... Alfa Romeo s New 159 Range Arrives ...

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Motoring aficionados often point out that Alfa Romeo’s cars are designed and engineered to provide pleasure both to the owners’ eyes and ears. Remembering that these cars are from the homeland of Verdi and da Vinci, Armani and Pavarotti, this observation won’t surprise anyone. Moreover, just as most of the world’s great opera houses are in Italy, most of the motor industry’s great design houses are located there too, in the northern part of that country. The jewel in the crown of these Italian ‘carrozzeria’ is undoubtedly the Italdesign studio of Giorgetto Giugiaro.

Shaping steel with style and making music from multi-valves may all be part of Alfa Romeo’s 90-year long tradition, but the Company now believes that this new 159, designed by Giugiaro collaborating with Alfa Romeo Styling Centre, sets a benchmarks in both these areas for all future Alfas and all competitors.

The Alfa 159 is often described as the successor to the Alfa 156. In many ways it is, the styling certainly flows from the genius of that original award-winning design. However, this newcomer is significantly larger, has considerably more presence on the road and comes equipped with some of the most technologically advanced engineering in the world. It can be said that the newcomer has taken all the strengths and visual appeal of the 156 and then added significantly to both.

A NINE- STRONG RANGE, A CHOICE OF SIX ENGINES.

The new Alfa 159 range offers a choice of six engines across nine versions. The three petrol engines are 1.9 JTS 160 bhp, 2.2 JTS 185 bhp and 3.2 JTS V6 260 bhp 4×4. All these engines meet Euro 4 standards, exploiting the direct petrol injection fully, using a combustion system known as JTS, Jet Thrust Stoichiometric. For a driver, this means sparkling performance enhancing both the driving enjoyment and the performance of the car. The torque values of the engines are truly outstanding, with 88% of max. torque in each available at just 2,000 rpm: 190 Nm @ 4,500 rpm for the 1.9 JTS, 230 Nm @ 4,500 rpm for the 2.2 JTS, and 322 Nm @ 4,500 rpm for the 159 3.2 litre V6 JTS.

The turbo-diesel engines comprise 1.9 8v 120 bhp, 1.9 16v 150 bhp and 2.4 20v 200 bhp. Alfa Romeo is a pioneer in the field of diesel engines, epitomised by their 2.4 JTDM 5-cylinder 20v engine (200 bhp at 4000 rpm and torque of 400 Nm), and the two 1.9 JTDM units: the 16v delivering 150 bhp @ 4,000 rpm and torque of 320 Nm @ 2,000 rpm, the 8v unit delivering 120 bhp @ 4,000 rpm and torque of 280 Nm at 2,000 rpm. On the latest generation of “Common Rail” engines, JTD units with Multijet technology, turbo charging is by way of a variable geometry turbo and intercooler. The 1.9 JTDM uses a rotor developed by Alfa Romeo while the 2.4 JTDM has a new cylinder head and new con rods in “fractured” steel. The three engines already meet Euro 4 requirements and incorporate a particulate trap that eliminates fine dust almost entirely, in line with the current indications regarding future Euro 5 legislation.

This spread of engines in the Alfa 159 range is designed to ensure that the driving requirements of those who choose to drive sporty executive performance saloon cars are fully catered for.

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ENGINEERING TO ENHANCE A SPORTING HERITAGE, SAFELY.

* New 3.2 JTS V6 260 bhp engine
The new 6-cylinder engine of the Alfa 159 3.2 JTS continues the strategy begun with the 4-cylinder engines, and adopts the JTS (Jet Thrust Stoichiometric) direct injection system. This is an original Alfa Romeo concept that injects the fuel directly into the combustion chamber with a Stoichiometric mixture optimised to enhance performance, but also guarantees low fuel consumption and respect for the Euro4 emissions limits.

Numerous important components have been designed from scratch exclusively for this new V6 engine. To start with, the cylinder head is aluminium and has 4 valves per cylinder, 2 camshafts per bank with the “Twin Phaser” continuous variable valve timing (intake and exhaust) already adopted on Alfa Romeo 4-cylinder engines and now applied on a 6-cylinder engine for the first time. Variable valve timing allows the phase angle on both cams to be varied by 50°, maximising performance on one hand, because the best phase can be chosen at all engine speeds, and reducing consumption and emissions with partial loads on the other.

The 3.2 V6 JTS is fitted with Q4 permanent four-wheel drive, a system that guarantees excellent traction and enjoyable driving. The system is permanent, with three differentials, and it splits drive constantly and dynamically over the 4 wheels, both when accelerating and on the release, maintaining the highest levels of active safety and sportiness. The Torsen C self-locking central differential manages the drive torque, splitting it 57% to the rear wheel and 43% to the front wheels, to produce slight oversteer, particularly with a sporty driving style. The system also guarantees excellent traction in all grip conditions, by automatically checking slip.

