Alfa Romeo 166

Alfa Romeo 166
Manufacturer Alfa Romeo
Production 1998–2007
Assembly Rivalta plant, Turin, Italy (1998–2002)[1]
Comprensorio di Mirafiori, Turin, Italy
Predecessor Alfa Romeo 164
Successor Alfa Romeo 169
Class Executive car
Body style 4-door sedan
Layout FF layout
Engine

Petrol:

  • 2.0 L TS I4
  • 2.0 L V6 Turbo
  • 2.5 L V6
  • 3.0 L V6
  • 3.2 L V6

Diesel:
Transmission

5 and 6-speed manual

4-speed automatic

5-speed automatic

[2]
Wheelbase 2,720 mm (107.1 in)
Length 4,720 mm (185.8 in)
Width 1,810 mm (71.3 in)
Height 1,416 mm (55.7 in)
Curb weight 1,420–1,510 kg (3,100–3,300 lb)
Related Lancia Kappa
GAC Trumpchi[3]
Designer Centro Stile Alfa Romeo

The Alfa Romeo 166 is an executive car that was produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo between 1998 and 2007.

The car was designed by Centro Stile Alfa Romeo under the control of Walter de'Silva, and was facelifted in 2003.

Contents

History

The 166 was the replacement for the Alfa Romeo 164, and although the 164 had styling which was far from orthodox, the 166 with its drooping headlamps and pointed nose still raised many eyebrows. The styling was very much in keeping with Alfa's corporate style of the time, which had begun with the smaller 156 model.

The car was initially available with a 2.0-litre Twin Spark (155 PS), a 2.5 V6 (190 PS), a 3.0 V6 (226 PS) or a V6 2.0 Turbo (205 PS) petrol engine. Diesel engines were an L5 2.4 10v common rail turbodiesel version with 136 PS (100 kW; 134 hp), 140 PS (103 kW; 138 hp) and 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp) output, praised for its refinement. The TS model used a 5-speed manual gearbox, whilst the 2.5 and 3.0 had the option of a Sportronic automatic gearbox. The 3.0 V6, L5 2.4 and V6 Turbo were otherwise supplied with a six-speed manual gearbox.

The top models were named "Super" and included MOMO leather interior, 17" alloy wheels, rain sensitive wipers, cruise control, climate control and ICS (Integrated Control System) with colour screen. Options included xenon headlamps, GSM connectivity and satellite navigation. Suspension systems comprised double wishbones at the front and a multi-link setup for the rear.

The 166 underwent a substantial revamp in 2003. As well as upgrades to the chassis, interior, and the engine range, the styling was substantially altered. The new front end resembled the also recently revamped 156, and lost its famous drooping headlights. The 2.0 V6 Turbo model was dropped because of marketing problems, the V6 2.5 was re-rated at 188 PS (138 kW; 185 hp) and a 3.2 litre V6 (240 PS) was introduced. Both the new 3.2 litre and the 2.0 Twin Spark models now featured the six-speed manual gearbox, whilst the 3.0 model was retained but made available only in Sportronic form. In the diesel sector, the L5 2.4 was re-engineered with Multi-Jet technology which allows up to 5 injections per cycle, second stage common rail with maximum injection pressure of 1400 bar and 4 valves per cylinder to output a class leading 175 PS (129 kW; 173 hp).

Though the car's handling characteristics, engine range and elegant exterior design received praise from many, including Jeremy Clarkson, it did not become a strong seller to rival the dominant German brands in the European executive car sector.

