FACTfile - Alfa 159 - Page 2

Design

Styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro in collaboration with Alfa Romeo Centro Stile, the all-new 159 is 225mm longer and 85mm wider than the outgoing 156 it replaces. Designed around an all-new high strength platform, it maintains a long-standing Alfa Romeo tradition of engineering excellence, outstanding performance and a thoroughly engaging sporting prowess within a highly distinctive, compact saloon car package. As with all Alfa Romeo models, driver orientated ergonomics, superior passenger comfort and generous standard equipment levels are fundamental to the interior design of the new sports saloon.

Styling
Continuing a design trend prevalent in the recent Alfa Romeo model range, the legendary Villa d’Este style Alfa shield with horizontal chrome bars dominates the front of the 159. The grille extends full-height from the bonnet’s leading edge to the lower lip of a deep air dam, bisecting both an upper air intake housing purposeful, three lamp headlight clusters, and an expansive lower air intake, with circular fog lamps at its extremities.

The top of the shield generates powerful bonnet coachwork lines which flow seamlessly into steeply raked ‘A’ pillars. Once again, the number plate is offset to the left; a style signature echoing past classics, and unique to Alfa Romeo.

In profile, the new Alfa’s taut, rising waistline flows from the pronounced flare of the front wheel arches to give the 159 an assertive, purposeful stance. The passenger compartment ‘rests’ on a powerful ‘shoulder’, demarcating door handle and side indicator positions, which reaches its broadest point above the rear wheel arch to reinforce the new wide track of the 159.

Further back, the strongly raked rear window finishes well behind the wheel arch above a visually compact rear end featuring slim, horizontal light clusters which bisect the boot shut line. Full width colour coded bumpers, and a boot lid spoiler reinforce the new broad, muscular stance of the 159.

The new Alfa 159 will be available in a choice of nine colours at launch, including both solid and metallic black, three shades of grey – Stromboli, Vesuvio and Titanio – Alfa Silver, Alfa Red, Oltremare Blue and Rubino Red.

Interior
Despite retaining the relatively compact dimensions appropriate to an Alfa Romeo sports saloon, the new 159 has a wheelbase 105mm longer than its predecessor, significantly improving both front and rear passenger legroom. Moreover, despite being lower than the 156, the new Alfa offers improved front and rear door access and an increase in interior headroom, particularly in the rear.

As with all Alfa Romeo cars, the interior is focused on the driver’s immediate surroundings, which have been designed with an emphasis on ergonomic functionality. A height adjustable driver’s seat allied to a rake and reach adjustable, leather clad steering wheel guarantee a perfect driving position for the widest possible cross-section of customers.

The driver’s instrument binnacle houses large, deeply hooded speedometer and rev counter dials, backlit in white to optimise the driver’s night vision. A multi-lingual, multi-function display gives access to a wide range of functions as well as the trip computer. Subsidiary gauges comprise fuel and engine temperature, turbo boost (diesel) and oil temperature (petrol).

The Alfa 159’s driver orientated centre console places a new, electronic key-activated engine start button, a sophisticated Dual Zone climate control and a stereo radio/CD player within easy operational reach of the driver. Specifically built and optimised for the Alfa 159, the stereo features a power output of 4x30 watts and eight speakers, offering outstanding sound quality.

The standard 60:40 split/folding rear seat with integral armrest allows for the rapid expansion of the 405 litre luggage compartment into a robust, practical load platform offering impressive stowage space. There are up to 14 storage areas of various sizes within the cabin, including a large glove compartment, an insulated bin in the front centre armrest and a storage compartment in the pull-out central rear armrest.

As befitting a sports saloon, exceptional build quality, elegant surroundings and superior comfort levels are assured aboard the new Alfa 159. A highly rigid bodyshell allied to a high quality fascia moulding, extensive carpet soundproofing and thick, 5mm front side window glazing, have been designed to reduce cabin noise and vibration to a minimum.

Turismo trim level models are upholstered in Alfatex, a soft, durable, easy to clean fabric patented by Alfa Romeo, available in black, grey or beige with a range of complementary dashboard colours. All 159 models will come with a choice of black, tan or red leather upholstery fitted as standard.

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