Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon In Depth

Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon

Long roof line that recalls the styling of certain coupes

February 21, 2006 7:54 PM
Filed Under: Alfa Romeo, European

Press Release

Page 1: In Brief
Page 2: Styling
Page 3: Suspension
Page 4: Safety
Page 5: Engines (I)
Page 6: Engines (II)
Page 7: Co-operative Relationships
Page 8: Options

Long roof line that recalls the styling of certain coupes

Italian styling, the performance and handling of a thoroughbred sports car, and the flexible, versatile use of space of a prestigious station wagon. These are, very briefly, the salient features of the Alfa 159 Sportwagon, the new car that will be on the market in Italy in March, followed by the other European markets.

It would be limiting to talk about the 'station wagon version' of the Alfa 159 because the car has a personality of its own and strong features that are summed up successfully in the definition 'Sportwagon'. The new model combines the flowing line of a long roof that recalls the styling of certain coupes, like the spoiler on the roof and the very aerodynamic lines. But at the same time, the car's interior space guarantees a generous, practical loading volume. In other words, the Alfa 159 Sportwagon provides the performance and dynamic behaviour you would expect from a sports car, and a luggage compartment with the dimensions of a prestigious station wagon, but also the versatility necessary for today's lifestyle.

Styling

Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro in collaboration with the Alfa Romeo Style Centre, the 159 Sportwagon is as compact as the saloon - the total length is exactly the same (4,660 millimetres) - with a fluid line that runs without hesitation from nose to tail, focusing on a 'groove' which makes the entire car light and sleek, with a refined play of light and shade (it is 1,828 mm wide and 1,425 high, with a wheelbase of 2,700 millimetres).

The result is a sporty car on which the eye does not notice the 'extra volume' typical of a station wagon: this is the real strong point of the new model, which becomes all the more captivating where most station wagons reveal their main limitations. The Alfa 159 Sportwagon combines this winning feature with a luggage compartment that is a 'designed space' which meets a variety of requirements, whether it is used for leisure time or for business. And it never compromises where sportiness and performance are concerned. An example? The version equipped with the powerful 3.2 V6 Q4 24 valve engine, which delivers a maximum power output of 260 bhp (191 kW) at 6200 rpm and torque of 322 Nm (32.8 kgm) at 4500 rpm. The resulting performance is amazing: the 159 Sportwagon 3.2 V6 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 237 km/h.

The luggage compartment is more accessible than you would expect on a station wagon (both from the passenger compartment and from the back, thanks to the forward hinged tailgate) and the loading volume is excellent (445 litres), the result of a series of changes to the bodywork and a rational use of space.

The rear end speaks the same language as the rest of the car, blending styling details typical of Alfa and characteristic features of the saloon, with elements peculiar to the Sportwagon. A number of appropriate stylistic solutions such as the compact passenger compartment ensure that the new model maintains Alfa Romeo's classical sportiness. The front is unchanged, dominated by the same distinctive features as the saloon, with the harmonious balance that produces the elegance and assertiveness you expect from an Alfa Romeo.

Comfort

Quiet running, a comfortable climate and dynamic well-being: these are the features of the new model, achieved by sophisticated technologies, which create an ideal environment no matter how far you travel or how long you spend in the car. For example, the excellent articulation index which is on a par with the best competition. On the Alfa 159 Sportwagon you can converse normally, or listen undisturbed to music reproduced by the high fidelity BOSE® Hi-Fi Sound System with a central speaker on the facia for sharper acoustics. That is not all. Well-being on board is also enhanced by the automatic climate system with dual or tri-zone air distribution and temperature control, Cruise Control, rain, dusk, and front and rear parking sensors, a satellite navigator with maps (also with a 'Birdview' display), voice controls and a built-in GSM hands-free telephone, a split rear seat, windscreen heating in the wiper area, and elegant darker glazing for the rear side windows and rear window. And finally, the 'Home Link' device can be installed on the sun visor, and can be programmed to remotely open up to 3 electric gates.

Quality and roadholding

The Alfa 159 Sportwagon was designed for uncompromising quality, and was subjected to endless tests and controls throughout its development. The result is a car that offers not only Italian styling and the highest safety levels, but also superb roadholding. In fact, the most striking feature of all Alfa Romeos is the sensation of a car that is glued to the road and responds with unusual promptness to the steering wheel, so that the driver always knows exactly what the front axle is doing, what the grip limit is and what he has to do to put the front wheels where he wants them. The merit goes to the pinpoint steering and new suspension already adopted on the saloon: high double wishbones at the front for excellent lateral roadholding, great efficiency and precise response to the steering, and outstanding traction, and Multilink at the rear, which makes the car extremely stable in high speed manoeuvres and very agile on 'mixed narrow' roads, the sign of a true sports car. Like the saloon, the Alfa 159 Sportwagon with the powerful 3.2 V6 Q4 engine also proposes Q4 permanent four-wheel drive, with three differentials (the Torsen C self-locking central differential manages the drive torque, splitting it 57% to the rear wheel and 43% to the front wheels).

Safety

Like the saloon which was recently awarded the prestigious 5-star EuroNCAP rating, the new Alfa 159 Sportwagon confirms the extraordinary amount of attention its designers have focused on every aspect related to safety. Starting with preventive safety, which is guaranteed by the various technical solutions that help the driver to keep his mind on his driving: comfort, quiet running, climate control, an ergonomic driving position, the layout of the controls and legible instruments. Then there is active safety, in other words roadholding, braking capacity and complete control over the car's dynamic behaviour, thanks to ABS complete with EBD, the sophisticated Vehicle Dynamic Control system (VDC), Anti Slip Regulation (ASR), Hydraulic Brake Assistance (HBA) which intervenes during emergency braking, and a Hill Holder to simplify hill starts.

But it is in passive safety that the Alfa 159 Sportwagon really comes into its own. The new car fits innovative restraint systems (pretensioners on the clasps and decreasing load limiters on the seat-belts), as many as eight airbags (including special bags to protect the knees and sidebags, that extend all along the window area), and innovative front seats with an 'anti-whiplash' device that brings the head-restraint nearer to the occupant's neck in the event of a rear impact. The torsional rigidity of the Alfa 159 Sportwagon's bodyshell is unrivalled, and the merit goes to both the new 'premium' floorpan, the same used on the saloon, which is built with high performance materials, multiply sheet metal and laser welding, and to the numerous changes the Alfa Romeo engineers introduced to the bodyshell architecture. Thanks to this equipment and the other safety measures, the Alfa 159 Sportwagon easily meets the strictest standards for occupant protection. This has been demonstrated in numerous crash tests, slide tests and computer simulations.

