Alfa Romeo 159

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This article is about the road car in 2000s. For the race car used in 1950s Formula One, see Alfa Romeo 158/159 Alfetta.
Alfa Romeo 159
Alfa Romeo 159
Manufacturer Alfa Romeo
Parent company Fiat Group
Production 2005-present
Assembly Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy
Predecessor Alfa Romeo 156
Class Compact executive car
Body style(s) 4-door sedan
5-door station wagon
Layout Front-engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Platform GM/Fiat Premium platform
Engine(s) Petrol: Diesel:
Transmission(s) 5 and 6-speed manual
6-speed Sequential manual 6-speed automatic
Wheelbase (sedan/sportwagon)
2700/2703 mm (106.3/106.4 in.)
Length 4660/4661 mm (183.4/183.5 in.)
Width 1828/1830 mm (71.9/72.0 in.)
Height 1417-1422 mm (55.7-55.9 in.)
Curb weight 1480-1680 kg (3262-3703 lb)
Fuel capacity 70 L (18.5 US gal/15.4 imp gal)
Related Alfa Romeo Brera
Alfa Romeo Spider
Designer Giorgetto Giugiaro
Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon.
Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon.
Carabinieri's 159 "Gazzella", partially armored vehicle.
Carabinieri's 159 "Gazzella", partially armored vehicle.[2]
Alfa Romeo 159 "Pantera" (Polizia di Stato).
Alfa Romeo 159 "Pantera" (Polizia di Stato).

The Alfa Romeo 159 is a compact executive car produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo since 2005. The 159 was introduced in production form at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show as a replacement for the successful Alfa Romeo 156. The 159 uses the GM/Fiat Premium platform, shared with the Brera, Spider, and concept cars Kamal and Visconti.

Contents

[edit] Styling

Car was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro in collaboration with the Alfa Centro Stile. Stylistically it shares a lot with 156. The front has traditional Alfa cloverleaf V-shaped grill and bonnet. The front is also underlined with light clusters with cylindrical shape. A high waistline broadens until it reaches the rear pillar. Inside it has features similar to the 156; instruments are turned towards driver. The car is much bigger than its predecessor 156, it is 4660 millimetres (183.4 in) long (225 mm (8.9 in) more than the Alfa 156), 1828 mm (71.9 in) wide and 1417 mm (55.7 in) high.[3]

[edit] Overview

The 159 is available with either front or four-wheel drive, called Q4. The AWD system utilises a Torsen type C twin differential (front and center differential in the same unit). Q4 four-wheel drive system is available with 3.2 L petrol and 2.4 L diesel engines. Gearbox is a six-speed manual on most models (1.8 has a five-speed), a six-speed automatic Q-Tronic (Aisin AW TF-80SC) is available for the 1.9 diesel, 2.4 diesel and 3.2 models. The Selespeed gearbox is for sale in some countries with the 2.2 petrol engine. There are four available trim levels: Progression, Distinctive, Exclusive and Turismo Internazionale (TI). In the UK there are three levels of trim: 159, Lusso and Turismo Internazionale (TI). Among other driving adds the car is also available with the Blue&Me infotainment system. Torsional rigidity of the chassis is one of the best in this category (180.000 daNm/rad).[4]

[edit] Development

A Sportwagon variant was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 2006. Also in 2006 came an automatic gearbox option for the 2.4 diesel, which was later added for other versions. In 2007 a four wheel drive diesel model was released and the 2.4 L diesel was updated to 210 PS (207 hp/154 kW) with TI trim level as an option.

For "model year" 2008 Alfa Romeo 159 got changes to mechanics and for interiors. The 3.2 litre V6 version will be offered also in front wheel drive version allowing top speed of 250 kilometres per hour (160 mph). All model variants are equipped with electronic Q2 "limited slip differential". By using more aluminium parts is achieved 45 kilograms (99 lb) weight reduction. These new versions were introduced in Geneva Motor Show in 2008.[5]

[edit] Engines

All petrol engines are direct fuel injection type (except 1.8L), named as JTS (Jet Thrust Stoichiometric) and JTD diesels are common rail direct fuel injection.

[edit] Petrol

Model Engine Displacement Power Torque Comp. Ratio Years
1.8 I4 1796 cc 103 kW (140 PS) @6500 rpm 175 N·m (129 ft·lbf) @3800 rpm 10,5:1
1.9 JTS I4 1859 cc 118 kW (160 PS) @6500 rpm 190 N·m (140 ft·lbf) @4500 rpm 11,3:1
2.2 JTS I4 2198 cc 136 kW (185 PS) @6500 rpm 230 N·m (170 ft·lbf) @4500 rpm 11,3:1
3.2 V6 JTS Q4 V6 3195 cc 191 kW (260 PS) @6200 rpm 322 N·m (237 ft·lbf) @3800 rpm 11,25:1

[edit] Diesel

Model Engine Displacement Power Torque Comp. Ratio Years
1.9 JTDM 8V I4 1910 cc 88 kW (120 PS) @4000 rpm 280 N·m (207 ft·lbf) @2000 rpm 18,0:1
1.9 JTDM 16V I4 1910 cc 110 kW (150 PS) @4000 rpm 320 N·m (236 ft·lbf) @2000 rpm 17,5:1
2.4 JTDM I5 2387 cc 147 kW (200 PS) @4000 rpm 400 N·m (295 ft·lbf) @2000 rpm 17,0:1
2.4 JTDM I5 2387 cc 154 kW (210 PS) @4000 rpm 400 N·m (295 ft·lbf) @1500 rpm 17,0:1 2007-

