Overview

The Alfa Romeo 166 is a mid-size luxury car built by the Italian based carmaker Alfa Romeo, a division of the automotive giant FIAT Group. The Alfa Romeo 166 was manufactured from 1998 until 2007 at the Rivalta plant, Turin, Italy from 1998 to 2002 and at the Comprensorio di Mirafiori plant, Turin, Italy. The car was the direct replacement for the Alfa Romeo 164 and didn't had a replacement after the end of its production life, but Alfa Romeo plans to re enter in the class with a new model with a purported name of Alfa Romeo 169 with production possibly starting in 2015.

The 166 had a inhouse styling done by Centro Stile Alfa Romeo under the control of Walter de'Silva. Even though the appearance of the car was very unorthodox with its drooping headlamps and pointed nose still raised many eyebrows, the styling team kept Alfa's corporate style of the time, which started with the Alfa Romeo 156.

Alfa Romeo updated the 166 in 2003. The update consisted of a interior and exterior facelift and several enhancement in chassis and engines. Also with the update the car got a new V6 engine.

Variants

Throughout its production life the car was offered with five petrol engines and one diesel engine.

The entry level petrol engine was a 2.0 liter straight four TS (Twin Spark) that developed 150 hp @ 6400 rpm and 138 lb/ft @ 2800 rpm. The engine came with a five speed manual gearbox as standard or a six speed manual as optional; both delivering the power to the front wheels. In terms of performance the car could sprint to 60 mph from zero in 9.2 sec / 9.4 sec (5MT / 6MT), cover a quarter of a mile in 17.0 sec / 17.3 sec (5MT / 6MT) and get to a top speed of 132 mph (5MT & 6MT). As for the fuel consumption the car returned an average of 24.5 mpg / 24.1 mpg (5MT / 6MT).

Second engine in the lineup was a turbocharged 2.0 liter V6 produced until 2003. The engine generated 205 hp @ 6000 rpm and maximum torque of 206 lb/ft @ 2500 rpm. The engine came with a manual six speed transmission. The Alfa 166 2.0 V6 was capable of getting from zero to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds, covering a quarter mile in 15.4 seconds and getting to a top speed of 147 mph. On average the car returned a fuel economy of 22.6 miles to the gallon.

Next in the petrol range was a 2.5 liter V6 that produced 188 hp @ 6300 rpm and maximum torque of 163 lb/ft @ 5000 rpm. The engine came with a standard five speed manual, with a six speed manual and a four speed automatic offered as optional. With this engine the car could do 60 mph in 8.1 sec / 8.1 sec / 9.1 sec (5MT / 6MT / 4AT), a standing quarter mile in 16.5 sec / 16.3 sec / 16.8 sec (5MT / 6MT / 4AT) and a top speed of 140 mph / 140 mph / 137 mph (5MT / 6MT / 4AT). As for the fuel economy, on average the car returned 20.4 mpg / 19.7 mpg / 20.6 mpg (5MT / 6MT / 4AT).

Second V6 with which the car was offered was a 3.0 liter that generated 220 hp @ 6300 rpm and 195 lb/ft @ 5000 rpm. As the 2.5 liter, the 3.0 liter came with the same three gearboxes. The larger engine helped the Alfa 166 to sprint from not to 60 mph in 7.5 sec / 7.6 sec / 8.3 sec (5MT / 6MT / 4AT), cover a quarter mile from zero in 15.3 sec / 15.5 sec / 15.6 sec (5MT / 6MT / 4AT) and get to a top speed of 150 mph (either gearbox). The fuel consumption was 17.5 mpg / 17.6 mpg / 18.3 mpg (5MT / 6MT / 4AT) on average.

The most powerful petrol engine was the 3.2 liter V6 that was available only from 2003. The engine had a power output of 240 hp @ 6200 rpm and maximum torque output of 213 lb/ft @ 4800 rpm. The engine was available only with a six speed manual transmission. The Alfa Romeo 166 3.2 V6 could accelerate to 60 mph in 7.1 sec, cover a standing quarter mile in 15.0 sec and do a top speed of 152 mph. The fuel consumption was 17 miles per gallon combined.

The only diesel engine offered had a straight five configuration, a 2.4 liter displacement and two power outputs. There was a 150 hp and 225 lb/ft version (2.5 JTD) and a 175 hp and 284 lb/ft version (2.5 JTDm). A six speed manual was offered as standard with a five speed automatic offered as optional for the 175 hp version. In terms of performance the Alfa 155 2.5 JTDm could do 60 mph in 8.5 sec / 8.5 sec (5AT / 6MT), a quarter mile in 16.2 sec / 15.8 sec (5AT / 6MT) and a top speed of 135 mph (5AT & 6MT). As for the fuel consumption the car returned 30.5 mpg / 33.5 mpg (5AT / 6MT).

Additional Information

Even though the car received positive reviews for its handling characteristics, engine range and elegant exterior design, even from the controversial Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, the car didn't sell as well as its German rivals did.