Overview

The Alfa Romeo 145 and 146 are a family of compact cars manufactured by the Italian car maker Alfa Romeo, a division of the auto giant FIAT. Alfa Romeo offered the car in two body styles three door hatchback (145) and five door hatchback (146). The model was produced from 1994 until 2001; it replaced the Alfa Romeo 33 and its self was replaced by the Alfa Romeo 147.

Alfa Romeo first introduced the 145 in 1994 and a year later the 146. The model was built on Fiat Goups's Tipo platform, other cars based on this platform received positive feed back particularly their sharp and responsive steering.

Variants

Early 145 and 146's featured boxer (flat) engines, replaced in 1997 by more powerful and efficient Twin Spark (straight four) engines. The boxer engines were all petrol powered and had 1.3 liter, 1.6 liter and 1.7 liter displacements. The Twin Spark engines were offered in both petrol and diesel; the petrol range consisted of a 1.4 liter, a 1.6 liter, a 1.8 liter and a 2.0 liter; only a 1.9 liter diesel engine was offered.

The 1.3 liter boxer engine produced 90 hp @ 6000 rpm and maximum of 85 lb/ft @ 4400 rpm. The engine was mated to a five speed manual transmission that delivered the power to the front wheels. In terms of performance, the car was capable to sprint from zero to 60 mph in 12 seconds, cover a quarter mile in 20 seconds and get to a top speed of 111 mph. As for the fuel consumption the care returned an average of 34.5 mils to the gallon.

Second boxer engine as displacement, the 1.6 liter, made 102 hp @ 6000 rpm and maximum of 99 lb/ft @ 4500 rpm. The same five speed manual gearbox was offered as standard. The Alfa Romeo 145/164 1.6 was able to get to 60 mph in 10.6 seconds, cover a standing quarter mile in 18.8 seconds and do a top speed of 115 mph. On average the car returned 31 miles per gallon.

The most powerful boxer engine, the 1.7 liter, produced 127 hp @ 6500 rpm and maximum torque of 109 lb/ft @ 4300 rpm. The engine was connected to a five speed manual gearbox. With this engine the car could get to 60 mph in 9.4 sec, travel a standing quarter mile in 17.9 seconds and get to a top speed of 124 mph. The Alfa Romeo 145/146 1.7 returned 29.4 miler per gallon.

In the Twin Spark range, the smallest, 1.4 liter, engine produced 103 hp @ 6300 rpm and 92 lb/ft @ 4600 rpm. The standard gearbox was the five speed manual. In terms of performance, the car could get to 60 mph in 10.8 seconds, cover a standing quarter mile in 18.2 seconds, and get to a top speed of 115 mph. The fuel consumption was a bit higher than the 1.3 liter boxer's engine at 30.8 mpg.

The 1.6 liter Twin Spark made out 120 hp @ 6300 rpm and maximum torque of 106 lb/ft @ 4500 rpm. The five speed manual was offered as standard. The Alfa Romeo 145/146 1.6 Twin Spark could do 60 mph in 9.8 seconds, a standing quarter mile in 17.6 seconds and a top speed of 121 mph. On average the car returned 28.6 miles per gallon.

Next Twin Spark engine as displacement was the 1.8 liter that generated 144 hp @ 6500 rpm and maximum of 125 lb/ft of torque @ 3500 rpm. The engine was connected to a five speed manual transmission. In terms of performance, 60 mph came in 8.7 seconds, the quarter mile was covered in 16.5 seconds and the top speed was 129 mph. The fuel consumption was close to the 1.7 liter boxer engine's with 27.5 mpg.

The most powerful petrol engine with which the 145/146 were offered was the 2.0 liter Twin Spark, that was available only on the top trims. The engine produced 155 hp @ 6400 rpm and maximum torque of 138 lb/ft @ 3500 rpm. The same five speed manula was the standard gearbox. Fitted with this engine the car could get to 60 mph in 8 seconds flat, travel a quarter mile from a standing start in 16.7 seconds and get to a top speed of 131 mph. The average fuel consumption was 25.1 mpg.

The 1.9 liter diesel engine was offered in all 7 year of the 145/146. From 1994 to 1997 the engine produced 90 hp @ 4100 rpm and 141 lb/ft @ 2400 rpm, this engine was also referred to as 1.9 TD. For 1997 the engine was upgraded and produced 105 hp @ 4000 rpm and 188 lb/ft @ 2000 rpm, this engine was also called 1.9 JTD. With the 1.9 JTD engine the Alfa Romeo 145/146 could do 60 mph in 10 seconds flat, a quarter mile in 17.3 seconds and a top speed of 115 mph. The fuel consumption was good, returning an average of 40.7 miles per gallon.