The
Alfa Romeo 156 (known internally as the type 932) is a
compact executive carCompact executive car is a mainly British car classification term applied to premium cars smaller than executive cars. In European classification, compact executive cars are part of the D-segment...
introduced by
ItalianItaly , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern, Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia...
automaker
Alfa RomeoAlfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian automaker founded on June 24, 1910 in Milan. Alfa Romeo has been a part of the Fiat Group since 1986, and since February 2007 a part of Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A. The company was owned by Italian state holding company Istituto per la Ricostruzione...
at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show as the replacement for the
Alfa Romeo 155The Alfa Romeo 155 is a compact executive car produced under the Italian Alfa Romeo marque between 1992 and 1998.-Design:Built to replace the 75 and based on the parent Fiat Group's Tipo platform, the 155 was somewhat larger in dimension than the 75 but evolved its styling from that of its...
. Cars were assembled at Fiat Group factory in
Pomigliano d'ArcoPomigliano d'Arco is an Italian town, in the Campania region, northeast of Naples, near Mount Vesuvius, administratively part of the province of Naples...
,
ItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern, Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia...
and
General MotorsGeneral Motors Company, often known as simply GM, is a United States based automaker with headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. GM was the world's 18th largest corporate entity and third largest automaker as ranked by 2008 revenues on the Fortune Global 500. Ranked by global unit sales for 2008, it...
facility in
RayongRayong is a city located on the shore of the Gulf of Thailand, in the east coast region of Thailand. It is the capital of Rayong Province, and covers the tambon Tha Pradu and Pak Nam and parts of tambon Choeng Noen and Noen Phra, all within Mueang Rayong district...
http://www.bangkokpost.com/midyear2002/auto.html,
ThailandThe Kingdom of Thailand is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia.It is bordered to the north by Laos and Burma, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and Burma...
(production in Thailand started March 2002 and lasted couple of years, cars were targeted for Asia Pacific markets). Between 1997 and 2005, 680,000 examples of the 156 were produced, a huge success for the brand.
The 156 was available in saloon and estate '
SportwagonA Sportwagon is the Alfa Romeo model name for a long-bodied estate type vehicle.It is one which has an extended storage compartment over the rear wheels, with the roof at the same height as the passenger compartment....
' bodystyles with seven engine configurations and it went through two
faceliftsThe automotive facelift comprises changes to a car's styling during its production run — often including new sheetmetal and/or interior design) with minimal changes to its underlying mechanicals — allowing a carmaker to freshen a model without complete redesign.A facelift retains the...
, first in 2002 and second in 2003.
The 156 saloon was discontinued late in 2005 in Europe, the four-wheel drive Q4 Crosswagon was produced to the end of 2007. The 156 was replaced with 159, which also spawned the
BreraThe Alfa Romeo Brera is a sports car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo since 2005. The Spider roadster has been produced since 2006. Both cars are manufactured by Pininfarina.-Concept:...
, the two door coupe that replaces the
Alfa Romeo GTVThe Alfa Romeo GTV and Alfa Romeo Spider were two sports cars produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo from 1995 to 2006....
along with its convertible sister the new
SpiderThe Alfa Romeo Brera is a sports car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo since 2005. The Spider roadster has been produced since 2006. Both cars are manufactured by Pininfarina.-Concept:...
.
Development
At the beginning the engine range encompassed four cylinder
Twin SparkAlfa Romeo Twin Spark technology was used first time in Alfa Romeo Grand Prix car in 1914. In the early 1960s it was used their race cars to enable it to achieve a higher power output from its engines...
(1.6 L , 1.8 L and 2.0 L ) 16 valve engines with
variable valve timingIn internal combustion engines, variable valve timing, often abbreviated to VVT, is a generic term for an automobile piston engine technology. VVT allows the lift, duration or timing of the intake and/or exhaust valves to be changed while the engine is in operation...
, along with the
straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is a four-cylinder internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a...
1.9 litre 8-valve and
straight-5The straight-five engine or inline-five engine is an internal combustion engine with five cylinders aligned in one row or plane, sharing a single engine block and crankcase...
