-
Alfa Romeo 159 review
January 25, 2012
The Alfa 159 fleet has been rearranged in order to stay competitive with its German rivals. Without the expansive lineup or sales figures to take on the Germans the Italian marque has had to readjust the offerings of its flagship sedan.
The 159 is now available with the 1750 TBi engine from the Giulietta Quadrifoglio. The engine mapping has been adjusted to distribute a more linear power delivery and thus power has been reduced to 147kW and torque to 320Nm. It’s the motor the 159 has been waiting for, conveying smooth power whilst still maintaining the sportiness the Alfa brand resides on.
The other major change to the 159 is the range-topping 3.2-litre V6, now also available without the Q4 four-wheel drive system. The result is you get a manual stick shift and a much more nimble package.
The new TI package is the most exciting aspect to the revisited 159 and includes a sporty and lower suspension setup, sports exhaust system and some rather nice alloys. The changes continue on the inside with the seats, a nice selection of leather and Alcantara greets the eye in a mouth-wateringly pretty interior. The changes to the interior has really transformed the feel of the 159 and exudes the sense of theatre the car provides.
Alfa Romeo has never offered a cheaper alternative to the Germans, what they offer is something that’s uniquely sporty and special. The 159 has now found the engine it always needed in the 1750 TBi and has dropped the previously compulsory four-wheel drive system from the 3.2 V6, it’s just a case of stand back and watch to see if the changes make any difference to the lagging sales.
-
Popular Posts
-
Audi A3 1.8 TFSI quattro vs BMW 125i
January 25, 2012
-
SA's Best Driving Roads: Part One
January 25, 2012
-
SA's Best Driving Roads: Part Two
January 25, 2012
-
Wheels24
-
Marquez clinches Le Mans poleWorld championship leader Marc Marquez (Honda) took his second pole position in MotoGP on Saturday,
-
Ferrari chaffs Red Bull on tyresFerrari has indirectly criticised rival Formula 1 team Red Bull in a column on its website about the lingering tyre degradation issue.
-
