FACTfile - The new Alfa Romeo 156 JTS - Page 2

Design integrity leads to sustained success

There is no doubting the success of the Alfa Romeo 156. It has redefined Alfa Romeo for the 21st Century and provided the spring board for a host of other models, some already on sale, such as the Alfa 147, and many more to come. Its success, made possible by the skill of its styling and supported by the integrity of its engineering and production, has endured since the debut, through countless awards to thousands of customers around the world.

The Alfa Romeo 156 has won the hearts of more than half a million owners in 80 countries in four years for the sedan and two years with the 156 Sportwagon. In Europe, this car has easily tripled Alfa Romeo's market share (+335 per cent) of the medium-sized saloon segment to take Alfa Romeo's market share from 0.7 per cent in 1996 to 3.3 per cent in 2001 (+350 per cent). It has also made a crucial contribution to boosting overall Alfa Romeo sales that have risen from 117,500 in 1996 (0.9 per cent) to 202,100 in 2001 (1.4 per cent), with an increase of 72 per cent in Europe.

In Australia the 156 transformed Alfa Romeo from a niche sports car company, to a company that has increased its sales every year and grown into a true competitor for the major players in the sports and luxury sectors. Four years after its launch, the model has not only met its ambitious targets but exceeded them beyond Alfa Romeo's wildest dreams. This is apparent in the plaudits of the specialised press, who have awarded the car no fewer than 36 prizes to date to acknowledge the Alfa 156's brand-new approach to sports sedans that encompasses comfort, safety and sophisticated technology. Above all, this success is confirmed by the opinion of the 100,000 motorists - in 2001 alone - who chose the car in one of the 80 countries where it is sold. This Alfa sports saloon is currently the most widely-sold Fiat Auto model in the world.

Every European market without exception has confirmed its appreciation for this model, in a segment (segment D) where some three million units are sold in Europe every year. In 2001, the Alfa 156's share of 13.9 per cent in Italy was backed by a share of 2.1 per cent in France, 1.9 per cent in Great Britain, 1.6 per cent in Germany and 1.2 per cent in Spain. In Australia the 156 took 3.3 per cent of its market sector, demonstrating just how influential this model has been for the brand locally.

Interestingly enough, the more opulent and exclusive versions make up a significant proportion of total model sales. For example, Alfa 156 and Sportwagon cars with JTD engines account for a 51 per cent share (with 38 per cent showing an overall preference for the 1.9); while the 2.0 and 2.5 versions represent 21 per cent of the total (40 per cent of these are fitted with sophisticated Selespeed and Q-System gearboxes). In Australia, 156 sales have been dominated by the 156 Selespeed, which has taken anything up to 80 per cent of the 156's Australian sales, depending on Alfa Romeo's ability to meet demand.

These results confirm customer interest for premium model versions and are particularly interesting considering the fierce sales competition generated by the arrival of new models and radically face-lifted models on the international scene. A total of 52 models were present in 2001. Despite all this, the Alfa's innovative stylistic flair, pronounced personality and air of distinction, enabled it to hold its head up with pride and win over customers from other brands in unprecedented numbers: 87 per cent in Great Britain, 73 per cent in Spain, 71 per cent in Germany, 70 per cent in France and 56 per cent in Italy. In Australia, with no model to replace, every sale was a conquest from another manufacturer, the hardest type of sale to achieve, making the instant sales performance in Australia even more impressive.

All in all, the Alfa 156 has lived up to its promise and managed to achieve major goals. The credit is definitely due to the model's solid grounding: the best of Italian design combined with state-of-the-art engineering and a very good mix of power units and gearboxes. These have been complemented by a steady flow of new features to keep the public's attention. Simply think back to the 2000 launch of the Sportwagon, a car that was obviously not just any old station wagon version of the Alfa 156. And then the arrival of the 156 Selespeed with its 2.0 Twin Spark 16V engine and robotised gearbox with steering wheel controls directly derived from the single-seater F1 Ferrari. These were then joined by another Alfa 156 with 2.5 V6 24V engine that offered customers Alfa Romeo's version of automatic transmission, i.e. a device created to ensure maximum comfort under all conditions but able to guarantee all the driving satisfaction of a manual device when required.

The New Alfa 156 represents the next stage of this process, where more comfort and safety features, more opulent interiors and a revolutionary direct injection petrol engine have been added to complement the appeal of the 156, something that customers cannot seem to get enough of.

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The New Alfa Romeo 156 - JTS

Setting a new performance standard

Alfa Romeo cars have always been distinguished by their up-to-date power units and scintillating performance, a motoring tradition that fills many pages of the international motoring history books and remains alive in the New Alfa 156. The heart under the bonnet of the new 156 is the revolutionary 2.0 JTS, forerunner of a new direct injection petrol power unit family that will equip brand models from now on. In addition the legendary Alfa Romeo V6 engine has been upgraded with more performance and lower emissions to translate heritage into a 21st century power unit.