2.4 litre 10-valve JTD
common railCommon rail direct fuel injection is a modern variant of direct fuel injection system for petrol and diesel engines.On diesel engines, it features a high-pressure fuel rail feeding individual solenoid valves, as opposed to low-pressure fuel pump feeding unit injectors...
turbodieselTurbodiesel refers to any diesel engine with a turbocharger. Turbocharging is the norm rather than the exception in modern car and truck diesel engines...
engines. Until January 2002, the range-topping engine was the venerable double overhead camshaft 2.5 litre 24-valve
Alfa Romeo V6 engineAlfa Romeos in-house V6 engine design made its initial début in 1979 in the Alfa 6. Introduced in 2.5 L guise, production engines would eventually range from 2.0 L to 3.2 L displacement. With modifications it is possible to increase engine displacement to...
rated at .
Initially the 156 range was available with different options (packs) like a sport pack that could include either Blitz clothing ,
MomoMOMO Srl is a design company headquartered in Milan, Italy that makes accessories and parts for automobiles. MOMO are the initials for Moretti-Monza....
leather interior or
RecaroRECARO GmbH & Co. KG, commonly known as Recaro, is a German company based in Kirchheim unter Teck in the vicinity of Stuttgart, known for their automobile bucket seats...
seats, it also included wheels, lowered suspension and leather
steering wheelA steering wheel is a type of steering control in vehicles and vessels ....
and
gear knobA gear stick is the lever used to change gear in a vehicle, such as an automobile, with manual transmission or several common forms of automatic transmission it interfaces with the drivers hand using a shift knob.The device is used to change gear; in a manual transmission vehicle...
. There was also available De-Luxe pack with
MomoMOMO Srl is a design company headquartered in Milan, Italy that makes accessories and parts for automobiles. MOMO are the initials for Moretti-Monza....
's
mahoganyThe name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-coloured hardwood, it is an American Indian word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany. Mahogany it was next equally applied to the wood of Swietenia macrophylla,...
steering wheel and gear knob and for Nordic countries special winter pack consisting of fog lights, headlight washers and heated seats.
Starting from 1999 five-speed
SelespeedSelespeed is the name of an electrohydraulic manual transmission used in Alfa Romeo cars, developed by Italian company Magneti Marelli. The Selespeed is a robotized manual gearbox with electronic clutch. In its current incarnation it can be operated via paddle shifters from the steering wheel or...
sequential transmission came as an option to 2.0 litre Twin Spark version and four-speed automatic
Q-System to 2.5 litre V6 version, the Q-system can be used as normal automatic or shift manually with H-pattern, it has three automatic modes: city, sport and ice.
A significant addition to the 156 range was the
Sportwagon estateA station wagon is a passenger automobile with a body style similar to a sedan, or saloon, but with the roofline following the full, sometimes extended rear cargo area and sometimes an extra row of sometimes rear-facing seats, ending with a more vertical door than on a hatchback.Also sometimes...
in 2000, a first attempt at an estate car of this size for the company. Sportwagon was also available with Boge-
NivomatNivomat is the name for a vehicle suspension technology created by Mannesmann-Sachs. Compared to the common use of springs, struts, and shock absorbers in a car suspension, Nivomat replaces all of these components with a single unit per wheel which provides damping, ride control, and a...
self-levelling hydropneumatic rear suspension. The Sportwagon was marketed as lifestyle
estateA station wagon is a passenger automobile with a body style similar to a sedan, or saloon, but with the roofline following the full, sometimes extended rear cargo area and sometimes an extra row of sometimes rear-facing seats, ending with a more vertical door than on a hatchback.Also sometimes...
without large carrying capacity.
The Sportwagon bodystyle filled a gap in the market that Alfa Romeo had distanced themselves from since the 33
SportWagonA Sportwagon is the Alfa Romeo model name for a long-bodied estate type vehicle.It is one which has an extended storage compartment over the rear wheels, with the roof at the same height as the passenger compartment....
of the 1980s.
In 2001 engines were upgraded, engines complied with Euro3 norm and outputed (1.6 L), (1.8 L), (2.0 L) and (2.5 L).
Exterior styling
The 156 was designed by Alfa Centro Stile under control of head designer
Walter de'SilvaWalter Maria de’Silva is a car designer from Italy, and currently in charge of all Volkswagen Group design.-Fiat and Alfa Romeo:...