Engines and gearboxes

The heart and soul of every Alfa Romeo model is its engine. The exciting styling and strong personality of every model hide a range of excellent engines with state-of-the-art technology and generous performance. The Alfa 159 Sportwagon is no exception. Like the saloon, it is powered by the three new JTS engines with continuous dual variable valve timing - the 3.2 V6 Q4 24v (260 bhp), the 2.2 (185 bhp) and the 1.9 (160 bhp) - and three Multijet engines: the 2.4 JTDm 20v (200 bhp), the 1.9 JTDm 16v (150 bhp) and the 1.9 JTDm 8v (120 bhp). A 1.8 litre petrol engine delivering 140 bhp will also be available at a later date. All the engines meet Euro 4 requirements. The diesel versions all incorporate a particulate trap (DPF), and they all deliver superb performance, combined with new mechanical gearboxes, all with six speeds, short strokes, precise engagement and limited loads. Automatic transmissions and a robotised Selespeed gearbox, also with six speeds, will be available on certain versions.

Range and services

The Alfa 159 Sportwagon range is proposed with 7 engines, 2 or 3 outfits (depending on the market), 12 body-colours and 5 interiors in 5 different shades (black, grey tone-on-tone, black and beige, beige tone-on-tone, black and grey) in a choice of flocked fabric, Alfatex®, leather and fine-grain 'pieno fiore' leather by Frau®. The range also offers all customers, even the most demanding, a choice between different features and devices, as well as a range of unique financial and rental formulae.

Contribution of other Fiat companies

To develop this prestigious car, the company deployed its best resources and ensured that maximum quality and reliability standards were applied throughout the product development and construction process. It forged a fruitful cooperative relationship with outside suppliers and other Fiat companies, including Fiat Powertrain Technologies, Magneti Marelli, Centro Ricerche Fiat and Elasis. And this collaboration was responsible for the many innovative solutions that make the Alfa 159 Sportwagon the new benchmark in its category.

The Alfa Romeo Racing Teams

In the world of sport 'Alfa Romeo and innovation' make a strong team. Both as a sponsor and competing with its own Racing Teams, the brand and its athletes have promoted its winning spirit and its use of the most sophisticated technology. This is embodied in the Alfa Romeo Ski Racing Team, a group of eight slalom, downhill and SuperG experts (Giorgio Rocca, Kristian Ghedina, Massimiliano Blardone, Manfred Moelgg, Karen Putzer, Denise Karbon, and sisters Elena and Nadia Fanchini) and their trainers (Flavio Roda and Gustavo Thoeni). Alfa Romeo is also Official Supplier to the Luna Rossa Team that is taking part in the build-up to the prestigious 2007 America's Cup, and sponsors the 'Alfa Romeo' maxi-yacht of owner and skipper Neville Crichton, the boat which set new speed records in the past season, winning the Grand Slam and the most important high-sea regattas. And finally, the brand is sure to be one of the protagonists with its private team in the World Touring Car Championship and in the Tricolour with the 147 Cup.

Page 1: In Brief
Page 2: Styling
Page 3: Suspension
Page 4: Safety
Page 5: Engines (I)
Page 6: Engines (II)
Page 7: Co-operative Relationships
Page 8: Options

Italian styling for a prestigious station wagon

Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro in collaboration with the Alfa Romeo Style Centre, the Alfa 159 Sportwagon is 4,660 millimetres long, 1,828 mm wide and 1,425 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,700 mm. It is as compact as the saloon – in fact the length of the two cars is exactly the same – and it has a split personality: it never forgets it is a sports car, nor does it compromise on the entertaining driving that is innate in every Alfa, but manages to multiply the versatility of the car to an extraordinary degree.

The new car is good-looking, strong, expressive and modern. Its beauty is expressed in the seduction of exciting all-Italian styling. Its strength lies in its technology and temperament, a traditional heritage of Alfa Romeo cars. Its expressiveness is the result of the vast range of engines, body-colours, outfits and options. And its modernity comes from a reinterpretation of traditional Alfa Romeo values from the viewpoint of modern lifestyles. The Alfa 159 Sportwagon combines these winning features with a luggage compartment that is a ‘designed space’ that meets a wide variety of requirements, whether it is used for business or for leisure time. And it never compromises where sportiness and performance are concerned.

The Italian styling of the Alfa 159 Sportwagon is developed around a single flowing line that runs without hesitation from nose to tail. A continuous pencil stroke which makes the car sporty and agile, but above all does not reveal where the original saloon ends and the ‘extra volume’ typical of the station wagon begins. This is the true strong point of the new model, which becomes all the more captivating where most station wagons reveal their main limitations. It is also the key to understanding the soul and character of the new model, on which a great deal of work was done to incorporate the extra volume into the lines of the station wagon. So it is not a car with an extra ‘box’ for loading, but a car with temperament, that adapts its interior roominess to different needs, thanks to its flexibility that allows it to be modified and divided in various ways.

The luggage compartment is more accessible than you would expect on a station wagon (both from the passenger compartment and from the back, thanks to the forward hinged tailgate). The boot of the 159 Sportwagon was designed precisely and rationally with geometries that waste no space. The sides of the loading volume were designed with boxed elements, and then covered with elements of different thicknesses, calculated so that they do not affect the insulating and sound-deadening properties, as they create more load capacity. This operation has produced a loading volume of 445 litres, plus various oddment compartments created by the intelligent use of space, for example under the brackets for the curtain that separates off the rear, and two closing compartments at the sides complete with nets. On request the luggage compartment can be fitted with containment nets anchored on the loading floor, the sill or behind the rear seats to prevent the load from shifting suddenly.

The luggage compartment on the Alfa 159 Sportwagon is clearly not the traditional place where you load things haphazardly, but a functional space in which items can be carried correctly, without being flung around, consistent with the spirit of a station wagon with a sporty temperament.

From the side, the line of the 159 Sportwagon is attractive and full of character, with grooving that lightens and projects the entire car thanks to elegant light and shade effects, and it underlines one of the central features of Alfa Romeo sportiness: the compactness of the passenger compartment in the body of the car. This has been achieved by a number of significant, targeted stylistic features, such as the ‘accelerated’ curve of the roof which recalls the sleek lines of a short-tailed coupé. But also the design of the rear pillar which optically thrusts the passenger compartment forward, with the ‘elbow’ pressing on the wheel axis – a clear sign of power and sportiness. Another stylistic device is the way the front pillar has been set back, helping to shift the weight of the passenger compartment to the rear wheel, accentuating the car’s compact look.