* 1.9 JTS 160 bhp and 2.2 JTS 185 bhp engines.
The 4-cylinder engines of the Alfa 159 are extremely light (approximately 20% lighter than the engines they replace) because they have aluminium cylinder heads and crankcases. The timing gear control is particularly evolved, featuring a system of rocker arms and rollers, which significantly reduces dispersion due to friction in the cylinder head, and a “Twin Phaser” continuous variable valve timing system on the intake and exhaust valves, which optimises power output, torque and consumption.

The 2.2 JTS delivers 185 bhp and peak torque of 230 Nm @ 4,500 rpm, taking the car to a top speed of 222 km/h and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.8 seconds. Torque is also excellent on the 1.9 JTS, 190 Nm @ 4,500 rpm, 88% of which is available at just 2,000 rpm. With a power delivery of 160 bhp, the 1.9 JTS delivers a top speed of 210 km/h.

* New 2.4 JTDM 20v 200 bhp turbo diesel engine.
Derived from the familiar 2.4 JTD 20 valve “Common Rail” engine, the new engine has five cylinders in line and is the most powerful engine in the JTD multivalve Multijet family, with a specific power of 84 bhp/litre. The new engine offers numerous advantages. First, it is appreciably quieter during the heating stage, depending on the rev speed and ambient temperature. It is also extremely powerful (200 bhp @ 4000 rpm), with a generous torque of 400 Nm at 2000 rpm). There are four valves per cylinder, activated via hydraulic tappets and rocker arms by the twin overhead camshaft. Several changes were made to the new turbo diesel engine to boost performance and engine torque at low speeds, and to eliminate noise and vibration. For example, the “Common Rail” system adopted on the 2.4 JTD Multijet 20v employs two new automatic control strategies for the setting and balance of the injected diesel fuel, to reduce noise and vibration.

The turbo boost is provided by a turbo blower with a variable geometry turbo that helps to improve the power delivery and, even at low engine speeds, generates very high torque. In fact, 90% of peak torque is available between 1750 and 3500 rpm. These figures translate into extremely enjoyable driving and brilliant performance: this Alfa 159 has a top speed of 228 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds. Fuel consumption remains low (6.8 l/100 km in the mixed cycle).

* 1.9 JTDM 150 bhp and 120 bhp turbo diesel engines.
Both have 4 cylinders in line. The first is a 16 valve unit delivering 150 bhp @ 4,000 rpm and peak torque of 320 Nm @ 2,000 rpm; the second has 8 valves and delivers 120 bhp @ 4,000 rpm and peak torque of 280 Nm @ 2,000 rpm.

Changes made to both engines boost performance and engine torque at low speeds, and reduce noise and vibration. For example, the Common Rail system now includes two new strategies for automatically calibrating and balancing the diesel fuel injected, to lower noise and reduce vibration. That isn’t all. The special features of the Alfa Romeo engine include a variable geometry turbo blower with a special rotor that increases torque at low speeds for the 1.9 JTDM 16v, and an inlet manifold with a throttle valve on one of the two inlet ports of the cylinders to control inlet air turbulence for the 1.9 JTDM 16v engine. Equipped with the 150 bhp 1.9 JTDM engine, the Alfa 159 reaches a top speed of 210 km/h, and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.4 seconds (the results for the 120 bhp 1.9 JTDM are 191 km/h and 11 seconds respectively). In spite of these excellent performance figures, fuel consumption is limited: 6.0l/100 km on the mixed cycle for the 1.9.160 bhp and 5.9 l/100 km for the 1.9 120 bhp.

Producing the power is only the beginning of the exercise. Making it easily accessible to the driver in the safest, most enjoyable manner is at the heart of the Alfa Romeo sporting tradition, encapsulated in the slogan ‘Cuore Sportivo’.

The Alfa 159 states that it is an Alfa through and through by offering control and entertaining driving that accepts no compromise. Travelling comfort and dynamic behaviour have always been hallmarks of Alfa Romeo cars, and they become real strengths in this model. To start with, the Alfa 159 has a very interesting suspension layout, developed from a new project that set extremely high standards of excellence: it has “high” double wishbones at the front, and a multilink system at the rear. This gives a greater capacity to absorb typical Irish road roughness, more linearity and precision in response to the steering (the most direct of the standard saloons, with a small turning circle), superb road-holding, maximum stability in high-speed manoeuvres and the agility of a true Alfa Romeo on narrow twisting roads.

The steering of the Alfa 159 has an excellent ratio, 12.7° steer for every degree of wheel steer, the most direct in its category, which translates into a more direct response for the driver, more responsive steering and better stability control.