. Its distinctive style with its high curved flanks, retro styled front door handles, hidden rear door handles, dramatic deep
grilleA grille or grill is an opening of several slits side by side in a wall or metal sheet or other barrier, usually to let air or water enter and/or leave but keep larger objects including people and animals in or out.-In powered vehicles:In automotive engineering, a grille covers an opening in the...
and sweeping profile made it, to some, the best looking car in its class. The car was one of the first saloons to feature hidden rear door handles and prominent front door handles to give it a coupé look. The design was influenced by three historical Alfa Romeo models: the 1900, the Giulietta and the Giulia. The 156 achieved a
drag coefficientIn fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment such as air or water. It is used in the drag equation, where a lower drag coefficient indicates the object will have less aerodynamic or...
(
Cd) of 0.31.
Interior styling
The 1998 original interior builds on a benchmark set by Alfa Romeo in their previously released
Alfa Romeo 166The Alfa Romeo 166 is an executive car that was produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo between 1998 and 2007.The car was designed by Centro Stile Alfa Romeo under the control of Walter de'Silva, and was facelifted in 2003....
, with a deeply scalloped upper dashboard and simple centre console. All of the main controls and displays are angled towards the driver in typical Italian sports car style, although this can sometimes be awkward for passengers who will struggle to see the interior clock. Despite being a family car, the interior design lacks cup holders, which normally come standard in saloons. Typically, for a smaller executive car, there is ample room up front for the driver and passenger to sit comfortably, with very comfortable seats. However, rear seat passengers may find the design restrictive in overall room. The 156 is a car for four people, rather than five, although later models did add a full centre seatbelt in place of the lap belt in earlier models.
2002 saw an update to both the interior and exterior of the 156.
Platform and suspension
The 156 uses a new
platformAn automobile platform is a shared set of common design, engineering, and production efforts, as well as major components over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of automobiles, often from different, but related marques....
denominated
Tipo 3 third series Platform. The 156 is a highly-developed
front-wheel driveFront-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...
car; (the Cross/Sportwagon Q4 offered
four-wheel driveFour-wheel drive, 4WD, 4x4 , or AWD is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
in left-hand drive markets) with a double high
wishbonethumb|right|300px|Double Wishbone SuspensionIn automotive suspension, a control arm is a nearly flat and roughly triangular member , that pivots in two places. The broad end of the triangle attaches at the frame and pivots on a bushing...
front suspension and all independent
multi-linkA multi-link suspension is a type of vehicle suspension design typically used in independent suspensions, using three or more lateral arms, and one or more longitudinal arms. These arms do not have to be of equal length, and may be angled away from their 'obvious' direction.Typically each arm has a...
rear suspension, which consists of a telescopic vertical
strutA strut is a structural component designed to resist longitudinal compression. Struts provide outwards-facing support in their lengthwise direction, which can be used to keep two other components separate, performing the opposite function of a tie...
with coaxial
springA Coil spring, also known as a helical spring, is a mechanical device, which is typically used to store energy and subsequently release it, to absorb shock, or to maintain a force between contacting surfaces...
and two transverse links of different lengths and a longitudinal strut. This structure means that the rear wheels have a small passive steering ability. Weight saving material (aluminum) has been used in several parts both front and rear suspension. The weight saving materials were also used in many other parts like magnesium framed front seats.
2002 facelift
2002 also saw the arrival of a
faceliftedA facelift is the revival of a product through cosmetic means, for example by changing its appearance while leaving its underlying engineering or design intact.It is commonly applied to automobiles to keep models competitive during a model's product life cycle...
interior with different matte-finish surfacing and chrome highlights.
New version used the
147'sThe Alfa Romeo 147 is a car produced by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo since 2000. The 147 was also voted European Car of the Year for 2001.The 147 was launched at the 2000 Turin Motor Show as a replacement for the ageing 145 / 146 hatchbacks, and is based on the running gear of the larger 156 saloon...
dual-zone digital
climate controlAn air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area, or provide heat to an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
and
CanBusController–area network is a vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other within a vehicle without a host computer....
serial wiring system, the interior climate could also be controlled via air quality sensor. A different choice of colours were available for the interior, with the option of a two-tone interior very much like that BMW were introducing at the time. A wider range of options including
xenonXenon is a chemical element represented by the symbol Xe. Its atomic number is 54. A colorless, heavy, odorless noble gas, xenon occurs in the Earth's atmosphere in trace amounts...
lighting, tele-informatics (CONNECT and CONNECT NAV) and a Bose stereo system were available, the stereo system could now also be operated via buttons on the steering wheel. Also the Selespeed gearbox control system was updated, buttons at steering wheel were replaced by paddle shifters, like seen earlier on Alfa Romeo 147. In the center console was added multifunctional display with
trip computerA trip computer is an onboard computer device fitted to cars which can generally record distance travelled, average speed, average fuel consumption, and display real time fuel consumption information. This computer can be found in various vehicles....