On request, the car can be fitted with aluminium rooftop bars that underline the car’s status as a station wagon, while they highlight its stylistic elegance.

The front is unchanged, dominated by the same distinctive features as the saloon, with the major harmonious relationships that always lie behind the elegance and sportiness of Alfa Romeo cars. For example, the proportion between the long bonnet and the compact passenger compartment makes the car more prestigious, whereas it is the relationship between the glazing and the sides, which also enhances the compactness of the passenger compartment thanks to the position of the pillars, that makes it sportier.

The styling of the 159 Sportwagon is an original interpretation of the theme of ‘compact sportiness and elegance’, combined with excellent interior roominess and loading capacity, and it blends features typical of Alfa and characteristics borrowed from the saloon, in a stylistic whole that is peculiar to the Sportwagon.

Page 1: In Brief
Page 2: Styling
Page 3: Suspension
Page 4: Safety
Page 5: Engines (I)
Page 6: Engines (II)
Page 7: Co-operative Relationships
Page 8: Options

Class-beating roadholding

The new Alfa 159 Sportwagon states that it is an Alfa through and through, by guaranteeing control and entertaining driving that admit no compromise. Travelling comfort and dynamic behaviour have always been hallmarks of Alfa Romeo cars, and they become real strengths on this model. To start with, the Alfa 159 Sportwagon has a very interesting suspension layout, the fruit of a new design that set extremely high standards of excellence: it has ‘high’ double wishbones at the front, and a multilink system at the rear. This means a greater capacity to absorb road roughness, more linearity and precision in response to the steering (the most direct of the standard saloons, with a small turning circle), superb roadholding, maximum stability in high speed manoeuvres and the agility of a true Alfa Romeo on narrow mixed routes. The solutions adopted and the advantages perceived immediately by the motorist are described in detail below.

Front suspension and steering

The new high wishbone layout adopted on the front suspension is the ideal solution to guarantee precise control of wheel movement, with a clearly defined steering axis. The architecture was borrowed from racing and endows the car with outstanding dynamic performance, and extremely sensitive, pinpoint steering. The high double wishbone was already used on the 156 and has been further improved on the new Alfa 159 Sportwagon.

First of all, the steering axis was brought closer to the centre of the wheel, increasing the Ackerman level (to increase parallel wheel movement when steering) for better response when cornering, thanks to the steering which is the most direct in its category. The steering of the new Alfa 159 Sportwagon has an excellent ratio (12.7° steer for every degree of wheel steer), and a complete turnaround with 2 ¼ turns of the wheel, which translates into a more direct response for the driver, more responsive steering and better stability control.

What is more, painstaking analysis of the matching of the steering geometry and the wheelarch volume, made it possible to achieve high steering angles even with the largest tyres, and this significantly improved the turning circle between kerbs (11.1 metres).

Great attention was paid to the new wheel upright where it connects to the levers, exploiting the available space inside the rims in full, and this has significant advantages in terms of lateral rigidity; the size of the coaxial damper spring unit with a bi-tube damper has been increased to improve its capacity to absorb road roughness; the aluminium lower wishbone combines excellent structural characteristics and a much lower weight; the upper aluminium arm fits a pair of dry friction sliding bushes, a solution chosen because it is stronger and more reliable, and guarantees a more progressive steering action. And finally, the suspension is connected to the chassis by a closed geometry frame which is stiffer than the previous solution which had a simple crossbeam.

Rear suspension

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, to achieve faster responses, enhanced stability and extreme grip.
The rear suspension of the Alfa 159 now features:

The Alfa Romeo Q4 four-wheel drive system

The new Alfa 159 Sportwagon proposes an evolution of the permanent 4x4 system with three differentials (with a Torsen C self-locking unit at the centre) already adopted on the Crosswagon Q4. The heart of this project is the ‘Alfa Romeo Q4 four-wheel drive’ system, which splits torque constantly and dynamically between the four wheels, reaching the highest levels of active safety and sportiness. The Torsen C self-locking differential sends drive torque 57% to the rear wheels and 43% to the front. The system also guarantees excellent traction in all grip conditions by automatically checking any slipping.

The torque split between the front and rear axles is modulated constantly by the Torsen C central differential on the basis of grip. This feature harnesses sportiness to enhance active safety. Modulation is mechanical, continuous and gradual, to enhance the perception of optimal, enjoyable, easy driving. There are no gaps in torque delivery. Where grip is concerned, the behaviour adapts gradually and smoothly to changing road conditions. This ‘mechanical’ control is backed up by electronic stability control, which boosts performance and safety margins, in line with the Alfa Romeo philosophy. The four-wheel drive car is the state of the art in technical terms and offers important advantages.

We could say that the Alfa 159 Sportwagon Q4 interprets four-wheel drive from the Alfa Romeo point of view: it is basically a ‘mechanical’ system enhanced by cutting edge electronic technology to guarantee maximum comfort and entertainment, combined with superb performance and absolute safety.

Sophisticated technology for total control

The Alfa 159 Sportwagon 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 intervention of these devices was studied in simulations and exhausting track tests to ensure that the car is always entertaining to drive. The lavish safety equipment is described below.

ABS complete with EBD

The Alfa 159 Sportwagon 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.

VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control)

VDC is Alfa Romeo’s interpretation of ESP (Electronic Stability Program), the system that intervenes when 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 on which roadholding is excellent, and lets the driver enjoy total control of the vehicle as long as conditions are normal, only cutting in just before the situation becomes critical. The VDC system is always engaged.

On the other hand, MSR (Motor Schleppmoment Regelung) cuts in 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, both 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 with the parameters elaborated by an electronic control unit and uses a complex mathematical model to establish whether the car is taking a corner within the grip limits, or if it is about to skid at the front or the rear (understeer or oversteer).

To recover the correct trajectory, the system generates a yaw contrary to the one that is causing the instability, braking the relevant wheel (inside or outside) individually and reducing the engine power (by adjusting the throttle valve). This is the peculiar feature of the device developed by the Alfa Romeo engineers. The brake adjustments are modulated so that they are as smooth as possible (and will not disturb the driver) and the reduction in engine power is also limited, to guarantee excellent performance at all times and superbly enjoyable driving.
VDC performs this complex task by communicating constantly not only with the brake sensors and the engine control unit, but also with:

ASR (Anti Slip Regulation)

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 two 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 airflow. 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 brake 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 excluded by a pushbutton on the central console. ASR must be excluded when snow chains are fitted because in this case, in order to transmit torque to the ground, the wheel needs to be able to ‘accumulate’ the snow, with small slips that the ASR tends to avoid.

