2011 Alfa Romeo Giulia: New Name and Looks for Alfa’s 159 Successor

In its latest issue, Italian car magazine Quattroruote has an article on Alfa Romeo’s new mid-sized sedan that will replace the 159. According to Quattroruote’s sources, the 159’s successor will revive the famed Giulia nameplate as the Italian company is replacing its current system of numeric model names for more personal ones.

Unfortunately, Alfa won’t be reviving the original Giulia’s rear-wheel-drive layout as the Italian sedan will be based on a modified version of the Lancia Delta / Fiat Bravo platform. Like the 159, the new Giulia will be offered in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions. In terms of styling, Quattroruote’s artists suggest that like the Mito, the Giulia will feature a front end inspired from the 8c Competizione. -Continued

Via: Motorspain , Source: Quattroruote

Alfa Romeo 159 Spotted in Michigan

A European-spec Alfa Romeo 159 sedan was snapped by the guys over at Automobilemag travelling on the back of a truck on the I-94 highway in Michigan. Even though it has been said that Alfa Romeo is planning to return to the States in 2009 or 2010, your guess about what the car was doing in Michigan is as good as ours.

In any case, the particular model spied in Michigan was equipped with Alfa’s 150Hp 1.9 JTDm 16v turbo diesel engine. According to Alfa Romeo, the 159 1.9 JTDm is capable of going from 0 to 62mph (100 km/h) in 9.4 sec while featuring a combined fuel economy rating of 39.2 mpg.

Via: Automobilemag

Autodelta Alfa Romeo 159 J4 2.2 Compressor with 245Hp Revealed

Following last week’s announcement, Autodelta officially unveiled today the Alfa Romeo 159 J4 2.2 C which becomes the company’s third member of the bespoke J-series range, joining the Brera J5 3.2 C and Spider J6 3.2 C in the Autodelta line-up. Available for order from July 1st, the 159 J4 2.2 C features a 2.2-liter engine equipped with a Rotrex C30-74 supercharger and a specifically-developed bespoke ECU system that boosts output from the standard 185Hp to 245Hp while peak torque is raised from 230 Nm to 290Nm.

Strangely, Autodelta has yet to reveal performance figures but expect a sub-7,0 sec time for the 0 to 100km/h (62 mph) sprint. To complement the power increase, Autodelta has enhanced the 159 chassis dynamics by reworking the suspension that incorporates new dampers and springs and by adding a limited slip differential (LSD) that works on the front wheels. The J4 2.2 C also features uprated brake discs, which are additionally perforated at the front and rear, while the car sits on 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance Dunlop Sp Sport Maxx GT tires (245/35 ZR19). -Continued

Despite these additions, Autodelta supports that the J4 2.2 C is actually 5kg or 11 lbs lighter than the standard production Alfa 159 2.2 JTS thanks to the ultralight OZ alloy wheels and the new exhaust system and suspension components.

Design-wise, Autodelta has developed an tasteful bodykit that includes front splitter, rear apron and side skirts, with the front and rear apron sections designed to fit the standard bumpers of the production Alfa 159.

Via: Autoblog.nl , Source: Autodelta

Autodelta J4 2.2 Compressor 245Hp - Based on the Alfa 159 2.2 JTS

After 18 months of development of the Alfa Romeo 159’s 2.2 JTS direct injection petrol engine, Autodelta announced that it will unveil the supercharged Alfa 159 J4 2.2 C at an exclusive event at the Yacht Harbour of Driessen, Amsterdam, on 20th & 21st of June. The addition of a Rotrex C30-74 supercharger and a specifically-developed system boosts the 2.2-litre 4-cylinder unit’s power from the standard 185Hp up to 245Hp while peak torque is lifted from 230Nm to 290Nm.

Apart from the engine upgrades, the Alfa Romeo 159 J4 2.2C has also been enhanced with a new fully adjustable coil over suspension, up-rated perforated brake discs and special compound pads along with a new aerodynamic package. Full details and specs will be released next week, but for the time being, follow the jump to see the image gallery. -Continued

Via: Autoblog.it , Source: Autodelta

Alfa Romeo 159 GTA Scoop Video?