, fault and service monitor. Also
electronic stability controlElectronic stability control is a computerized technology that improves the safety of a vehicle's stability by detecting and minimizing skids. When ESC detects loss of steering control, ESC automatically applies the brakes to help "steer" the vehicle where the driver intends to go...
VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) and slip control ASR (Anti Slip Regulation) came as standard. Passive safety was also made better, all versions got
window
airbagAn airbag is a vehicle safety device. It is an occupant restraint consisting of a flexible envelope designed to inflate rapidly in an automobile collision, to prevent vehicle occupants from striking interior objects such as the steering wheel or window....
s as standard. The 2.0 L
JTSThe JTS engine is a gasoline direct injection engine produced by Alfa Romeo. It exists in two forms, straight-4 and V6, and was introduced into the Alfa lineup in 2002.-2.0:...
gasoline direct injectionIn internal combustion engines, gasoline direct injection is a latest variant of fuel injection employed in modern two- and four- stroke petrol engines...
engine replaced the 2.0 litre Twin Spark engine, offering more low end torque and more power than the Twin Spark, diesel engines were also uprated. Only notable difference exterior-wise was body coloured mirrors and bumper strips which were earlier black.
2003 facelift (2nd series)
Late 2003 saw the launch of a facelifted 156, with new front and rear
fasciasConfusingly, fascia is used for several different things in the automotive world. Many of these meanings are related to the appearance of the car....
designed by
Giorgetto GiugiaroGiorgetto Giugiaro is an Italian automobile designer responsible equally for a stable of supercars and several of the most popular everyday vehicles driven today...
. To the top of range was added new TI trim level (Turismo Internazionale) designating a sporty kit, this version was equipped with modified suspension, bigger wheels (215/45 17") and leather-trimmed interior. This mid-life facelift divided opinion with some preferring the prettier pre-facelift look with others singing the praises of the newer more aggressive demeanour of the latter models. The GTA models never received the exterior update. Diesel engines underwent a major re-working, new four valve per
cylinder headIn an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head sits above the cylinders and consists of a platform containing part of the combustion chamber and the location of the valves and spark plugs...
s were added, second stage common rail injection with 1400 bar maximum injection pressure with up to five injections per cycle for lower noise, consumption and higher performance. They were rated at 140/150 PS (103/110
kWThe watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units . It measures rate of energy conversion. One watt is equivalent to 1 joule of energy per second....
) for
straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is a four-cylinder internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a...
1.9 litre 16-valve and for
straight-5The straight-five engine or inline-five engine is an internal combustion engine with five cylinders aligned in one row or plane, sharing a single engine block and crankcase...
2.4 litre 20-valve.
2004 Q4 variants
In 2004, Q4 (short for Quadrifoglio 4) four-wheel drive versions arrived to some markets, which were known as the
Crosswagon Q4 and
Sportwagon Q4 (both using the 1.9 L JTD diesel engine). These cars were equipped with a
TorsenTorsen is a type of limited slip differential used in automobiles. It was invented by American Vernon Gleasman and manufactured by the Gleason Corporation. Torsen is a contraction of Torque-Sensing...
C four-wheel drive system and raised ride heights (Crosswagon height: , Sportwagon . The Crosswagon version was made to look more like all-terrain vehicle; door sill aluminium protection, front and rear bumpers were equipped with aluminium inserts. The Sportwagon Q4 was a normal looking version with just slightly higher ground clearance than the front wheel drive Sportwagon.
GTA version
In September 2001, the 156
GTA and Sportwagon GTA were launched at
the Frankfurt Motor Show. The GTA was named after the
Alfa Romeo GTAThe Alfa Romeo GTA is a coupé automobile manufactured by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo from 1965 to 1971. It was made for racing and road use....
from the 1960s, the letters GTA meaning Gran Turismo Alleggerita .