HBA and Hill-holder

The safety equipment on the Alfa 159 is completed by the HBA system, the hydraulic electronic hydraulic braking assistant which automatically increases the pressure in the braking circuit during emergency braking. And by the Hill-holder system, which 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.

Page 1: In Brief
Page 2: Styling
Page 3: Suspension
Page 4: Safety
Page 5: Engines (I)
Page 6: Engines (II)
Page 7: Co-operative Relationships
Page 8: Options

Unrivalled passive safety

The Alfa 159 Sportwagon represents the state of the art where passive safety is concerned, thanks to the new chassis and the other sophisticated devices that equip the model. Plus the excellent braking system, Xenon headlights and generous tyres which guarantee the highest levels of active and preventive safety. The Alfa 159 Sportwagon belongs to the same family as the model that was recently awarded the prestigious 5-star Euro NCAP rating.

A new chassis for exceptional torsional rigidity

The chassis of the Alfa 159 Sportwagon is of a new generation, which combines the latest European expertise in the fields of safety, rigidity, innovative materials and quality. The new ‘premium’ floorpan is built with high performance materials, multiply sheet metal and laser welding. From the viewpoint of the architecture, the bodyshell also benefits from numerous measures such as the use of boxed elements that are rigidly connected transversely and vertically, three load lines in the front, longitudinals that run the whole length of the car, built-in structures and a larger number of spot welds around structural nodes. The result is the bodyshell’s excellent torsional rigidity, the best in this segment (135,000 daNm/rad), and an equally outstanding value for flexural rigidity: 1310 daN/mm.

This is an excellent result, and it is essential for both safety and comfort; it was achieved thanks to numerous measures that ensure that the passenger compartment of the new model is a real survival cell. It is no coincidence that the Alfa 159 Sportwagon has passed the tests set by the strictest criteria of European and U.S. standards.

Airbags and new restraint systems

The Alfa 159 Sportwagon features innovative restraint systems (pretensioners on the clasp and decreasing load limiters on the seat-belts) and front seats with an ‘anti-whiplash’ device which brings the head-restraint nearer to the occupant’s neck in the event of rear impact. But the new model really stands out for its array of airbags: all versions of the Alfa 159 Sportwagon are available with up to eight airbags (seven are always standard equipment). First of all, two new devices designed to protect the driver’s knees (and those of the passenger on request), by preventing any contact with the facia, guaranteeing the highest safety levels.

Added to this are two dual stage front airbags, for the driver (with a capacity of 60 litres) and the passenger (120 litres). They are controlled by an electronic control unit on the tunnel, which assesses the intensity of the impact by sensors calibrated in the laboratory by a series of crash tests. The system incorporates a diagnostic system that verifies the components electronically, and these are tested by a computer that constantly monitors their operation. The airbags are not activated by low intensity accidents (such as a rear bump or one caused by a parking manoeuvre) or stress not caused by a collision (e.g. a pothole taken at speed). The front passenger bag can be deactivated manually by a switch at one end of the facia using the ignition key, to allow a child seat to be mounted facing backwards (the pretensioner remains active).

To protect the pelvis and chest of front seat passengers in a side-on collision, the Alfa 159 Sportwagon provides two sidebags built into the squab of the front seats, where they protect the occupants better, regardless of their stature, position or seat adjustment. The geometry also allows a 12-litre cushion to be used, smaller than would be necessary to guarantee the same level of protection if the airbag were mounted in the door. The sensors that activate these airbags are in the central pillars. In the event of an accident, they receive a signal of lateral acceleration and send it to the electronic control unit that controls the front airbags and seat-belt pretensioners. All the systems are managed together to ensure total, smooth protection of all occupants.

The Alfa 159 Sportwagon also fits curtain bags designed to inflate downwards along the windows, to protect occupants’ heads in a side-on collision. The curtain bags adopted on the new model are more protective than other systems because they inflate faster and are less invasive for passengers.

They open from the top down and their movement cannot cause secondary injury to the occupants’ arms. They also effectively protect the heads of both front and rear passengers because they cover the whole windows and guarantee protection even if the car overturns. The two bags (one for the left and one for the right) are positioned underneath the roof longitudinals, folded into a closed compartment. At the appropriate moment, the cover folds, allowing the bags to inflate and descend.

The new model also features a mechanism that releases the pedals in a frontal impact, to protect the legs.

Bi-Xenon headlights

Excellent visibility by day and at night and in tunnels is an important aspect of preventive safety. On request, the Alfa 159 can be equipped with Xenon full and dipped beam headlights, which emit a brighter, whiter light, with excellent efficiency in all atmospheric conditions. In a gas discharge lamp, the filament of the conventional bulb is replaced by two electrodes a few millimetres apart, which generate an electro-voltaic discharge in an environment saturated with low pressure Xenon. These lamps provide three times the luminous intensity and lifespan of normal halogen lamps.

Braking system

The power-assisted hydraulic braking system is the most competitive in its class and upholds the Alfa Romeo tradition in this field. It comprises two cross-over independent circuits, and is particularly effective, guaranteeing prompt, smooth braking combined with minimal stopping distances: 36 m to decelerate from 100 Km/h to 0. The most powerful versions mount 330 mm ventilated discs, and aluminium callipers with four pistons on the front wheels, and 292 mm ventilated discs with floating callipers on the rear wheels.

Tyres

The Alfa 159 Sportwagon’s excellent behaviour on the road is also a result of the tyres which achieve the best balance between handling and comfort. To guarantee controlled slip on corners, combined with an excellent capacity to absorb obstacles, the Alfa Romeo engineers and suppliers have developed special larger tyres, up to 235/45 R 18.

Page 1: In Brief
Page 2: Styling
Page 3: Suspension
Page 4: Safety
Page 5: Engines (I)
Page 6: Engines (II)
Page 7: Co-operative Relationships
Page 8: Options

Powerful, elastic engines that respect the environment

At its launch, the Alfa 159 Sportwagon is equipped with three petrol and three turbodiesel engines, all combined with new mechanical six-speed gearboxes, with short strokes, precise engagement and low loads. A 1.8 litre engine delivering 140 bhp will be available after the launch, while automatic transmissions and a Selespeed robotised gearbox will also be proposed on some versions, all with six speeds.