The Alfa Romeo 166 was withdrawn from sale in right-hand drive markets in October 2005. Sales of the 166 never grew as Alfa had hoped following the 2003 facelift, and the additional lack of a diesel engine in the UK, Australian, and Irish markets limited its reach into company car sectors. Production of the 166 stopped in 2007 and the platform was sold to China's state-run Guangzhou Automobile Group.[4]

Engines

Pre-facelift, 1st generation of engines

Model Engine Displacement Power Torque Note
2.0 TS I4 1,970 cc 114 kW (155 PS) @6400 rpm 187 N·m (138 lb·ft) @2800 rpm Euro2
2.0 TB V6 1,996 cc 150 kW (205 PS) @6000 rpm 285 N·m (210 lb·ft) @2500 rpm Italian tax model
2.5 V6 V6 2,492 cc 140 kW (190 PS) @6200 rpm 222 N·m (164 lb·ft) @5000 rpm Euro2
3.0 V6 V6 2,959 cc 166 kW (226 PS) @6200 rpm 275 N·m (203 lb·ft) @5000 rpm Euro2
2.4 JTD I5 2,387 cc 100 kW (136 PS) @4000 rpm 304 N·m (224 lb·ft) @2000 rpm

Pre-facelift, 2nd generation of engines

Model Engine Displacement Power Torque Note
2.0 TS I4 1,970 cc 110 kW (150 PS) @6300 rpm 181 N·m (133 lb·ft) @3800 rpm Euro3
2.5 V6 V6 2,492 cc 138 kW (188 PS) @6300 rpm 221 N·m (163 lb·ft) @5000 rpm Euro3
3.0 V6 V6 2,959 cc 162 kW (220 PS) @6300 rpm 265 N·m (195 lb·ft) @5000 rpm Euro3
2.4 JTD I5 2,387 cc 103/110 kW (140/150 PS) @4000 rpm 305 N·m (225 lb·ft) @1800 rpm

3rd generation of engines, post-facelift

Model Engine Displacement Power Torque Note
2.0 TS I4 1,970 cc 110 kW (150 PS) @6400 rpm 181 N·m (133 lb·ft) @3800 rpm
2.5 V6 V6 2,492 cc 138 kW (188 PS) @6300 rpm 221 N·m (163 lb·ft) @5000 rpm
3.0 V6 V6 2,959 cc 162 kW (220 PS) @6300 rpm 265 N·m (195 lb·ft) @5000 rpm
3.2 V6 V6 3,179 cc 177 kW (240 PS) @6200 rpm 289 N·m (213 lb·ft) @4800 rpm Euro 4
2.4 JTD I5 2,387 cc 103/110 kW (140/150 PS) @4000 rpm 305 N·m (225 lb·ft) @1800 rpm (depend on model year)
2.4 JTDm I5 2,387 cc 129/136 kW (175/185 PS) @4000 rpm 385 N·m (284 lb·ft) @2000 rpm (depend on model year)


References

  1. ^ "FIAT S P A Filing Date:6/30/2004". sec.edgar-online.com. http://sec.edgar-online.com/2004/06/30/0001156973-04-000784/section4.asp. Retrieved 2007-08-04. 
  2. ^ "AWE Products". aweurope.net. Archived from the original on 2005-02-23. http://web.archive.org/web/20050223064741/http://www.aweurope.net/awe-prod-at.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-18. 
  3. ^ "GAC Trumpchi Listing". dautomotives.com. http://www.dautomotives.com/NewsView.asp?Id=18. Retrieved 2010-10-25. 
  4. ^ "Alfa Romeo sells defunct 166 platform to Guangzhou Auto". motorauthority.com. http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1029919_alfa-romeo-sells-defunct-166-platform-to-guangzhou-auto. Retrieved 2010-10-25. 
Type 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5
Supermini Mito
Small
family car		 Arna
…Alfasud 33 145 / 146 147 Giulietta (940)
Compact
executive car		 …Nuova Giulietta 75 / Milano 155 156 159 Giulia
Executive
car		 …Alfetta 90 164 166 169
…Alfa 6
Coupé …Sprint GT
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Convertible Spider (916) Spider (939) Spider
Roadster …Spider 8C Spider
Sports car SZ RZ 8C Competizione 4C
Racing car 179 / 182 / 183T / 184T / 185T 155 V6 TI
SUV C-SUV