Overview

The Alfa Romeo 159 is a entry level luxury car produced by the Italian based carmaker Alfa Romeo, a division of the FIAT Group. The car is in production since 2005 and was the direct replacement for the Alfa Romeo 156; the 159 will be replaced by the upcoming 2012 Alfa Romeo Giulia.

As its predecessor the car is offered in two body styles, a four door sedan an a five door station wagon. Alfa Romeo produces the 159 at its plant in Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy. The car is built on the GM/Fiat Premium platform also used for the Alfa Romeo Brera, Spider and Visconti concept car and by the Germans from Opel for their Insignia concept car.

The styling of the car was done by the famous Italian car designer Giorgetto Giugiaro in collaboration with the Alfa Centro Stile. The front of the car features Alfa Romeo's signature, the V shaped grille and bonnet. The headlights design was inspired by the ones seen on the Visconti concept car presented a year before 159's launch.

Variants

Throughout its production life the Alfa Romeo 159 was available with eight engines. The petrol range consisted of five engines and the diesel range consisted of three engines.

The entry level in the petrol is a 1.8 liter straight four that develops 140 hp @ 6500 rpm and 129 lb/ft of torque @ 3800 rpm. The engine comes with a five speed manual transmission as standard. In terms of performance the car can do 60 mph in 9.8 seconds, a quarter mile in 17.6 seconds and a top speed of 128 mph. The average fuel consumption is 26.1 miles to the gallon.

Until 2008 a 1.9 liter straight four was offered, being replace by a 1.8 liter turbo in 2009. The 1.9 liter engine made 160 hp @ 6500 rpm and maximum torque of 140 lb/ft @ 4500 rpm. A five speed manual was offered as standard transmission. The Alfa Romeo 159 1.9 was cable to sprint to 60 mph in 9.3 seconds, cover a quarter mile in 16.9 seconds and a top speed of 132 mph. On average the Alfa 159 1.9 returned 26.6 mpg.

The 1.8 liter turbocharged developed some 200 hp @ 5000 rpm and 236 lb/ft from as low as 1400 rpm. The standard transmission is a six speed manual. With this engine the Alfa 159 could get from zero to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, cover a standing quarter mile in 15.1 seconds and get to a top speed of 146 mph. The average fuel economy is 28.4 mpg.

Next in the petrol range is a 2.2 liter straight four that produces 182 hp @ 6500 rpm and maximum torque of 170 lb/ft @ 4500 rpm. The engine comes with a six speed manual as standard, with a six speed semi-automatic offered as optional. The performances of the Alfa 159 2.2 are decent, sixty mph comes in 8.4 seconds, the quarter mile is covered in 16.2 seconds and the top speed is 139 mph. Average fuel economy is 23.7 mpg.

Top of the line petrol engine is a 3.2 liter V6, which generates no less than 260 hp @ 6300 rpm and 237 lb/ft @ 4500 rpm. The engine was available only with a six speed semi-automatic. In terms of performance it can get to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, cover a standing quarter mile in 15 seconds flat and do a top speed of 155 mph. The fuel consumption is 17.2 miles to the gallon.

The entry level engine in the diesel range was a 1.9 liter straight four, replaced in 2010 by a 2.0 liter straight four. The 2.0 liter engine comes in two power outputs 136 hp and 170 hp and maximum torque of 258 lb/ft and 265 lb/ft respectively. Both engines are offered with a six speed manual as standard. Not to 60 mph is done in 9.5 sec / 8.4 sec (136 hp / 170 hp), the standing quarter mile is covered in 16.6 sec / 15.9 sec and the top speed is 126 mph / 135 mph. Average fuel consumption for both engines is around 37 mpg.

Until 2010 the 2.4 liter straight five was offered. The engine generated 210 hp @ 4000 rpm and 259 lb/ft @ 1500 rpm. A six speed manual and automatic were offered. The Alfa 159 2.4 was capable of sprinting to 60 mph in 8.0 sec, covering a quarter mile in 15.5 sec and getting to a top speed of 144 mph all with an average fuel consumption of 32.5 mpg.

The Alfa Romeo 159 was crash tested by the Euro NCAP and received five stars for protecting adult occupants, four stars for protecting child occupants and one stars for "protecting" pedestrians in case of a crash. Standard safety features on the Alfa Romeo 159 are: dual front airbags, driver knee airbag, side airbags and headprotecting side curtains are standard equipment., ABS/EBD brakes and electronic stability control, and advanced seat belt reminders are fitted to both front seats.

Additional Information

The Alfa Romeo 159 received Auto Bild Design Award 2006, Design Award in the 2006 Fleet World Honours and Die Besten Autos 2007 Import category (Auto, Motor und Sport).

Two black Alfa Romeo 159s (both 3.2 JTS) appeared in the opening scenes of the 2008 James Bond film Quantum of Solace; the cars featured in the car chase with Bond's Aston Martin DBS at Lake Garda, Italy. The 159 was also used in the 2009 film Angels and Demons.