The 3.2 JTS (260 bhp), 2.2 JTS (185 bhp) and 1.9 JTS (160 bhp) were developed to respect the brief from the Alfa Romeo engineers and represent the brand’s interpretation of the direct injection petrol engine, which translates into enjoyable driving and high performance for the customer. The three engines adopt the direct injection JTS (Jet Thrust Stoichiometric) combustion system, which produces brilliant engine performance. The 3 engines deliver the quality one expects from Alfa Romeo, having been fine-tuned on the Balocco test track, while final assembly takes place in the Alfa plant in Pomigliano. All the JTS engines obviously meet Euro 4 limits. The Alfa 159 Sportwagon is also available with three Multijet turbodiesel engines, the 1.9 8v JTDm (120 bhp), 1.9 16v JTDm (150 bhp) and the new 2.4 20v JTDm (200 bhp), which guarantee excellent power and torque deliveries in all driving conditions, combined with low fuel consumption. They are all combined with 6-speed gearboxes (including the automatic transmission that will be available on the 150 bhp 1.9 JTDm after the launch), true jewels of automotive engineering that confirm Fiat Auto’s leadership in this field. When it developed the Multijet system, the Fiat Group set its stamp on the diesel engine market. The three Multijet engines of the Alfa 159 Sportwagon obviously respect Euro 4 limits, and incorporate a DPF (particulate trap) that eliminates fine dust in line with the limits currently envisaged for future Euro 5 legislation. It is a ‘for life’ system that does not need to be regenerated with additives, and will be eligible for tax incentives.

The new 260 bhp 3.2 JTS V6

The Alfa Romeo ‘cuore sportive’ really beats in the new V6 3.2 litre petrol engine, which delivers 260 bhp. It represents a significant departure from Alfa Romeo’s previous V6 engine, as well as its natural evolution. The new JTS engine is capable of a power delivery of 260 bhp (20 bhp or 8% more than the previous 3.2 V6 Q4); peak torque of 322 Nm at 4,500 rpm (+33 Nm, an increase of more than 11%); a specific power of 60 kW/l and specific torque of 100 Nm/l; a significant increase in torque at low speeds to improve the smooth delivery (approximately 30 Nm more than the previous 3.2 V6 engine, starting from 1500 rpm); maximum revs of 7,200 rpm; minimal maintenance (hydraulic tappets and timing gear with chain drive); low weight (aluminium cylinder head and crankcase); and Euro4 exhaust emissions limits. With this equipment, the Alfa 159 Sportwagon can reach a top speed of 237 km/h and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds.

Main technical features

The new 6-cylinder engine of the Alfa 159 Sportwagon 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 consumption and respect for the Euro4 emissions limits.

Numerous important components have been designed from scratch and are exclusive to the Alfa Romeo 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 the one hand, because the best phase can be chosen at all engine speeds, and reducing consumption and emissions with partial loads on the other.

At the same time it is possible to optimise the volumetric efficiency of the engine over the whole operating range, exploiting the degrees of freedom offered by variable valve timing: this means a very favourable torque curve, with 90% of peak torque available from 1800 rpm (290 Nm) and maintained over a broad range (from 1800 rpm to 6250 rpm). The valves are controlled by a roller finger system, with low mechanical dissipation, and hydraulic uptake of tappet play.

Another peculiar feature is the camshaft drive system which uses a primary chain that transmits the drive to the heads via two secondary chains. Tension is provided by automatic hydraulic tensioners which need no maintenance at all during the life of the engine.

The high pressure fuel pump of the direct injection system is mounted on the cylinder head, driven by a camshaft, maintaining the pressure of the injected fuel at 120 bar by a built-in pressure regulator.

The inlet ports and combustion chamber assembly are designed to optimise the air-fuel mixture, to achieve the correct turbulence of the inlet air, forming a homogeneous mixture, for stable, complete combustion that produces fewer pollutants. The four valves per cylinder with diameters of 33.4 mm on the inlet and 28.4 mm on the exhaust guarantee suitable permeability to enhance engine performance.

The volumes and port geometry of the aluminium inlet casing have also been adapted to the high air delivery of the high revs to enhance performance. The electronic throttle assembly with a 72 mm throttle valve is mounted on this casing. And finally, the compression ratio of 11.25:1 guarantees excellent engine performance even with regular 95 octane fuel.

Briefly, the main technical features that distinguish the new 3.2 V6 engine from the previous V6 engine are:

The 3.2 V6 Q4 engine features an exhaust system that envisages a first group of catalysing elements relatively close to the cylinder heads to reduce the emissions level at the start of operation. Two catalysts under the floorpan and four lambda probes complete the system, so that the engine respects Euro 4 limits without adopting special systems such as secondary air or electric heating.

Another feature of the 3.2 V6 Q4 engine is the direct injection system (the fuel is supplied directly to the combustion chamber) whose main advantage is that it improves evaporation and this increases the engine’s volumetric efficiency. As a result, the supply of air and petrol is both denser and colder, which allows the compression ratio to be increased to 11.25, even if Euro Super petrol is used, with an octane index of 95 RON; a high compression ratio is useful because it makes it possible to increase both the performance and the energy efficiency of the engine.

And ignition is provided by a single sparkplug per cylinder. Direct injection combined with 4-valve-per-cylinder geometry creates a mix that tends to be more concentrated at the centre of the combustion chamber. The ignition system envisages a single ignition coil per cylinder.

The 185 bhp 2.2 JTS and the 160 bhp 1.9 JTS

The 4-cylinder engines of the Alfa 159 Sportwagon are extremely light because they have aluminium cylinder heads and crankcases (they are approximately 20 kg lighter than the engines they replace). 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 the ‘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 136 kW (185 bhp) and peak torque of 230 Nm (23.4 kgm) at 4,500 rpm, taking the car to a top speed of 220 km/h and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.0 seconds. Torque is also excellent on the 1.9 JTS (190 Nm – 19.4 kgm at 4,500 rpm), and 88% is already available at 2,000 rpm. And with a power delivery of 118 kW (160 bhp), the brilliant 1.9 JTS has a top speed of 210 km/h.