It’s been a while since we last heard of any news concerning Alfa Romeo’s 159 GTA model. The vehicle in this amateur video looks very similar to the one that made a guest appearance in several car magazines last year –see here. Still, we must say that we don’t have any feedback from Alfa Romeo officials that the company is actually planning to introduce a GTA version for the current generation 159. In other words, the car filmed here may just be a test bed for a new Alfa Romeo engine and not a prototype for the GTA. –Video after the jump

Via: Autoblog.com

Top 5 Station Wagons we’d Love to Own & Drive

While I figure that I still have a few years in front of me until I settle in, open up a house, get two or three dogs, make a couple of kids and if all goes well, get married too (…), I’ve spotted a few station wagon models out there that I wouldn’t mind at all owning right here, right now. First of all, it goes without saying that just because you want a practical station wagon model, it doesn’t mean that it has to look like your uncle Tom’s Buick Roadmaster…

With that said, I picked out the two most beautiful SWs in my opinion: the Audi A4 Avant and the Alfa Romeo 159 SportWagon. While both models are available with punchy V6 gasoline engines, I’d opt for a diesel version and in particular, the 240 Hp 3.0 TDI quattro for the A4 Avant and the 200HP 2.4 JTDM Q4 (AWD) for the utterly sexy Alfa 159 SW (in Ti spec).

If money isn’t an issue, then all roads point to the trio of German powerhouses: the 507 Hp V10-powered BMW M5 Touring; the 580 Hp twin-turbocharged V10 Audi RS6 and the 453 Hp 6.3-liter V8-powered Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Estate (it looks so much better than the E 63 AMG). Now, would you have a problem tying the knot if your future father in law promised you one of these supercars dressed in sheep’s skin? That is, unless you have reasons to beleive that the bride is in fact a wolf dressed in a sheep's clothing... (Pics edited by Carscoop)

Geneva Preview: 2008 Alfa Romeo 159 Sheds 45kg - 100lbs

While the 8C Spider is the Alfa Romeo we all want to buy, the 159 is the one that most of us... could buy. That said, along with the 147, the 159 is the most important model in Alfa’s range in terms of sales so it’s only logical that the Italian firm decided to update its mid-size model. In regards of design, the most vital changes concern the interior that gets updated trim and upholstery, new instrument graphics and wraparound ergonomic seats.

However, the most important news is that both version of the 159 (sedan and Sportwagon) have undergone a diet with measures including the adoption of lighter alloy wheels, a “tubular” stabilizing bar and the single-body aluminum front brake calipers (on the 4 cylinder versions) all of which have reduced the car’s weight by 45 kg or 100 pounds. –Details and images after the jump

Press Release

Alfa 159 MY 08, berlina and Sportwagon

Widely appreciated by critics and the European clientele, the 159 model (berlina and Sportwagon) is refreshed proposing some aesthetic re-touches a widening of the range available, and numerous changes in the field of comfort and mechanics. The spirit of the car, obviously though, remains unchanged: in fact the Alfa 159 is an exclusive berlina which combines refined Italian “style” with the “sporty elegance” of Alfa Romeo.

The Alfa 159 Sportwagon MY 08, instead re-interprets the concepts of Italian style, performance and sporty handling, adding flexibility and versatility in the use of the prestige station wagon space.

Renewed design and widening of the range

As regards to the style, the most noticeable differences have been the changes to the cockpit. The Centro Stile Alfa Romeo has been involved in the interior design, from the dashes (Titanium coloured) to the upholstery, which in the Sport and TI versions is a striking black. The instrument display has new graphics, whilst another change is the multifunctional “user-friendly” satellite navigator at the centre of the dashboard. The “dual-zone” automatic climate control is today even more ergonomic and easy to use.

Not to be forgotten, the new wraparound ergonomic seats (rear and front) in their sporty set-up guarantee increased comfort and are perfect for long journeys. These winning characteristics are even more evident in the TI model with the sporty seats, now available in leather as well as black, and adorned with the Alfa Romeo logo woven into the headrests.

