Alfa Romeo Kamal - a new approach to 4WD

This is part of the ItalianCar.net archive - go to ItalianCar.net now

NEWS ARCHIVE

Alfa unveiled its new 4WD concept - the Kamal - at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month. The model aims to be a fusion of different vehicle types - in Sanskrit the word 'Kamal' means 'red' - appropriately enough for Alfa - and in Arabic means 'perfection' or the 'synthesis of opposites'.

As befits the name Alfa is looking to combine the off-road performance of an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) with the driving satisfaction and handling characteristics of a compact Alfa with the functional passenger-carrying capability of a Multi Purpose Vehicle. Alfa designers have come up with a concept car that fits this aim with clever use of space and a wide range of seat configurations. Of course everything comes packed into an unmistakable Alfa shape designed by the Arese Style Centre making the car equally at home on the tight streets of a European city as on a desert track in a frontier landscape.

The Kamal is powered by the 3.2 V6 24V unit delivering 250 bhp. Power output is 250 bhp at 6200 rpm, with peak torque of 300 Nm (30.6kgm) at 4800 rpm - the torque curve reaches very high levels even at low speeds, allowing the vehicle to travel in 6th gear at less than 2000 rpm and to slip rapidly away without needing to change gear. Alfa have chosen the Selespeed F1-style gearbox unit for faster gear changes at low and high speeds. If rumours - unconfirmed by Alfa Romeo - are true the Kamal power unit will be designed and developed by Holden here in Australia - ranging from the 3.2 V6 mentioned here to a twin-turbo V6 for the top of the range model. The connection is via General Motors which has a stake in Alfa Romeo parent company Fiat which will see Holden engines in a variety of cars including Saab, also a GM owned company.

It has a reinforced live axle as well as 4 wheel drive with electronic control, with three differentials and Torsen system, which splits the torque variably between the front and rear wheels. It also comes with double wishbone suspension all round with height adjustable air springs that lower automatically when a certain speed is reached to enhance grip. The driver can also adjust the suspension height according to the type of use: higher off the road, lower on the road.

The prototype has a lower centre of gravity than a conventional SUV, increasing the car's stability, and it is also lower overall - improving the Cd drag coefficient and thus performance with an estimated top speed in excess of 200 km/h. As with other modern Alfas the Kamal is also equipped with VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) and as ASR (Anti Slip Regulation).

The Kamal does not fit any conventional ideas of an SUV - it is a different size (435 centimetre long, 186 cm wide and 162 cm high) has an enormous transparent roof and a number of other innovations - for example the front doors open in the normal way with a handle, the rear doors are rear-hinged and activated by an internal mechanism. The rear window is also a novelty because it opens independently of the tailgate. The latter has a small 'flap' which can be lowered and extended to the ground, to make loading easier. And once the rear seats are folded away there is a flat, easily accessible loading area. The luggage compartment exceeds 400 litres and there are also numerous oddment compartments and glass recesses in the central tunnel. This tunnel can even be used to keep drinks cool, thanks to cold air from the climate control system.

Kamal's 'all-terrain' feel is complemented by aluminium protection around the chassis and engine, and 20" Pirelli Scorpion tyres, designed specially for Alfa Romeo.

The Kamal will compete with BMW's X3 and forthcoming X5 as well as Porsche's new Cayenne. The Cayenne currently has the edge on the Kamal in performance terms but this may change with the possible introduction of the Kamal twin-turbo variant. The Kamal will be available from the end of 2004 with Australian availability by the end of 2005 - expect a price tag of $70,000-$140,000 for the Kamal range.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Body: 5 doors
Length: 4.35 metres
Width: 1.86 metres
Height: 1.62 metres
Engine: 3,179 cc V6 24v
Power output: 250 bhp
Gearbox: Selespeed 6-speed sequential
Transmission: Electronic 4x4 and Torsen system with three differentials
Suspension: Double wishbone front and rear
Tyres: Pirelli Scorpion 265-45-20"

Home ::: About ::: Cars ::: Directory ::: Buy-Sell ::: Forum ::: Links ::: Latest