Performance engines, therefore, that also offer moderate fuel consumption and respect for the environment. These engines come with efficient, precise gearboxes, such as the innovative Selespeed system that offers a revised operating strategy for greater driving satisfaction in complete safety.

The New Alfa Romeo 156- Design integrity leads to sustained success
There is no doubting the success of the Alfa Romeo 156. It has redefined Alfa Romeo for the 21st Century and provided the spring board for a host of other models, some already on sale, such as the Alfa 147, and many more to come. Its success, made possible by the skill of its styling and supported by the integrity of its engineering and production, has endured since the debut, through countless awards to thousands of customers around the world.

The Alfa Romeo 156 has won the hearts of more than half a million owners in 80 countries in four years for the sedan and two years with the 156 Sportwagon. In Europe, this car has easily tripled Alfa Romeo's market share (+335 per cent) of the medium-sized saloon segment to take Alfa Romeo's market share from 0.7 per cent in 1996 to 3.3 per cent in 2001 (+350 per cent). It has also made a crucial contribution to boosting overall Alfa Romeo sales that have risen from 117,500 in 1996 (0.9 per cent) to 202,100 in 2001 (1.4 per cent), with an increase of 72 per cent in Europe.

In Australia the 156 transformed Alfa Romeo from a niche sports car company, to a company that has increased its sales every year and grown into a true competitor for the major players in the sports and luxury sectors. Four years after its launch, the model has not only met its ambitious targets but exceeded them beyond Alfa Romeo's wildest dreams. This is apparent in the plaudits of the specialised press, who have awarded the car no fewer than 36 prizes to date to acknowledge the Alfa 156's brand-new approach to sports sedans that encompasses comfort, safety and sophisticated technology. Above all, this success is confirmed by the opinion of the 100,000 motorists - in 2001 alone - who chose the car in one of the 80 countries where it is sold. This Alfa sports saloon is currently the most widely-sold Fiat Auto model in the world.

Every European market without exception has confirmed its appreciation for this model, in a segment (segment D) where some three million units are sold in Europe every year. In 2001, the Alfa 156's share of 13.9 per cent in Italy was backed by a share of 2.1 per cent in France, 1.9 per cent in Great Britain, 1.6 per cent in Germany and 1.2 per cent in Spain. In Australia the 156 took 3.3 per cent of its market sector, demonstrating just how influential this model has been for the brand locally.

Interestingly enough, the more opulent and exclusive versions make up a significant proportion of total model sales. For example, Alfa 156 and Sportwagon cars with JTD engines account for a 51 per cent share (with 38 per cent showing an overall preference for the 1.9); while the 2.0 and 2.5 versions represent 21 per cent of the total (40 per cent of these are fitted with sophisticated Selespeed and Q-System gearboxes). In Australia, 156 sales have been dominated by the 156 Selespeed, which has taken anything up to 80 per cent of the 156's Australian sales, depending on Alfa Romeo's ability to meet demand.

These results confirm customer interest for premium model versions and are particularly interesting considering the fierce sales competition generated by the arrival of new models and radically face-lifted models on the international scene. A total of 52 models were present in 2001. Despite all this, the Alfa's innovative stylistic flair, pronounced personality and air of distinction, enabled it to hold its head up with pride and win over customers from other brands in unprecedented numbers: 87 per cent in Great Britain, 73 per cent in Spain, 71 per cent in Germany, 70 per cent in France and 56 per cent in Italy. In Australia, with no model to replace, every sale was a conquest from another manufacturer, the hardest type of sale to achieve, making the instant sales performance in Australia even more impressive.

All in all, the Alfa 156 has lived up to its promise and managed to achieve major goals. The credit is definitely due to the model's solid grounding: the best of Italian design combined with state-of-the-art engineering and a very good mix of power units and gearboxes. These have been complemented by a steady flow of new features to keep the public's attention. Simply think back to the 2000 launch of the Sportwagon, a car that was obviously not just any old station wagon version of the Alfa 156. And then the arrival of the 156 Selespeed with its 2.0 Twin Spark 16V engine and robotised gearbox with steering wheel controls directly derived from the single-seater F1 Ferrari. These were then joined by another Alfa 156 with 2.5 V6 24V engine that offered customers Alfa Romeo's version of automatic transmission, i.e. a device created to ensure maximum comfort under all conditions but able to guarantee all the driving satisfaction of a manual device when required.

The New Alfa 156 represents the next stage of this process, where more comfort and safety features, more opulent interiors and a revolutionary direct injection petrol engine have been added to complement the appeal of the 156, something that customers cannot seem to get enough of.

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