Even though the name suggests a light car, the GTA isn't any lighter than base 156. It was actually heavier than 2.5 litre V6 engined version.
With its 3.2 litre engine its easy to get very varying fuel consumption figures, the EC urban fuel consumption is and combined , extra-urban consumption is .
The very first GTA was sold on-line auction from September 13 to 23, the duration of the Frankfurt Motor Show. Winning bid was 48,691.26 euros, which was donated to "Telethon" charity fund.
Equipped with a 3.2 litre V6 with six-speed manual transmission or six-speed
SelespeedSelespeed is the name of an electrohydraulic manual transmission used in Alfa Romeo cars, developed by Italian company Magneti Marelli. The Selespeed is a robotized manual gearbox with electronic clutch. In its current incarnation it can be operated via paddle shifters from the steering wheel or...
(paddles in steering wheel, hydraulically operated clutchless manual gearbox), the GTA variants were aimed at the performance market. The GTA variants boasted , had a lowered and stiffened suspension, a distinctive body kit and leather interior. The suspension was specifically made for the GTA by Fiat Research Centre and Fiat Auto Design and Development Department.
SteeringSteering is the term applied to the collection of components, linkages, etc. which will allow for a vessel or vehicle to follow the desired course...
was also made faster, only 1.7 turns from lock to lock compared to 2.1 in normal models. The GTA had also much bigger
brakesThe disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel. A brake disc , usually made of cast iron or ceramic composites , is connected to the wheel and/or the axle...
(
BremboBrembo S.p.A. is a manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. It was established in Bergamo, Italy in 1961, and now operates worldwide....
), at front 305 millimetres (12 in) discs and rear 276 millimetres (10.8 in). The front discs were later updated to 330 millimetres (13 in). The GTA subsequently stopped production in October 2005 citing the upcoming replacement to the 156, the
Alfa Romeo 159The Alfa Romeo 159 is a compact executive car produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo since 2005. The 159 was introduced in production form at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show as a replacement for the successful Alfa Romeo 156...
.
Engines
The 156 offered various engines and power levels during its lifespan, four and six cylinder petrol engines and four and five cylinder
diesel engines, all produced at
Pratola SerraPratola Serra is a town in the province of Avellino, Campania, Italy.
...
except the V6 engine , which was produced at Alfa Romeo's
AreseArese is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about northwest of Milan. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 19,333 and an area of ....
plant. The 1.9 JTD diesel was world's first common rail diesel engine in a passenger car.
Petrol
| Model |
Engine |
Displacement |
Max. power output |
Peak torque |
0–100 km/h,s
0-62 mph,s |
Top speed |
Years |
Note |
| 1.6 TS |
I4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is a four-cylinder internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a...
|
| kW The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units . It measures rate of energy conversion. One watt is equivalent to 1 joule of energy per second....
@6300 rpmRevolutions per minute is a unit of frequency of rotation: the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis...
|
| 10.5 |
| 1997–2006 |
|
| 1.8 TS |
I4 |
|
|
| 9.3 |
| 1997–2000 |
Euro2 |
| 1.8 TS |
I4 |
|
|
| 9.4 |
| 2001–2006 |
Euro3 |
| 2.0 TS |
I4 |
|
|
| 8.6 |
| 1997–2000 |
Euro2 |
| 2.0 TS |
I4 |
|
|
| 8.8 |
| 2001–2002 |
Euro3 |
| 2.0 JTS |
I4 |
|
|
| 8.2 |
| 2002–2006 |
Facelift A facelift is the revival of a product through cosmetic means, for example by changing its appearance while leaving its underlying engineering or design intact.It is commonly applied to automobiles to keep models competitive during a model's product life cycle...
|
| 2.5 Q-System |
V6 |
|
|
| 8.5 |
| 1997–2000 |
Euro2 |
| 2.5 Q-System |
V6 |
|
|
| 8.5 |
| 2001–2006 |
Euro3 |
| 2.5 V6 |
V6 |
|
|
| 7.3 |
| 1997–2000 |
Euro2 |
| 2.5 V6 |
V6 |
|
|
| 7.3 |
| 2001–2006 |
Euro3 |
| 3.2 GTA |
V6 |
|
|
| 6.3 |
| 2002–2005 |
Euro3 |
-
2.0 TS, 2.0 JTS and GTA SelespeedSelespeed is the name of an electrohydraulic manual transmission used in Alfa Romeo cars, developed by Italian company Magneti Marelli. The Selespeed is a robotized manual gearbox with electronic clutch. In its current incarnation it can be operated via paddle shifters from the steering wheel or...
versions have same performance statistics as manual transmission.