Further news in the Alfa 159 MY 08 and 159 Sportwagon MY 08 range, is the introduction of the rear logo, fitted with a “push” system, for immediate and safe opening of the boot. The upholstery is also available in the exclusive “Alfatex” fabric (for the Distinctive version). Lastly, exclusive to the Sportwagon model, is the introduction of the Fix&Fold system, which allows total use of the baggage space by quickly and simply, folding down the rear seats.

The new Sport set-up broadens the range of the 159 model (berlina and Sportwagon). The Sporty connotation, is helped on the exterior, by the exclusive 17” alloy wheels, with a specific 5-spoke design (combined to 225/50 tyres). The interior, instead, boasts the sporty driving-wheel replete with radio controls, the gear stick lined in leather with black stitching, the new sports seats swaddled in black Alfatex fabric along the sides and Floccato textile on the seat, available either in black or red. For further sportiness, the roof, luggage rack and panneling are in black whilst the dashes are in “brushed aluminium”. The display panel has new sporty graphics. Lastly, the rich range of features which come as standard include: dual-zone climate control, fog-lights, VDC and the innovative Blue&MeTM system which allows phone-calls and listening to music as you drive, safely and simply, thanks to the Bluetooth voice recognition technology.

Lastly, the new range introduces three new tints (Ice White, Crystal Blue and Grey Indigo) and three not-seen-before alloys (16” or 17”, in a sporty or elegant design).

Changes in the field of propulsion and mechanics

On the new versions of the Alfa 159 MY 08, two changes have taken place: firstly, in the field of safety, the new “electronic Q2” system now comes as standard. Second is the introduction of the 3.2 V6 260 CV with front traction (up to now only available with the Q4) which allows a top speed of 250 km/h.

Furthermore, the Alfa 159 MY 08 and 159 Sportwagon MY 08 guarantee a road handling with no compromises, thanks to the precise steering and supensions used on both vehicles. In the front, a high wishbone solution enables maximum side handling, great efficiency and response in the handling with superb movement. In the rear, a multiple bracket suspension makes the vehicle extremely stable in high-speed manoeuvres and very agile in “tight-driving” conditions like all true sport cars. Furthermore, the 3.2 V6 has a Q4 traction control that operates permanently, with three differentials. A maximum 57% torque can be driven to the rear wheels with the self-locking Torsen C that manages the engine power transfer, leaving 43% traction to to the front wheels.

A further change made to the 2008 range, is the optimization applied to structure of the model. In fact, the technicians, have revisited the technological process for the realization of some details in the two cars (berlina e Sportwagon), with the aim of improving comfort, dynamism, and actual consumption as perceived by the client in different driving conditions. For example, the alloy wheels, which are lighter in comparison to previous solutions, are made via the optimization of the mechanical properties of the alloys. Using “flow-forming” technology for the larger dimensions. At the same time, the front suspension brackets are made in aluminium. In the same manner, the stabilizing bar is “tubular”, and the front brake calipers (on the 4 cylinder versions) are in single-body aluminium. These modifications, united to some aerodynamic refining, have led to a 45 kilo reduction in the vehicle's total weight.

First class security

Obviously, the Alfa 159 MY 08 confirms the extraordinary attention made to all aspects which involve safety. A care which allowed the preceding model to obtain 5 prestigious Euro NCAP stars. The vehicles include: ABS complete with EBD, the sophisticated VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control), the ASR (Anti Slip Regulation) system, and HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assistance) which comes into use in case of an emergency brake. When HBA is in use the emergency lights automatically switch on. Lastly, the Hill Holder system facilitates sloped starts.

It's in the field of passive security though that the Alfa 159 MY 08 and 159 Sportwagon MY 08 have their major strength. The most important features are the mountings (pre-tensioner buckle and inertia-reel safety-belts) front seats with anti-whiplash head restraints, and the availability of 8 airbags (worth noting the knee airbag airbag and side airbags that run alongside the glass surfaces). In addition to all this, we add superb torsional rigidity in the frame placing the model at the top of their range.