The new multilink rear suspension allows wheel movement to be controlled in a sophisticated manner, reaching the best possible balance in terms of performance. The system, with three levers and a transverse blade, highlights the performance of the various components subject to a longitudinal load, to improve the filtering of roughness and under a lateral load, achieving faster responses, enhanced stability and extreme grip.

The Alfa 159 adopts the most sophisticated electronic systems to control the car’s dynamic behaviour, and to raise the dynamic limits even higher, so that they increase safety but are not intrusive for the driver. The effects of these devices were studied in both simulations and exhausting track tests, to ensure that the car is always entertaining to drive. The lavish safety equipment includes:

1: ABS (complete with EBD- Electronic Brakeforce Distribution system). The Alfa 159 features an excellent braking system backed up by the BOSCH 5.7 ABS anti-lock braking device, one of the most advanced on the market. It has four active sensors and a hydraulic control unit with 12 solenoids. The ABS system incorporates Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), which distributes the braking effort to the four wheels so that it prevents them from locking, maintaining full control of the car in all conditions. The system also adapts to the grip conditions of the wheels themselves and the efficiency of the brake pads, thus preventing the latter from overheating.)

2: VDC is Alfa Romeo’s interpretation of Electronic Stability Program, and it intervenes only if conditions are close to the limit and the car’s stability is at risk, to help the driver to control the car. VDC is a sporty device, as you would expect of an Alfa. It lets the driver enjoy total control of the vehicle as long as conditions are normal, only intervening before the situation becomes critical. The VDC system is always engaged.

3: ASR (Anti Slip Regulation) is an integral part of the VDC system, optimising traction at all speeds, assisted by the brakes and the engine control. The device monitors the wheel speed calculated by the ABS sensors to establish the amount of slip and triggers different control systems to recover grip. When an excessive demand for power causes both drive wheels to slip (for example, aquaplaning or accelerating on an uneven, snow-covered or icy road surface), the system reduces engine torque by decreasing the throttle valve aperture and thus the air flow. If, on the other hand, only one wheel slips (for example the wheel on the inside of the bend, after acceleration or a dynamic change in the load), this wheel is automatically braked without the driver having to touch the bake pedal. The effect is similar to that of a self-locking differential. This gets the Alfa 159 out of any difficulties on surfaces where grip is poor. ASR is engaged automatically every time the engine is started, but can be closed off by a pushbutton on the central console.

4: MSR (Motor Schleppmoment Regelung) on the other hand, intervenes if the driver changes down suddenly in poor grip conditions, giving torque back to the engine to prevent skidding due to wheel lock. To do this, VDC constantly monitors tyre grip on the road longitudinally and laterally, and if it detects a tendency to skid, the system intervenes to recover direction and stability. Sensors measure the rotation of the car around its vertical axis (yaw speed), the lateral acceleration and the steering lock set by the driver (which indicates his chosen direction). It compares these data within the parameters set in a pre-programmed electronic control unit and uses a complex mathematical model to establish whether the car is taking a corner within the grip limits, or if the car is about to skid at the front or at the rear (understeer or oversteer).

5: HBA. The safety equipment on the Alfa 159 is completed by the HBA system, the hydraulic electronic braking assistant that automatically increases the pressure in the braking circuit during emergency braking. In addition, by the Hill-holder system that maintains the braking pressure for a few moments after the driver removes his foot from the pedal, to simplify hill starts and prevent the car from slipping backwards.

The Alfa 159 comes with two trim levels, Turismo and Sportivo. Standard equipment with the Turismo specification is of a very high level as you would expect and includes 7 airbags, air-conditioning, a temperature control storage box and 16” alloy wheels. In addition to the foregoing, Sportivo specifications includes dual zone automatic climate control, rain and demist sensors, dusk sensor, cruise control, radio and phone controls positioned in the steering-wheel, volumetric and anti-lift alarm systems and 17” sports alloy wheels with 225/50 tyres.

It is worth noting that the equivalent 1.9 160 bhp petrol and 120 bhp Common Rail turbo-diesel versions are priced identically, a dramatic breakthrough which will let those who have aspired to Common Rail technology and performance to choose one of these outstanding units with no price penalty.

Recommended retail prices, exc. delivery and related costs are as follows:

Petrol: 1.9 JTS 160 bhp. Turismo, €36,550, Sportivo, €38,300. 2.2 JTS 185 bhp. Sportivo, €41,300. 3.2 JTS V6 Q4 260 bhp. Sportivo, € 49,300.   Turbo D: 1.9 JTDM 8v 120 bhp. Turismo, € 36,550, Sportivo € 38,300. 1.9 JTDM 16v 150 bhp. Turismo, € 38,300 1.9 JTDM 16v 160 bhp. Sportivo, € 40,800. 2.4 JTDM 20v 200 bhp. Sportivo, € 44,800.