Diesel
| Model |
Engine |
Displacement |
Max. power output |
Peak torque |
0–100 km/h,s
0-62 mph,s |
Top speed |
Years |
Note |
| 1.9 JTD |
I4 8v |
|
|
| 10.4 |
| 1997–2000 |
|
| 1.9 JTD |
I4 8v |
|
|
| 10.3 |
| 2001 |
|
| 1.9 JTD |
I4 8v |
|
|
| 10.3 |
| 2002 |
Facelift |
| 1.9 JTDm |
I4 16v |
|
|
| 9.3 |
| 2003 |
|
| 1.9 JTDm |
I4 16v |
|
|
| 9.1 |
| 2003 |
* |
| 2.4 JTD |
I5The straight-five engine or inline-five engine is an internal combustion engine with five cylinders aligned in one row or plane, sharing a single engine block and crankcase...
10v |
|
|
| 9.5 |
| 1997–2000 |
|
| 2.4 JTD |
I5 10v |
|
|
| 9.4 |
| 2001 |
|
| 2.4 JTD |
I5 10v |
|
|
| 9.4 |
| 2002–2007 |
Facelift |
| 2.4 JTDm |
I5 20v |
|
|
| 8.3 |
| 2003–2006 |
2nd facelift |
*Crosswagon Q4 topspeed is and acceleration 0–100 km/h (62,5 mph) is 10.5 seconds, for Sportwagon Q4 numbers are and 10.2 seconds.
Special versions
Alfa Romeo 156 GTAm
The Alfa Romeo 156 GTAm was shown at Bologna Motor Show in December 2002. The car was built by Fiat Group's partner
N.TechnologyN.Technology is an Italian auto racing team, founded by Mauro Sipsz and Monica Bregoli.- Team history :N.Technology were set up to manage the worldwide sporting activities of the Fiat Group...
. The GTA engine was bored to and power pushed to . The car had widened wheel arches, 19 inch tyres and was equipped with N.Technology
limited slip differentialA limited slip differential is a modified or derived type of differential gear arrangement that allows for some difference in angular velocity of the output shafts, but imposes a mechanical bound on the disparity...
. This car never reached production phase.
Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon GTA 3.5 Autodelta
At the 2004 Geneva Motor Show was unveiled
AutodeltaAutodelta SpA was the name of Alfa Romeo's competition department. Established in 1961 as Auto-Delta, the company was started by Carlo Chiti, a former Alfa Romeo and Ferrari engineer, and Ludovico Chizzola, an official Alfa Romeo dealer. The team was officially made a department of Alfa Romeo on...
built 156 Sportwagon prototype equipped with a V6 engine that develops at 6800 rpm. The car was fitted with Bilstein adjustable shock absorbers and Eibach springs. The Brembo made front brakes had a diameter of . The car was made lighter by using composite material to the bonnet.
Autodelta 156 GTA 3.7 V6
London based aftermarket tuning company
AutodeltaAutodelta is an after-market tuning company for Alfa Romeo cars, founded in 1987 by engineer Jano Djelalian. It is based in the Park Royal industrial area, North West London, England. The company produces tuning parts and also full bodykits for various Alfa Romeo cars...
made also two high performance versions based on 156 GTA, in GTA AM version
Alfa Romeo V6 engineAlfa Romeos in-house V6 engine design made its initial début in 1979 in the Alfa 6. Introduced in 2.5 L guise, production engines would eventually range from 2.0 L to 3.2 L displacement. With modifications it is possible to increase engine displacement to...
was bored to , which was capable to push at 7300 rpm. With this power car can reach top speed of 280 kilometres per hour (175 mph).
The other one GTA AM Super was "upgrade" to the first version, now fitted with Rotrex
superchargerA supercharger is an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal combustion engine. The greater mass flow-rate provides more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally-aspirated engine, which allows more fuel to be provided and more work to be done per cycle,...
and pushing out .