Main technical features

To start with, the Twin Phaser system adopts new cam ‘lobes’ which allow the phase angle to be varied by 50° on both axes; this makes it possible to improve performance on one hand because the best phase can be chosen at all engine speeds, and to reduce consumption and emissions with partial loads, by the so-called Miller cycle. This combustion system, which is based on the postponed opening and closing of the inlet and exhaust valves – extends the expansive phase (converting more heat into energy), guarantees internal EGR (by preventing the release of the last exhaust gases, full of unburned particles) and postpones the closure of the inlet valve (reducing pumping losses).

Another peculiar feature of the 2.2 and 1.9 JTS engines that equip the Alfa 159 Sportwagon is the camshaft drive system which uses a chain; unlike a conventional belt drive, this system has the advantage of not needing to be replaced during the lifespan of the engine.

And to guarantee the performance one expects of an Alfa Romeo, the timing diaphragm has also been reviewed, adopting larger profiles which have made it possible to achieve a maximum power output of 6500 rpm (the system is fine-tuned to operate at over 7,000 rpm, the maximum rev speed allowed by the electronic speed limiter).

That is not all. To achieve the best volumetric efficiency, the maximum lift reaches 10.3 mm, while to enhance vibrational and acoustic comfort, the engine is equipped with two counter-rotating balancer shafts which virtually eliminate the second degree alternate forces that are typical of straight-4 engines. And the generous power delivery of the engine (80 bhp/l on the 2.2 JTS) made it necessary to adopt sodium-cooled exhaust valves.

The combustion chamber is shaped like a roof with four valves per cylinder: with a bore of 86 mm, the large inlet valves measure 35.3 mm and the exhaust valves 30.3 mm, guaranteeing excellent permeability to enhance engine performance. And, in spite of the stroke of 94.6 mm, in order to limit the overall height of the engine, the engineers have modified the piston height, achieving a compression value of just 28 mm, which is excellent in view of the high power delivery.

Where the exhaust, injection and ignition systems are concerned, the two 4-cylinder JTS engines both adopt the strategies and features illustrated for the new 3.2 V6 Q4 engine.

Page 1: In Brief
Page 2: Styling
Page 3: Suspension
Page 4: Safety
Page 5: Engines (I)
Page 6: Engines (II)
Page 7: Co-operative Relationships
Page 8: Options

The 200 bhp 2.4 JTDm 20v

Derived from the familiar 2.4 JTD 20 valve ‘Common Rail’ engine, the new engine has 5 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 of all, it is appreciably quieter during the heating stage, depending on the rev speed and ambient temperature. It is also extremely powerful (147 kW - 200 bhp at 4000 rpm), with a generous torque (400 Nm – 40.8 kgm 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 turbodiesel 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 200 bhp 2.4 JTDm 20v envisages two new automatic control strategies for the setting and balance of the injected diesel fuel, to reduce noise and vibration.

The engine includes a number of new components, such as the cylinder head with small stem inlet valves to increase the quantity of inlet air, con rods of fractured steel and a new shape that increases mechanical resistance to the strong stress created by the increased power, an inlet manifold fitted with a throttle valve on one of the two inlet ports of the cylinders to control the turbulence of the air entering, a throttle valve to prevent shaking if the engine stalls, and an intercooler that is highly efficient thanks to its shape and position in the car, to guarantee the optimal temperature and density of the inlet air.

The electronic EGR exhaust gas cooling system has also been modified; the lubricating circuit has a new oil pump and an external air/oil heat exchanger to cool the oil, while the water pump on the cooling circuit is also new. In other words, a long list of improvements and changes that have produced a reliable, powerful engine which is sparing on fuel. Excellent results, achieved thanks to different engine control settings, an increase in the direct injection pressure to 1600 bar, and new turboblower settings.

The turboboost is provided by a turboblower with a variable geometry turbo that helps to improve the power delivery, but also generates very high torque even at low engine speeds. In fact, 90% of peak torque is available between 1750 and 3500 rpm. These figures translate into extremely enjoyable driving and brilliant performance: the Alfa 159 Sportwagon has a top speed of 226 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds. Fuel consumption remains low (7 l/100 km in the mixed cycle).

A new 6-speed sequential automatic transmission will also be available soon with the new 200 bhp 2.4 JTDm 20v engine, a compact light device that incorporates the control unit in the gearbox, and was designed paying particular attention to consumption. On the one hand, the use of low friction oil boosts efficiency, while on the other, the sixth speed has been designed particularly for use on the motorway.

The 150 bhp and 120 bhp 1.9 JTDm

Both have 4 cylinders in line. The first is a 16-valve unit that delivers 150 bhp (110 kW) at 4,000 rpm and peak torque of 320 Nm (32.6 kgm) at 2,000 rpm; the second has 8 valves and delivers 120 bhp (88 kW) at 4,000 rpm and peak torque of 280 Nm (28.6 kgm) at 2,000 rpm. Changes were made to both engines to boost performance and engine torque at low speeds, and to reduce noise and vibration. For example, the Common Rail system includes two new strategies for automatically calibrating and balancing the diesel fuel injected, so as to lower noise and reduce vibration. That is not all. The special features of the Alfa Romeo engine include a variable geometry turboblower 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 Sportwagon reaches a top speed of 208 km/h, and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.6 seconds (the values for the 120 bhp 1.9 JTDm are 190 km/h and 11.2 seconds respectively). In spite of this brilliant performance, fuel consumption is limited: 6.1 l/100 km on the mixed cycle (6 l/100 km for the 120 bhp 1.9 JTDm).

Both the 200 bhp 2.4 JTDm 20v and the 150 bhp 1.9 JTDm will soon be available with a 6-speed automatic gearbox and torque converter, fitted with a conventional control on the tunnel plus the option of sequential controls on the steering wheel.

Page 1: In Brief
Page 2: Styling
Page 3: Suspension
Page 4: Safety
Page 5: Engines (I)
Page 6: Engines (II)
Page 7: Co-operative Relationships
Page 8: Options

The contribution of other Fiat companies

An elegant car with a strong personality, yet one on the cutting edge in terms of equipment, power units and mechanicals. This was the brief given to the Alfa Romeo engineers and technicians. To achieve it, the company deployed its best resources and ensured that maximum quality and reliability standards were applied throughout the product development and construction process. It also forged profitable co-operative relationships with its outside suppliers and some Fiat Companies including Fiat Powertrain Technologies, Magneti Marelli, Centro Ricerche Fiat and Elasis. This collaboration was responsible for many of the innovative solutions that make the Alfa 159 Sportwagon the new benchmark in its category.