This is thanks to the new “premium” floorpan that utilises the latest dual-phase steels, multiple sheet metal and precision welding, as well as the numerous interventions Alfa Romeo engineers carried out on the body and architecture.

A precise response to every request

The 2008 range hosts a wide array of engines and transmission. On offer the 1.8 with 140 CV, three engine JTS with variable valve timing on both inlet and exhaust camshaft: the 3.2 V6 24v with 260 CV, the 2.2 with 185 CV and the 1.9 with 160 CV a power range between 81 e 85 CV/l. All are high-performance propulsions that respect the environment, and use the JTS (Jet Thrust Stoichiometric) combustion system. Furthermore, the diesel set-up is made up by the 2.4 JTDM 5-cylinder 20v with 210 CV and the two 1.9 JTDM (with 150 CV and a 120 CV), all fitted with a particulate filter. Concluding the offer, depending on the model version, is the automatic 6-speed gearshift, automatic Q-Tronic gears and sequential self-shifting Selespeed gears.

Lastly, depending on the model, the accessories range include a long list of systems and applications offered as standard or on request. Including: the unique Frau® floral print upholstery, the tri-zone climate control, electronic seats, Cruise Control, 7 airbags, VDCror system with hill holder, parking sensors, and voice controlled satellite navigator with mobile communications. Furthermore, available as optionals, is TMPS (warning sensor in case of insufficient tyre pressure) and new seats in a sporty configuration, upholstered in Tibet fabric.

Geneva Preview: Alfa Romeo 159 TI Versions

Damn sexy… If there’s one thing that Italian carmakers haven’t forgotten to do is DESIGN cars, cars that make your heart melt like a hot spicy Napolitano sauce. As if the new 159 wasn’t already hot enough Alfa went on and made it even more desirable by adding the sporty TI (Turismo Internazionale) versions. Look at these photos of the 159 TI Sportwagon and tell me that I’m wrong. Personally, the only station wagons I’d ever think of owning would be the 159 Sportwagon and the Audi A4 & A6 Avants.

Available for both 159 sedan and Sportwagon versions, the TI logo adds sporty exterior and interior elements as well all larger brakes with red callipers. According to Alfa, TI versions get larger tyres, 19” alloy wheels and sideskirts. In the interior there’s leather covered bucket seats, a new sporty steering wheel with red stitches, dark upholstery on the roof and the pillars, new instrument graphics etc.

Apart from the TI versions, Alfa announced that it’ll also debut 159 Sportwagon 210Hp 2.4 JTDM Q4 and the brand-new Blue&Me Nav system –Continued: Click “Read More…” below to check out the press release and a high-res image gallery

PRESS RELEASE

The new TI versions

TI for Turismo Internazionale, the name that Alfa Romeo once gave only to the most lavishly equipped of its cars. They were derived from standard models but stylistic touches and mechanical changes turned them into thoroughbred sports cars for everyday driving. And today those two letters, so simple but so glorious, reappear on cars in the Alfa 159 family (saloon and Sportwagon). Underlining that the Alfa Romeo brand always guarantees the quality and guarantee of work performed right in the plant for this particular sporty characterisation.
Earmarked for a young, sporty public, the cars with the TI logo promise more entertaining driving, better ‘handling’ and more powerful braking. In a word, the dynamic behaviour of a car that brings the sensations of the racing circuit to our everyday roads.
Models for people who want the maximum in terms of sportiness. And they want people to know, albeit without ostentation. As a result, the exterior lines of the car were not radically altered, and any intervention was limited to a few small touches. This is why the cars are still immediately recognisable from outside, but appear more assertive, literally ‘glued’ to the road, thanks in part to their low stance, larger tyres, 19” alloy wheels, sideskirts and larger brakes with red callipers.
Inside, the TI ambience is expressed in the sporty shape of the leather covered seats, the new steering wheel with its sports grip, the gear lever knob covered with perforated leather, and the dark upholstery of the ceiling and pillars. The sporty look is evident in the instrument graphics, the pedals and the heel-high strip with the TI logo. And finally, the burnished aluminium trims and satin-effect housing of the wing mirrors (optional) that characterise this particular version, which also offers a superb array of standard equipment, including dual-zone climate system and the VDC system.
These are cars that offer great sensations and authentic driving pleasure, that interpret the brand values one hundred percent and that are ambassadors of the ‘sportiness’ that makes them famous all over the world. In a word, the new TI specification is the perfect answer for customers who wish to enter the world of Alfa Romeo sports.


