Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon (2006)

Italian styling, the performance and handling of a thoroughbred sports car, and the flexible, versatile use of space of a prestigious station wagon. These are, very briefly, the salient features of the Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon, the new car that will be on the market in Italy in March, followed by the other European markets.

It would be limiting to talk about the 'station wagon version' of the Alfa Romeo 159 because the car has a personality of its own and strong features that are summed up successfully in the definition 'Sportwagon'. The new model combines the flowing line of a long roof that recalls the styling of certain coupes, like the spoiler on the roof and the very aerodynamic lines. But at the same time, the car's interior space guarantees a generous, practical loading volume. In other words, the Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon provides the performance and dynamic behaviour you would expect from a sports car, and a luggage compartment with the dimensions of a prestigious station wagon, but also the versatility necessary for today's lifestyle.

Styling

Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro in collaboration with the Alfa Romeo Style Centre, the 159 Sportwagon is as compact as the saloon - the total length is exactly the same (4,660 millimetres) - with a fluid line that runs without hesitation from nose to tail, focusing on a 'groove' which makes the entire car light and sleek, with a refined play of light and shade (it is 1,828 mm wide and 1,425 high, with a wheelbase of 2,700 millimetres).

The result is a sporty car on which the eye does not notice the 'extra volume' typical of a station wagon: this is the real strong point of the new model, which becomes all the more captivating where most station wagons reveal their main limitations. The Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon combines this winning feature with a luggage compartment that is a 'designed space' which meets a variety of requirements, whether it is used for leisure time or for business. And it never compromises where sportiness and performance are concerned. An example? The version equipped with the powerful 3.2 V6 Q4 24 valve engine, which delivers a maximum power output of 260 bhp (191 kW) at 6200 rpm and torque of 322 Nm (32.8 kgm) at 4500 rpm. The resulting performance is amazing: the Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 3.2 V6 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 237 km/h.

The luggage compartment is more accessible than you would expect on a station wagon (both from the passenger compartment and from the back, thanks to the forward hinged tailgate) and the loading volume is excellent (445 litres), the result of a series of changes to the bodywork and a rational use of space.

The rear end speaks the same language as the rest of the car, blending styling details typical of Alfa and characteristic features of the saloon, with elements peculiar to the Sportwagon. A number of appropriate stylistic solutions such as the compact passenger compartment ensure that the new model maintains Alfa Romeo's classical sportiness. The front is unchanged, dominated by the same distinctive features as the saloon, with the harmonious balance that produces the elegance and assertiveness you expect from an Alfa Romeo.

Comfort

Quiet running, a comfortable climate and dynamic well-being: these are the features of the new model, achieved by sophisticated technologies, which create an ideal environment no matter how far you travel or how long you spend in the car. For example, the excellent articulation index which is on a par with the best competition. On the Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon you can converse normally, or listen undisturbed to music reproduced by the high fidelity BOSE® Hi-Fi Sound System with a central speaker on the facia for sharper acoustics. That is not all. Well-being on board is also enhanced by the automatic climate system with dual or tri-zone air distribution and temperature control, Cruise Control, rain, dusk, and front and rear parking sensors, a satellite navigator with maps (also with a 'Birdview' display), voice controls and a built-in GSM hands-free telephone, a split rear seat, windscreen heating in the wiper area, and elegant darker glazing for the rear side windows and rear window. And finally, the 'Home Link' device can be installed on the sun visor, and can be programmed to remotely open up to 3 electric gates.

Quality and roadholding

The Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon was designed for uncompromising quality, and was subjected to endless tests and controls throughout its development. The result is a car that offers not only Italian styling and the highest safety levels, but also superb roadholding. In fact, the most striking feature of all Alfa Romeos is the sensation of a car that is glued to the road and responds with unusual promptness to the steering wheel, so that the driver always knows exactly what the front axle is doing, what the grip limit is and what he has to do to put the front wheels where he wants them. The merit goes to the pinpoint steering and new suspension already adopted on the saloon: high double wishbones at the front for excellent lateral roadholding, great efficiency and precise response to the steering, and outstanding traction, and Multilink at the rear, which makes the car extremely stable in high speed manoeuvres and very agile on 'mixed narrow' roads, the sign of a true sports car. Like the saloon, the Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon with the powerful 3.2 V6 Q4 engine also proposes Q4 permanent four-wheel drive, with three differentials (the Torsen C self-locking central differential manages the drive torque, splitting it 57% to the rear wheel and 43% to the front wheels).

Safety

Like the saloon which was recently awarded the prestigious 5-star EuroNCAP rating, the new Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon confirms the extraordinary amount of attention its designers have focused on every aspect related to safety. Starting with preventive safety, which is guaranteed by the various technical solutions that help the driver to keep his mind on his driving: comfort, quiet running, climate control, an ergonomic driving position, the layout of the controls and legible instruments. Then there is active safety, in other words roadholding, braking capacity and complete control over the car's dynamic behaviour, thanks to ABS complete with EBD, the sophisticated Vehicle Dynamic Control system (VDC), Anti Slip Regulation (ASR), Hydraulic Brake Assistance (HBA) which intervenes during emergency braking, and a Hill Holder to simplify hill starts.

But it is in passive safety that the Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon really comes into its own. The new car fits innovative restraint systems (pretensioners on the clasps and decreasing load limiters on the seat-belts), as many as eight airbags (including special bags to protect the knees and sidebags, that extend all along the window area), and innovative front seats with an 'anti-whiplash' device that brings the head-restraint nearer to the occupant's neck in the event of a rear impact. The torsional rigidity of the Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon's bodyshell is unrivalled, and the merit goes to both the new 'premium' floorpan, the same used on the saloon, which is built with high performance materials, multiply sheet metal and laser welding, and to the numerous changes the Alfa Romeo engineers introduced to the bodyshell architecture. Thanks to this equipment and the other safety measures, the Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon easily meets the strictest standards for occupant protection. This has been demonstrated in numerous crash tests, slide tests and computer simulations.

