Good news! Alfa Romeo has done the most modest of facelifts and revisions on the 159 sedan and wagon, as well as their siblings, the Brera coupe and Spider. This gives us an excuse to talk about Alfa Romeos and post a pornographic gallery of cars that come from an unacceptable tree in the Garden of Eden. Mechanical refinements to this fantastic car that isn't on sale in North America include "new engines include 140hp and 185hp petrol units displacing 1.8L and 2.2L" which comes as a surprise to me, as engines with these displacements and power outputs have been on sale in the 159 for quite some time. Until now, buyers could only opt for the sonorous 260 horsepower V6 along with Alfa's heavy (and expensive) all wheel-drive. To add lightness, Alfa offer the V6 with a new Q2 torque splitting system that works well (they claim) with front wheel-drive (i.e. without much torque steer). The 159 also drops 100 lbs with lighter alloy wheels, aluminum suspension pieces and new aluminum monoblock brake calipers. Will these cars ever be on sale in the U.S.? I think so maybe yes– after the recession.
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Schwing! Got I love the looks of the Alfas! I used to work for International Auto Parts, they sell Alfa parts to those dedicated to keeping the old Alfas here in the states in working order. I had heard Alfa was supposed to return to the US around 2010, any truth to that?
Alfa is developing a new range of RWD cars and Spider. The current range of FWD vehicles has been (rightfully) deemed not worthy of the US.
According to Google the Q2 system is a Torsen LSD that supposedly does work quite well at reducing torque steer.
I’d love to see someone offer the equivalent of the active front differential in the old Prelude Type SH. That setup really was amazing and I’m surprised Honda isn’t using it anymore except as a rear differential in the SH-AWD system.
@Paul Niedermeyer:
I’m fairly certain that the FWD based 159 and Spyder are confirmed for eventual U.S. deployment, in addition to the new RWD models (like the upcoming 166 replacement). Do you have info otherwise?
Maybe it is just sour grapes but I can’t see 250,000 for the Alfa 8c . Think about it , you can buy the Aston AM V8 convertible for 150,00. Is there anyone out there who sees the mirror image of the Pontiac Solstice when the see the 8C Spyder? Would anyone on this site really pay 250,000 for that car, lets say over a new Ferrari Modena Spyder? I just think it is priced 100K too high. Maybe I’m just getting too old……..
@Justin: I just saw a whole report on that; can I find it? Hard copy, on-line, German, English? Let me think.
Paul that would be fantastic. If you can find it on line (or a citation to the print, as I have access to databases) please do send it my way. I read German. E-mail is my name @gmail.com.
Justin, I found another one, its a bit old:
http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/alfa-romeo/future-alfa-romeos-to-get-rwd/ I’ve read it in several places that the whole line (except the small Junior) will go RWD, and that Alfa won’t come to the US until they’re out. The current models are not fresh technically, and it’s too late in their life-cycle to re-engineer them to US standards.
The current Spider and Brea may look good, but have not gotten that great of reviews in Europe. Way too heavy, high seating position (Spider, because of its sedan based platform), modest performance (weight issues), poor efficiency, and only modest handling.
Justin, it’s another example of the grass looking greener… The idea (and reality) of a FWD Alfa Spider and Coupe just doesn’t cut it. Imagine a BMW 3Series with FWD. Alfa needs to be fully competitive with BMW, Infiniti, etc. or it’s going to be another fiasco in the US for them.
frontline I don’t see what you are talking about? I think the Soltice is kind of ugly, poorly proportioned, with a hippo rear end. The Alfa has great curves, is on a longer chassis so it doesn’t look like a beached whale, and has a distinctive Alfa front end. It also has a Ferrari sourced, Alfa tuned V8. The very high price is due most likely to the very limited number being produced. Had the development costs been spread out by producing numbers like Masarati the price would probably drop significantly and would have been competing directly with Masarati which would have a been dumb in a GM sort of way, since both divisions are working together now.
