The Alfa Romeo 159 saloon, first of a redesigned model line to replace the 156, makes its debut at the Geneva motor show next month and goes on sale in the summer.
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Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro in collaboration with Alfa’s own stylists, the new car is immediately recognisable as an Alfa thanks mainly to the traditional cloverleaf-and-shield grille.
Alfa Romeo describes the new car as “combining a light stylistic ‘aggressiveness’ with strikingly elegant forms” and highlights its detailed light cluster designs and the trapezoid shape of the front view which “accentuates the car’s sensation of solidity, highlighted by the way the passenger compartment rests on a powerful ‘shoulder’”, which runs all along the waistline of the car, broadening considerably when it reaches the rear pillar. This pillar has a double stylistic function: it links to the curve of the rear window, above the rear axle and “embraces the passenger compartment thanks to the stylistic device of the classic Alfa Romeo ‘elbow’”.
Alfa also notes that the front screen pillars are set further back to make the car’s line sleeker, and to make the passenger compartment look more compact, as well as improving visibility on bends.
Inside, the 159 is roomier than the outgoing 156, overall the new car is 4,660 mm long, 1,828 mm wide and 1,417 mm high, on a wheelbase of 2,700 millimetres.
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By GlobalDataInterior styling has evolved from recent Alfa cabins with a driver-oriented cockpit and dashboard layout and wrap-around centre console, with all dials and controls angled ‘ergonomically’ towards the driver. The speedometer, rev counter and other instruments are all “strictly analogue” and remain circular with clear, legible graphics.
The new range offers three specification levels, each featuring specific ‘natural’ interior upholstery.
Alfa Romeo planned to position the new 159 at the top of the class for passive safety. The engineers designed and developed a new ‘premium’ floorpan which uses high performance materials, multiple sheet metal and laser welding. The body shell also benefits from numerous measures such as the use of boxed elements that are rigidly connected transversely and vertically, three load lines in the front, longitudinals that run the whole length of the car, built-in structures and a larger number of spot welds around structural nodes. The result is excellent torsional rigidity: the best in its segment: over 180,000 daNm/rad.
The 159 has up to eight airbags (including special bags to protect the knees and sidebags that extend all along the windows area); innovative restraint systems (pre-tensioners on the clasp, and decreasing load limiters on the seat-belts), and front seats with an ‘anti-whiplash’ device which brings the head-restraint nearer to the occupants’ necks in the event of a rear impact.
Three new JTS (Jet Thrust Stoichiometric combustion system) petrol engines have continuous dual variable valve timing (inlet and exhaust): the 3.2 V6 24v (191kW/260bhp), the in-line four-cylinder 2.2-litre (136kW/185bhp) and the 1.9-litre (118kW/160bhp), with a specific power output of between 81 and 85 bhp/litre. All engines meet Euro 4 emissions standards.
Diesel engine choices are the 2.4 JTDM five-cylinder 20v engine (147 kW/200 bhp at 4,000 rpm) and torque of 400Nm (40.8kg/m) at 2,000 rpm), and the two 1.9 JTDM: the first is a 16-valve unit delivering 110kW (150bhp) at 4,000rpm and torque of 320 Nm (32.6kg/m at 2,000rpm), the second is an eight-valve delivering 88kW (120bhp at 4,000rpm) and torque of 280Nm (28.6kg/m at 2,000rpm).
On this latest generation of common rail injection engines, JTD units with Multijet technology, turbocharging is by a variable geometry turbo with intercooler. The 1.9 JTDM unit has a new turbine developed in-house by Alfa Romeo while the 2.4 JTDM has a new cylinder head and new connecting rods in ‘fractured’ steel.
These engines also all meet Euro 4 requirements, and incorporate a particulate trap (DPF), in line with the latest Euro 5 indications (it is a ‘for life’ system that does not need to be regenerated with additives).
The 159 model line has new gearboxes, all with six speeds. Automatic transmissions and a robotised Selespeed gearbox will also be available, also all with six speeds.
New architecture has resulted in a new suspension layout with high double wishbones at the front, and multilink geometry at the rear. Alfa Romeo claims this gives greater capacity to absorb road roughness, and more linearity and precision in response to the steering (the most direct of the standard saloons), superb roadholding, maximum stability in high speed manoeuvres and the agility of a true Alfa Romeo on narrow mixed routes.
The braking system is claimed to be the “most competitive” in the class and Alfa engineers worked with suppliers to develop special tyres, the largest in their class, in sizes up to 235/45 R18.
The new offers optional permanent four-wheel drive with three differentials (including a Torsen C self-locking central differential). The so-called ‘ Q4 four-wheel drive’ system splits torque constantly and dynamically between the four wheels. The Torsen C self-locking central differential manages the drive torque, sending about 57% to the rear wheels and 43% to the front. The system also guarantees excellent traction in all conditions by automatically checking any slipping.
The new car has a number of sophisticated electronic systems, too. ‘VDC’ is effectively a traction control while MSR (Motor Schleppmoment Regelung) intervenes, giving torque back to the engine to prevent skidding due to wheel lock. The other systems that supplement VDC are: ASR (Anti Slip Regulation), HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assistance) which intervenes during emergency braking, the ABS system complete with EBD, and the Hill Holder for hill starts. Active safety is also enhanced by sophisticated bi-xenon headlights.
Interior technology includes cruise control, rain, dusk and parking sensors (front and rear), satellite navigator with with a Nissan-style ‘bird’s eye view’ display), voice controls and a built-in GSM hands-free telephone, automatic climate control with dual or tri-zone distribution and temperature, a radio-CD player (including MP3 files) and 10-disc CD-Changer, a Bose hi-fi sound system with AutoPilot for automatic sound compensation and a central speaker on the facia for better acoustics, seats with electrical adjustment, folding rear seats and push-button ignition on the console.
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