Fiat Powertrain Technologies

Fiat Powertrain Technologies developed high performance engines for the Alfa 159 Sportwagon, monitoring their application on the car.

Where the diesel engines are concerned, the well known 4-cylinder, 2 and 4-valve versions and the powerful 200 bhp 5-cylinder version were all optimised to match the characteristics of the car. Great care went into the calibration of the engine control system, to guarantee an enjoyable drive set off by the Alfa 159 Sportwagon’s sporty temperament. Where emission controls are concerned, a special self-regenerating particulate trap was developed, to completely eliminate polluting emissions.

For the 4 and 6-cylinder petrol engines, development and complete experimentation was undertaken based on an existing aluminium crankcase, to achieve the necessary technological requirements for the Alfa Romeo engines, with new cylinder heads for direct injection and variable valve timing.

And finally, where transmissions are concerned, Fiat Powertrain Technologies has developed special sporty gear shift controls, achieving the best engine-transmission match via an optimal choice of gear ratios. Special experiments were carried out to test the functional reliability of transmissions subjected to high levels of torque and engine power, both on the bench and on the car.

And a new four-wheel drive transmission with a self-locking differential was tested at length in conditions of good and poor grip, on icy surfaces, but also at high speed on the test track.

Fiat Powertrain Technologies was created early in 2005, a new industrial company based in Orbassano, that draws together all the Fiat Group’s capacity for innovation and experience in the field of engines and gearboxes. A new business that is open to the outside world.

The company is present in 10 countries with 17 plants and 10 research and development centres, and it draws together resources, employees and activities from Fiat Auto Powertrain, Iveco Powertrain, Iveco Motoren Forschung and the Powertrain activities of Centro Ricerche Fiat and Elasis.

Fiat Powertrain Technologies is expected to develop considerably in the future and currently has sales of about Euro 6 billion. It relies on about 20,000 employees, 11,000 of whom come from Fiat Auto, 7,200 from Iveco and over 1,000 from Centro Ricerche Fiat, Iveco Motoren Forschung and Elasis.

With an annual output of over 2,400,000 engines and approximately 1,700,000 gearboxes, and a very broad range of power outputs and applications, Fiat Powertrain Technologies is one of the most important companies in the automotive world. And we cannot overlook the fact that being able to operate in a coordinated manner with a large number of leading-edge research and engineering centres will bring considerable advantages for the development of highly innovative products that are very competitive where performance and costs are concerned.

Activities are structured in the following strategic lines:

Magneti Marelli

Magneti Marelli has contributed elegance, comfort, technology and safety to the development of the Alfa 159 Sportwagon. The exterior look of the car is expressed to a large extent by the headlights developed by Automotive Lighting in its plant in Venaria Reale (Turin), which play their part in defining its personality and harmonising the forms and volumes. There is a choice of two types: halogen headlights with a 70 mm elliptical module and H7 lamp, or headlights with Xenon Bi-function technology. The car’s lights are also important design features created by Automotive Lighting which underline the car’s stylistic balance and confirm the ‘family feeling’ that links the Alfa 159 Sportwagon and Alfa Romeo Brera.

Passenger compartment comfort is enhanced by the infotelematic system complete with a 6.5� active matrix TFT colour display which incorporates a satellite navigator, radio, CD and MP3 player, hands-free GSM dual band telephone and voice controls. The new graphics of the user interface and a ‘Birdview’ option for the navigator, which views the map and the route from above, both make their debut on the Alfa 159 Sportwagon. And the device receives and manages RDS-TMC, traffic news and weather forecasts through the FM radio frequencies, displaying them as icons on the monitor. Magneti Marelli also supplies the body computer, the electronic control unit that manages the CAN networks and other important functions such as diagnostics, the immobiliser, various sensors, the lights and the fuel level.

Magneti Marelli’s technological contribution to the ‘engine control system’ envisages the adoption of the Diesel Throttle Module, an electronic ‘drive by wire’ throttle valve, on the 5-cylinder and 4-cylinder 16-valve diesel versions, which makes it easier to turn the engine off. On the 2.2 JTS petrol version, the Alfa 159 Sportwagon will adopt the Selespeed robotised transmission: this is the latest evolution of the fast, reliable, power-assisted gearbox developed from Magneti Marelli’s experience in Formula 1, whose first appearance on a mass production model was on the Alfa Romeo 156. And finally, Magneti Marelli has completely redesigned the suspension system to set a new benchmark for the balance between handling and comfort. A high double wishbone layout borrowed from racing experience was chosen for the front, because it guarantees high dynamic performance, extremely responsive steering and pinpoint driving. For the rear, the choice went to a Multilink system which controls wheel movement in a sophisticated manner, guaranteeing the highest performance. The Pomigliano d’Arco and Sulmona plants are involved in the industrial panelling, mechanical engineering and assembly operations.

Centro Ricerche Fiat

Methodologies

Diesel engines

The basic concept of Multijet engines and their subsequent distinctive high performance (the 2.4 litre JTDm delivers 200 bhp, which corresponds to more than 80 bhp/litre) rely on innovative technologies and calculation methodologies that have made it possible to develop and to apply thermofluid dynamic simulation methods to the combustion process on the JTD Multijet engines; to introduce structural analysis of critical engine components to boost the specific power, improve reliability and optimise acoustic and vibrational comfort; to optimise the use of multiple injection (Multijet) to improve performance, emissions, consumption and acoustic comfort; and to apply engine control strategies both to optimise performance, and to manage the particulate abatement system by incorporating a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) designed to last ‘for life’.

JTS engines

The stoichiometric direct injection combustion systems developed for the new JTS engines for the Alfa 159 Sportwagon, were developed by CRF. The features developed and optimised were the definition of the inlet manifolds and the type of injector jet that would optimise the air-petrol mix in the combustion chamber and guarantee outstanding performance; the definition of the piston surface geometry necessary for the double injection that results in a 70% reduction in HC emissions during warm-up and, if possible, allow it to function with stratified charge idling; definition of the compression ratio to maximise performance and reduce fuel consumption; and definition of the mechanics and functioning of the continuous double variable valve timing system adopted on the inlet and the exhaust, and optimisation of their management to enhance performance and fuel consumption.

These experiments adopted CFD fluid dynamic analysis to design the inlet manifolds, and thermofluid dynamics to manage the variable valve timing. In view of the considerable increase in performance this produces, the most crucial engine components were verified and optimised using FEM thermo-structural and reliability analysis.