Paul Niedermeyer I hope your correct. It doesn’t seem logical to reintroduce to the US as FWD Euro/luxury/kindasport/whatever and then switch to RWD a few years later. They would end up confusing people and losing sales as well as shunning the enthusiust who have been waiting for RWD Alfa to come back. I have no interest in a FWD no matter how much I love Alfas.
Redbarchetta:
You are correct that the 8C does have a longer wheelbase and that makes quite a difference
. There is no doubt the 8C is gorgeous and I do get chills listening to the motor rev and the interior is possibly the best I’ve seen. Originally the concept car was priced in the low 100,000 range and that got me started juggling my assets in my head . When the 250,000 number came up it just blew me out the game. It takes a very special car to command those numbers and then hold its value unless they really do stop production after 500 for each model.
@frontline:
Actually, I believe they will stop production after 500 coupes and some similar number of convertibles. Truthfully, the car is completely priced out of the league of competitors, most of which are superior to drive as a matter of fact.
But being the best in class is not the point of the 8C. They just wanted to establish real cred as a purveyor of beautiful, passionate sports cars. In past years, with the diesel 4-cylinder 159 being one of the best sellers, they have had a legitimately hard time maintaining that image. The 8C is their flag in the ground.
Ironically, it is hardly an astonishing vehicle mechanically. It rides on a slightly modified hand me down chassis from the last generation Maserati Coupe, and the engine is also cribbed from the Italian car families.
Nevertheless, it has accomplished its mission. It is a true halo car because it illuminates the rest of the brand and lineup and improves Alfa’s image. It would probably have been worth it if they sold 10 cars, but they had no problem moving all 500 coupes. The buyers? People who wanted that car, not necessarily the “best” car for $250 grand.
Alfa can’t come back to the U.S. soon enough for me. I am fully prepared to make a terrible financial decision and put one in my garage. I don’t get excited about too many cars these days but these Alfas just do it for me.
I just finished test driving the 147. It’s a cracker. Review to follow.
Is a cracker good? It only mean white redneck in the south to me.
Acd I’m with you I can’t wait to get an Alfa back in my garage. I miss my Spider and have been seriously considering finding and old GTV or Milano beater to just drive the shit out of and work on(I actually enjoy working on them, except for waiting for parts to get shipped).
Sorry for the anglicism, Red. What I meant was: an incredible ride.
PLUS, Alfa has the balls to put a 200 BHP turbo Diesel engine in that Spider too.
I’d huck my beloved Jetta TDI to a 24 Hours of LeMons competitor in exchange for $500 and one of those oil burning Spiders.
–chuck
http://chuck.goolsbee.org
Redbarchetta: I know what you mean. I bought a 1984 GTV-6 back in 1989 and it was a blast to drive– but not so much fun to keep on the road. At slow speeds and putting around town it was a chore to drive but get it on an open road or even better, a winding road, and drive it hard and suddenly the heavy steering felt just right, the clutch no longer felt heavy and the engine sang that song to which only Italian cars seem to know the words. Sign me up for a 159 sedan with a 5 speed, leather and a long full factory warranty!
Yep, you know what you are getting into with an Alfa, but you do it anyway. If the car is good looking enough, why not?
I had 185,000 glorious miles in my Alfa and really no problems until after 100,000, well except it ate mufflers every 40,000 miles at almost $500 a pop for the pair. Most of the stuff that went after that was my fault, I drove that car HARD.(tie rod, both axle bearings, 2 bent rims, electrical switches that got water logged in the rain with the top down, speedo cable, U-joints) And ran like crap if I didn’t give her her daily whipping. The interior and window modules were my only complaint with that car. I had a ’91 so maybe I got lucky. I have heard their build quality has greatly improved, not sure if that means better that the Germans or not. As long as it’s not FWD and filled with too many electronic gizmo’s their not too much of a pain in the ass to work on yourself.