[edit] Performance[6]

Model Top Speed (km/h) (mph) Acc. (s/0–100 km/h) Fuel cons. combined EU (l/100 km) (mpg–imp) Years
manual automatic manual automatic manual automatic
1.8 206 (128) 10.2 7.7 (36.7) 2005-2007
1.8 208 (129) 10.2 7.6 (37.1) 2008-
1.9 JTDM 8V 191 (119) 11.0 5.9 (47.9) 2005-2007
1.9 JTDM 8V 193 (120) 10.7 5.9 (47.9) 2008-
1.9 JTDM 16V 210 (130) 210 (130) 9.4 9.4 6.0 (47.0) 7.1 (39.8) 2005-2007
1.9 JTDM 16V 212 (131) 209 (130) 9.2 9.5 5.9 (47.9) 7.1 (39.8) 2008-
1.9 JTS 212 (132) 9.7 8.7 (32.5) 2005-2007
1.9 JTS 214 (133) 9.5 8.7 (32.5) 2008-
2.2 JTS 222 (138) 8.8 9.4 (30.0) 2005-2007
2.2 JTS 224 (139) 8.7 9.2 (30.7) 2008-
2.2 JTS Selespeed 222 (138) 8.8 9.2 (30.7) 2005-2007
2.2 JTS Selespeed 224 (139) 8.7 9.1 (31.0) 2008-
2.4 JTDM 228 (142) 224 (139) 8.4 8.4 6.8 (41.5) 8.0 (35.3) 2005-2007
2.4 JTDM (210 PS) 231 (143) 8.1 6.8 (41.5) 2008-
2.4 JTDM (200 PS Q-Tronic) 225 (140) 8.3 7.9 (35.7) 2008-
2.4 JTDM (210 PS)[7] 230 (143) 8.2 6.8 (41.5) 2007-
2.4 JTDM Q4 (210 PS) 226 (141) 8.4 7.5 (37.6) 2005-2007
2.4 JTDM Q4 (210 PS) 227 (141) 8.3 7.2 (39.2) 2008-
3.2 V6 JTS Q4 240 (149) 240 (149) 7.0 7.2 11.5 (24.5) 12.2 (23.1) 2005-2007
3.2 V6 JTS FWD 250 (155) 7.1 11.0 (25.7) 2008-
3.2 V6 JTS Q4 244 (151) 242 (150) 7.0 7.2 11.4 (24.8) 12.1 (23.4) 2008-

[edit] Safety

The 159 is always equipped with seven airbags, knee airbag is also available making total eight airbags.[8] The car got also good result in rear end crash protection test,[9] telling that 159 is equipped also with "anti-whiplash" seats.[8]

Alfa Romeo 159 passed the Euro NCAP car safety tests with following ratings[10]:

[edit] Awards

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Automatic Transmissions. aweurope.be. Retrieved on 2008-01-18.
  2. ^ News/23.02.2006. italiaspeed.com/2006. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
  3. ^ Press Files 13/06/2005. fiatautopress.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
  4. ^ Five-Star Safety Rating For Alfa 159. carpages.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
  5. ^ 19.02.2008 MODEL YEAR IMPROVEMENTS FOR ALFA 159 AND 159 SPORTWAGON. italiaspeed.com/2008. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  6. ^ MY08 159 Specifications. alfaromeo.it. Retrieved on 2008-04-07.
  7. ^ Preisliste 3/2007. alfaromeo.ch. Retrieved on 2007-04-26.
  8. ^ a b Press Files 13/06/2005. alfaromeopress.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
  9. ^ rear end crash protection. thatcham.org. Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
  10. ^ Alfa Romeo 159. euroncap.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
  11. ^ AUTO BILD Design Award 2006. autobild.de. Retrieved on 2007-05-08. (German)
  12. ^ Alfa Romeo 159 wins Design Award. carbodydesign.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-08.
  13. ^ Leserwahl: Die Besten Autos 2007. auto-motor-und-sport.de. Retrieved on 2007-05-08. (German)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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ALFA ROMEO

1910-1920: 24 HP · 40-60HP

1920-1945: 20-30HP · 6C · 8C · G1/G2 · RL · RM

1945-1980: 1750/2000 · 1900 · 2000 · 2600 · 33 Stradale · Alfa 6 · Alfasud · Alfetta · Giulia · Giulietta · Gran Sport Quattroruote · GTA · GTV · Nuova Giulietta · Montreal · Spider · Sprint

1980-2000: 145/146 · 155 · 156 · 164 · 166 · 33 · 75 · 90 · Arna · GTV · Spider · SZ/RZ

Current models: MiTo · 147 · 159 · 8C Competizione · Brera · GT · Spider

Concept Cars: 33.2 · BAT series · Disco Volante · Kamal · Nuvola · Scighera · Visconti

Clubs: Alfa Romeo Owners Club (USA) · Alfa Romeo Owners Club (UK) · Alfa Romeo Owners Club (Italy)

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Supermini …Alfasud MiTo
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family car		 33 145 / 146 147 149
Arna
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executive car		 …Alfetta 75 / Milano 155 156 159
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car		 …Alfa 6 164 166 169
90
Coupé …Sprint GT
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