Elasis

Control systems

Elasis was involved in the development of the electronic control units for the new direct injection petrol engines for the Alfa 159 Sportwagon. Elasis developed a Hardware In the Loop (HIL) simulator to verify that each electronic control unit functioned correctly and the way it was incorporated on board the vehicle well before the car went into production. The idea behind this technology is to simulate in the laboratory the environment in which the control units will operate, using a real-time system, and achieving high levels of reliability and flexibility.

During the development of these engines, Elasis also contributed to the development of the engine control software, concentrating in particular on all the functions related to management of the variable valve timing. When the car went into production, Elasis was involved in the verification and calibration of the diagnostic systems for the engine components, focusing its attention on components considered ‘Emission Relevant’ (EOBD).

Elasis also worked on the diagnosis of anomalies in the body electronics, engine control and vehicle dynamics areas, and contributed to the verification of the manufacturing process and the electrical system at the end of the line.

Engine-gearbox-differential, Methodologies and Technologies

Elasis performed the following activities to support manufacture of the Alfa 159 Sportwagon: emissions analysis on fleet vehicles; support to the plant during the launch: analysis/solution of specific NVH problems. Elasis also worked on the M32 gearbox grid, being involved in its development, by designing shafts, gears, differential, casing and caps, performing bench tests on all the versions for the petrol engines, and taking charge of NVH fine tuning.

Virtual simulation of biomechanical processes in head-on collisions helped to optimise the Alfa 159 Sportwagon’s restraint systems, while ergonomic verification improved visibility inside the passenger compartment. And finally, together with the Process Engineering department of Fiat Auto Manufacturing, Elasis worked on the methodology and industrialisation of Panelling and Assembly processes at the Pomigliano d’Arco plant, attributing particular attention and responsibility to the ‘Qualification of Manufacturing Processes’. The joint Elasis–Fiat Auto team collaborated successfully, starting with the development of Process Verification systems at the pilot plant of Turin-Beinasco, evolving machining cycles and undertaking workplace analysis to respect process documentation developed in simultaneous engineering by the Fiat Auto Technologies department, in order to achieve the model process targets, the reference gates for the ‘authorisation to manufacture’.

Page 1: In Brief
Page 2: Styling
Page 3: Suspension
Page 4: Safety
Page 5: Engines (I)
Page 6: Engines (II)
Page 7: Co-operative Relationships
Page 8: Options

Services and main features of the product (Italy)

The Alfa 159 Sportwagon range offers all customers, even the most demanding, a choice between different features and devices, as well as a wide range of unique financial and rental formulae.

The new way to enjoy the Alfa 159 Sportwagon

Financial Services have devised a number of complete new financial formulae that combine loans and added value services and accessories chosen to reflect the specific features of the new model. Below we describe the many financial rental solutions proposed by Financial services in the main European countries, designed to meet customers’ specific demands.

ALFA PIU'

To mark the launch of the 159 saloon, Sava – a company that specialises in financial products for the Alfa Romeo dealer network, and market leader in its field – has developed the new flexible ‘ALFA PIU’’ marketing system for Italy jointly with Alfa Romeo. Obviously, with the Alfa 159 Sportwagon, customers can still enjoy a constantly new car, only paying for its actual use: a flexible down payment from 0 to 50% of the selling price, 24 or 36 small instalments and the advantage of the Guaranteed Future Value. At the end of the contract, they can choose one of 3 options: to replace the car and purchase a new one, to keep it and pay the Final Residual Instalment, or to return it having only paid for the actual use.

Leasing, ‘long-term’ rental and ‘instalment loans’

The Alfa 159 Sportwagon is the ideal car for businessmen, professional people and the self-employed. Fiat Auto Financial Services have therefore created a range of formulae that are tailor-made for these customers on the major European markets. First of all, ‘leasing’, which allows them to use the car without owning it, and without investing any capital (correct planning of income and outlay), and to choose the duration of the contract (from 24 to 60 months), the down payment and the flexible value of the final instalment.

The ‘long-term rental’ formula on the other hand meets the needs of companies and professional people who wish to use and enjoy only the advantages of the Alfa 159 Sportwagon. Long-term rental means they have one interlocutor, the rental company, that relieves them of all the formalities related to ownership of the car (road tax, insurance, ordinary and extraordinary maintenance, roadside assistance). For the Italian market, Savarent has introduced new insurance services that protect driving licences from the inconvenience of the partial/total subtraction of points or the withdrawal/suspension of the licence, for example ‘S.O.S. licence’, a policy that envisages the payment of a daily rate/reimbursement in the event of the suspension or withdrawal of the licence.

And it is also possible to purchase an Alfa 159 Sportwagon with an ‘instalment loan’, varying in length from 12 to 72 months, combined with flexible insurance cover for the driver and the car.

Credit card and infomobility services

In Italy, numerous services are also offered in a single credit card, which is completely free for Alfa 159 Sportwagon customers and offers numerous advantages: up to Euro 1,500 of credit for purchases in 25 million POS all over the world, Euro 1,500 of credit at privileged conditions for purchases and service at authorised Alfa Romeo workshops, no commission on fuel supplies, flexible repayment and 24 hours roadside assistance.

The credit card offers the Targa Programme free of charge, the accumulation system that adds value to purchases all over the world, entitling the cardholder to a bonus of 1% to 15% of the sum spent. The Bonus can be used as a discount on the purchase of cars and services.

And finally, on request, the Alfa 159 Sportwagon can be fitted with a satellite radio navigator that incorporates bCONNECT infomobility services, which were designed to put technology at the driver’s service, making car travel more comfortable and easier. Just by pressing the special button the driver can connect to a toll-free number, using the GPS/GSM network, to talk with an operator, a real personal assistant ready to respond to his requests in his own language. For example, he may use the Drive Me service to find the address or telephone number of a private individual or company, or find out about traffic conditions on the entire Italian and foreign motorway network, or receive medical advice and online roadside assistance 24 hours a day.

The range (Italy)

The new model is offered in a comprehensive range in which everyone will find the Alfa 159 Sportwagon he or she wants. The range includes 7 engines, 3 outfits (Progression, Distinctive and Exclusive), 12 bodywork colours and 5 interior environments in five different colours (black, grey tone-on-tone, black and grey, beige tone-on-tone and black and beige) in a choice of flocked fabric, Alfatex®, leather and fine-grain ‘pieno fiore’ leather by Frau®. The standard and optional equipment available in Italy is listed below.