.

Since its launch in Europe in 1997, the Alfa Romeo 156 has proven an outstanding success for the Italian car maker, with more than 540,000 units sold in 80 countries.

It has a bulging trophy cabinet of more than 35 awards, topped by the 1998 European Car of the Year trophy.

Herein we'll take an early look at what the Italian automaker will be offering when the revised car makes its Australian debut at the Sydney International Motor Show in October.

To kick off proceedings, it's fairly evident that while Alfa designers didn't change the overall proportions of the svelte 156 in an overly dramatic fashion, the front and rear ends are refreshingly new.

In a similar evolution to that of the VX to VY Commodore, the revised front end incorporates a much cleaner, more focussed look, and the marque is quick to point out it's also been graced with the deeper Alfa 'shield' or grille, if you like.

The multi-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels also add to the Italian sedan's good looks.

"The reinterpretation of a such style icon as the Alfa 156 had to convey maximum determination and aggression to give it even greater appeal," says Giorgetto Giugiaro, one of the world's leading car designers whose company (ItalDesign) undertook the job of renewing the appeal of the Alfa Romeo 156.

The new look headlight cluster, combined with a deeper front apron flanked by recessed foglights, adds a little sophistication to the product, yet without diverging from the 156's traditional lines too much.

Giugiaro continued: "Thus you see a new front end with significant changes to the grille, which is now bigger and features a new headlight design.

"The lower bumper area is also narrower than on the previous version. The end result is a front end that simultaneously oozes sportiness and class."

The rear-end has also been spruced up, and a new lower bumper gives the car a more complete look, doing away with the somewhat untidy and overly busy lower section of the current 2003 model.

With a new boot lid and brake lights, the overall look is much more pleasing, and even the panels appear to have been fitted with more precision, giving the new Alfa a more refined appearance.

"At the rear, the ItalDesign team has gone for style," explains Giorgetto Giugiaro.

"The tail lights have thus been slightly reworked so that their lower part is emphasized by two slight side-whiskers and the upper part by a motif that frames the Alfa logo and emphasizes the rear bonnet volume."

Interestingly, it should also be noted that Giugiaro was recently elected 'Designer of the Century' because of not just his unique reputation for autotmoive design, but for the design of everything from pasta to trains.

Interior changes to the new Alfa Romeo 156 include an all-new dashboard and door trim treatment, which are more than pleasing to the eye and now come in two colours to match the leather upholstery. There is also more use of leather on the dashboard and door trims than in the existing 156.

As far as mechanicals go, the biggest changes to the 2004 Alfa Romeo 156 are for the diesel models, whose biggest markets lie in Europe.

The 1.9-litre JTD (jet-thurst diesel) gains a six speed gearbox and the launch a new five cylinder 2.4-litre 20-valve diesel, that uses the new Fiat Multijet technology, offers an impressive 129kW of power, and reduces emissions while improving fuel economy.

And while the diesel models may make an appearance in Australia, the big sellers here are always the petrol engines, and it is expected that the new Alfa Romeo 156 will offer the same versions as the existing range - 156 JTS (2.0-litre, 121kW engine), 156 Selespeed and 156 2.5-litre V6 in sedan versions and JTS and Selespeed in the Sportwagon - but with the exception of the 156 GTA, which is not included in the initial line-up of the new Alfa Romeo 156.

The Australian model split is quite different from Europe, where a remarkable 76 per cent of all sales are now powered by the advanced JTD diesel engines, while in Australia the key model is the Alfa Romeo 156 Twin Spark and its replacement, the JTS.

Interestingly, Australia ties with Japan as the largest market for Selespeed (tip tronic) gearboxes, which account for up to 65 per cent of all Alfa Romeo 156s sold in Australia. The Sportwagon, as is normal for this class in Europe, accounts for 49 per cent of all sales in Europe, while our more sedan-orientated market sees the four door version of the 156 take 90 per cent of sales.

Pricing and Australian specifications for the new Alfa Romeo 156 will be announced when it goes on sale in October 2003. Despite the new 156 not taking on entirely new underpinnings or 100 per cent new sheet metals or a bevy of new powerplants, the new 156 is still one of the most attractive sedans - and wagons - doing the rounds in Australia, and the new model will rekindle much interest.

• Click here for more detailed pricing on the Alfa Romeo 156 range