Engines and gearboxes

The heart and soul of every Alfa Romeo model is its engine. The exciting styling and strong personality of every model hide a range of excellent engines with state-of-the-art technology and generous performance. The Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon is no exception. Like the saloon, it is powered by the three new JTS engines with continuous dual variable valve timing - the 3.2 V6 Q4 24v (260 bhp), the 2.2 (185 bhp) and the 1.9 (160 bhp) - and three Multijet engines: the 2.4 JTDm 20v (200 bhp), the 1.9 JTDm 16v (150 bhp) and the 1.9 JTDm 8v (120 bhp). A 1.8 litre petrol engine delivering 140 bhp will also be available at a later date. All the engines meet Euro 4 requirements. The diesel versions all incorporate a particulate trap (DPF), and they all deliver superb performance, combined with new mechanical gearboxes, all with six speeds, short strokes, precise engagement and limited loads. Automatic transmissions and a robotised Selespeed gearbox, also with six speeds, will be available on certain versions.

2006 , Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo Brera UK Version (2005)

Sportiness and elegance combined in unique, exclusive styling. Harmonious forms and volumes which, when they are supported by Alfa Romeo mechanical and engineering excellence, produce a beautiful, powerful, solid car. This is very briefly the spirit of the new coupé which will arouse extreme emotions and guarantee superbly enjoyable driving. The engineers and stylists only had one goal: to combine sportiness with roominess and the quality of life on board.

To achieve this result, they started from the excellent premises of the fascinating Alfa Romeo Brera prototype, which had excited the press and the general public, winning numerous international awards: the 'Best of Show', awarded by the magazine Autoweek at the Geneva Motor Show, 'Best of Show' in the Prototype category at the Villa d'Este Concours d'Elégance, 2 prizes for its category at the Bibendum Challenge 2002, one as 'one of the most elegant in the world'; and the title of 'the most fascinating car' at the Super Car Rally 2002 from Paris to Monte Carlo. A worthy curriculum, which the new Alfa Romeo Brera now inherits.

Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro in collaboration with the Alfa Romeo Styling Centre, the model represents the state of the art in the world of the coupe, a strong compact car, mistress of the road with a strong personality. First of all, this fascinating '2+2' has generous dimensions: it is 1,830 mm wide, 4,413 mm long and 1,372 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,525 millimetres, although the heightened taper of the front and rear make it look very compact. This does not in any way diminish the elegance of the lines which flow smoothly, from front to back, right down to the built-in bumpers and light clusters with their converging wedge shape.

The exterior line is a succession of classical references, an ideal place where traditional Alfa styling cues are reproposed in a modern key. This is evident at first glance. For example, the rear window that recalls the window of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint of many years ago. Or the rear end which reiterates the distinctive traits of recent Alfa Romeo models. And at the front, the bonnet recalls those of cars of the Fifties, dominated by the shield set at the centre. And finally the larger rear light clusters and the four exhaust outlets reinforce the impression of a powerful sports car, like the large tyres and the lovely alloys that are standard throughout the range.

The Alfa Romeo Brera aims to maintain continuity with the past, while enlarging the interior space and raising the standard of life. On a car with a great temperament, the driving position is the hub around which the interior is built. The Alfa Romeo Brera is no exception, as you would expect from a car born to offer exuberant performance and an extremely striking design. So the seats provide outstanding containment, and a sporty design but this does not mean forgoing comfort in the rear, which remains at the highest levels for this segment. By folding down the rear seats, the luggage capacity is increased from 236 to 546 litres, which hints at the generous loading area. The Alfa Romeo Brera comes in three outfits, all lavishly equipped with electronic and telematic equipment, and the interior ambience is always welcoming and sophisticated, thanks to the quality materials used and the introduction of innovative solutions, such as the large fixed sunroof which increases the luminosity in the car and the passengers' sense of space, making the line sleeker and more flowing.

The engine is the heart and real strength of every Alfa Romeo model. Under a fascinating line and strong personality, Alfa cars conceal a range of superb engines with advanced technology and generous performance. The same is true of the Alfa Romeo Brera, which offers a choice of two JTS petrol engines (2.2 delivering 185 bhp and 3.2 delivering 260 bhp), and a 2.4 JTD turbodiesel that delivers 200 bhp (available after the launch), combined with two different gearboxes depending on the version: 6-speed mechanical or automatic (not available at the launch). In other words, this is a car capable of exciting performance, but is also ideal for everyday use.

Fascinating styling, plenty of temperament and superb engineering. The Alfa Romeo Brera combines these distinctive features with others, playing its trump cards in the field of safety and dynamic behaviour. While 'enjoyable driving' has always been one of the strong points of any car from Alfa Romeo, 'enjoyable travelling' now becomes a necessary choice when the cars have to guarantee excellent comfort as well as the Alfa temperament. For this reason, the Alfa Romeo Brera fits double wishbone suspension at the front and a Multilink system at the rear. This layout guarantees excellent dynamic performance but also superb comfort. Whoever sits at the wheel controls the behaviour of this great sports car, but certainly does not forgo the excellent comfort guaranteed by the suspension. To which the Alfa Romeo Brera adds a sporty trim and Q4 four-wheel drive on some versions.

The Alfa Romeo Brera is fitted with the most advanced electronic devices to control the car's dynamic behaviour: the sophisticated VDC system with sporty, non-intrusive calibration, complete with MSR and ASR (the former adjusts braking torque when changing down, while the latter limits wheel slip when accelerating).

Articles By : NetCarShow

2005 , Alfa Romeo