The Blue&MeTM Nav system

The Geneva Show marks the debut on the Alfa 159 of the brand-new Blue&Me™ Nav system, the latest evolution of the Blue&Me™ system which is proving to be a huge commercial success just one year after its launch: in fact it is requested by 20% of purchasers of all Fiat Auto models. That is not all. The sophisticated device has also received a number of prestigious international awards:
• from ‘Frost & Sullivan’, the ‘Excellence in Technology of the Year Award for European Automotive Telematics and Infotainment market’ (January 19, 2006);
• ‘Telematic Update of Detroit’ awarded it the prize for the best telematic solution of the year (May 23, 2006);
• ‘Automotive News Europe’ awarded the ‘Eurostars 2006’ prize to Giuseppe Bonollo, Vice President Product Portfolio Management, for the success of the system installed in Fiat Group cars (August 22, 2006).
Today, Blue&Me™ takes another step forward, with the new Blue&Me™ Nav version that makes its first appearance in Geneva. In addition to the version marketed until now (hands-free with Bluetooth® interface and advanced voice recognition – USB port, MP3 player and SMS text interpreter), the new Alfa Romeo model will offer a new version that incorporates the convenience of a navigator at an extremely competitive price. Blue&Me™ Nav is already wired to enable a range of telematic services developed in partnership with Telecom Italia, such as:
• SOS calls: in an emergency the driver only has to press the SOS button and a call and text message will be sent to the control centre giving the car’s position. This service is also activated automatically when an airbag inflates. The vehicle will be located rapidly so that roadside and medical assistance can be sent. The SOS button is also used in the event of a sudden indisposition or danger. These services are free of charge during the warranty period.
• INFO: information at the motorist’s service. Wherever he goes, it will be easy to receive updates about events, films, museums, road conditions, trains, restaurants, bars and plenty more. He only has to press the INFO button to speak to an operator who will answer his every query. INFO services are ‘pay-as-you-use’.
• Insurance services: thanks to the satellite location system and agreements with the major insurance companies, it will be possible to obtain discounts of up to 20% on Third Party insurance and of up to 50% on Theft and Fire insurance. In the event of theft, tracking will make it possible to trace the car. It will also be possible to establish how many kilometres the car travels and, on the basis of this, to draft specific insurance policies, which are more advantageous because they are based on the customer’s habits and real needs.

Blue&Me™ Nav offers a simple, intuitive pictogram navigation system that features an innovative method of introducing the destination using voice controls.
The destination is located in real time: the map of the country is memorised on the USB pen drive, and this makes access to the data faster and quieter than when a CD is used.
And with Blue&Me™ Nav, all the functions are built-in, and the telephone, music and navigation information is available on the instrument panel. What is more, as he navigates, the driver can listen to his favourite music, which he has memorised, together with the map, on the same USB pen drive or media player, or make a telephone call using the hands-free device.

All the strong points of the system
Blue&Me™ was developed in 3 years by Fiat Auto and Microsoft. The partnership was ratified in June 2004, with the long-term goal of designing innovative telematic systems for cars, and it has created a product that has established itself on the market, exploiting a perfectly integrated technology that is in complete harmony with the user, as its name suggests.
Based on the Windows Mobile for Automotive system, this device features an open system that is always in step with the times, updateable, flexible and modular. With the help of Magneti Marelli, Fiat Auto and Microsoft offer a platform that adapts to most cell phones, music players and other personal devices, replacing current expensive, rigid hardware, with the great benefit of being able to constantly adapt to innovations on the market, remaining perfectly integrated into the car. All at an accessible price.
Blue&Me™ is extremely safe and easy to use. The voice control system, which is perfectly integrated into the controls on the steering wheel and the information on the instrument panel, allows a customer with a Bluetooth® cell phone to use it even if the phone is in a jacket or bag, without taking his hands off the wheel. And the advanced voice recognition system allows immediate interaction, because the voice does not have to be ‘learned’, even allowing incoming text messages to be interpreted aloud.
Occupants can listen to hours and hours of digital music in MP3, WMA and WAV format recorded on an iPod, a cell phone, an MP3 player or a USB pen drive, by connecting the digital device to the USB port.
The customer who purchases the Blue&Me™ Nav system will receive a navigation kit comprising a USB pen drive with the memorised map, and a back-up CD that can be used to transfer the map onto a personal MP3 player or iPod.
The Nav key connects directly to the navigation menu, which can also be accessed via the controls on the steering wheel, or vocally. The USB key is inserted to start navigating, and the driver uses the keys on the steering wheel to choose his destination by selecting the initial letters of the address; he can even complete it vocally.
Like all other information, the navigation details can be displayed on the control panel: destination address, pictograms of the directions to follow, information on arrival and the usual vocal suggestions of the manoeuvres to make, reproduced through the speakers. Unlike other navigators, on which it is not possible to navigate and listen to music CDs at the same time without a CD changer, with Blue&Me™ Nav it is easy to navigate and listen to the music saved in the media player.
The navigation program can be used on a personal computer together with the back-up CD, to save the maps of a number of countries, purchased separately, on the USB pen drive. Then the driver can select a whole country (for example Italy, France, Germany, etc.), or part of a country (for example northern/central/southern Italy), or even a region that groups together maps of different countries (for example northern Italy and Switzerland, Austria and southern Germany).


The new 210 bhp 2.4 JTDM with the Q4 system

A new version of the Alfa 159 Sportwagon also makes its debut in Geneva, with a 2.4 JTDM 20v engine boosted to 210 bhp that delivers torque of 400 Nm at 1500 rpm. The torque delivery, which reaches its peak at very low engine revs, highlights the car’s prompt response to the accelerator pedal. With this engine, the car reaches a top speed of 226 km/h (224 km/h for the Sportwagon) and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 8.4 seconds (8.6 for the Sportwagon). It adopts an evolved version of the Alfa permanent 4x4 system with three differentials (with a Torsen C self-locking unit at the centre). The heart of this project is the ‘Alfa Romeo Q4 four-wheel drive’ system, which splits torque constantly and dynamically between the four wheels, reaching the highest levels of active safety and sportiness. The Torsen C self-locking differential sends drive torque 57% to the rear wheels and 43% to the front. The system also guarantees excellent traction in all grip conditions by automatically checking any slipping.
The torque split between the front and rear axles is modulated constantly by the Torsen C central differential on the basis of grip. This feature harnesses sportiness to enhance active safety. Modulation is mechanical, continuous and gradual, to enhance the perception of optimal, enjoyable, easy driving. There are no gaps in the torque delivery. Where grip is concerned, the behaviour adapts gradually and smoothly to changing road conditions. This ‘mechanical’ control is backed up by electronic stability control, which boosts performance and safety margins, in line with the Alfa Romeo philosophy.
The four-wheel drive car is the state of the art in technical terms and offers important advantages.
• Q4 permanent four-wheel drive with a Torsen C self-locking differential makes for better roadholding, entertaining driving and smooth responses. Other technological archetypes with electronically controlled joints do not achieve the optimal balance between understeer and oversteer or the smoothness that are innate in the Alfa 159, and translate into superb active safety.
• The torque split in favour of the rear axle makes driving even more entertaining, because it makes the car even easier to handle, without detracting in any way from stability during sudden lane changes on the motorway, or other emergency manoeuvres.
• The possibility of travelling safely when grip is poor without having to use electronics to split torque, enhancing the enjoyment of driving.

We could say that the Alfa 159 Sportwagon Q4 interprets four-wheel drive from the Alfa Romeo point of view: it is basically a ‘mechanical’ system enhanced by cutting-edge electronic technology to guarantee maximum comfort and entertainment, combined with superb performance and absolute safety.

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