Awards
In 1998, an international jury of 56 journalists (40 of whom voted for the 156) representing 21 countries awarded the Alfa 156 the
European Car of the YearThe European Car of the Year award was established in 1964 by a collective of automobile magazines from different countries in Europe. The current organisers of the award are Auto , Autocar , Autopista , Autovisie , L'Automobile Magazine , Stern and Vi Bilägare .The voting jury consists of motoring...
award; it was described as having a "very refined suspension layout so to offer an impeccable roadholding". The 2.5 V6 engine was awarded with the
International Engine of the YearThe International Engine of the Year is an annual competition judged by a panel of automobile journalists from around the world and organized by the United Kingdom's largest technical motoring publication company. The competition was started in 1999 and has become a prestigious award.-Annual...
award in 2000. The 156 has won more than 35 awards, including:
- Technical Innovation Award - Common Rail 1998 - (Autocar
Autocar is a weekly British automobile magazine published by Haymarket Motoring Publications Ltd. It is the oldest surviving car magazine in the world.-History:...
- Great Britain)
- Best Compact Executive 1998 - (What Car?
What Car? is a long-running UK monthly automobile magazine and website, currently edited by Steve Fowler and published by Haymarket Motoring. First published in 1973, it is intended primarily as a magazine for consumers rather than dedicated automobile enthusiasts...
- Great Britain)
- Best Compact Executive Car 1998 - (Auto Express
Auto Express is a weekly motoring magazine sold in the United Kingdom, with features including news, road tests, first drives, readers' letters and feedback, product tests, long-term tests, used cars, prices, motorsport and comment columns. the columnists include Mike Rutherford who also writes for...
- Great Britain)
- Die Besten Autos 1998, Paul Pietsch Preis - (Innovation prize for Common Rail, (Auto, Motor und Sport
Auto, Motor und Sport is a leading German automobile magazine. It is published fortnightly by Motor Presse Stuttgart, a specialist magazine publisher that is 59.9% owned by the publishing house Gruner + Jahr.Auto, Motor und Sport first appeared in 1946....
- Germany)
- Auto 1 Europa 1998 - (Panel of engineers, drivers and journalists from the 11 European magazines headed by Auto Bild
Auto Bild is a leading German automobile magazine. It is published by Axel Springer AG, and first appeared in 1986....
)
- Auto Trophy 1998 - (Auto Zeitung - Germany)
- Trophee Du Design 1998 - (Automobile Magazine - France)
- European Award for Automotive Design in Belgium 1998
- Car of the Year in Denmark, Spain, Holland, Luxembourg, Germany, Portugal, France and Croatia 1998
- Car of the Year in South Africa 1999 (South African Guild of Motoring Journalists)
- Prix de l’Innovation Technique pour le Common Rail 1997 (France)
- L’automobile più bella del mondo ("The most beautiful car in the world") in Italy 1997
Motorsport
The Alfa Romeo 156 was as well vested in motorsport as its predecessor, the
155The Alfa Romeo 155 is a compact executive car produced under the Italian Alfa Romeo marque between 1992 and 1998.-Design:Built to replace the 75 and based on the parent Fiat Group's Tipo platform, the 155 was somewhat larger in dimension than the 75 but evolved its styling from that of its...
. It ran in the
British Touring Car ChampionshipThe British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
as well as various European championships, most notably the
WTCCThe World Touring Car Championship is an international Touring Car championship organised by the FIA.The first WTCC, which was open to Group A Touring Cars, was held in 1987 concurrent to the long-running European Touring Car Championship...
and formerly the
ETCCThe European Touring Car Championship was an international touring car racing series organized by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second between 2000 and 2004...
where it was especially successful. The 156 sports car program was run by Fiat Group's partner
N.Technology S.p.A., originally founded as
Nordauto Squadra CorseN.Technology is an Italian auto racing team, founded by Mauro Sipsz and Monica Bregoli.- Team history :N.Technology were set up to manage the worldwide sporting activities of the Fiat Group...
to compete in Italian Touring Car Championship.
In 1994 name was changed to Nordauto Engineering and 2001 to
N.TechnologyN.Technology is an Italian auto racing team, founded by Mauro Sipsz and Monica Bregoli.- Team history :N.Technology were set up to manage the worldwide sporting activities of the Fiat Group...
. In 1998 Alfa Romeo also offered for sale the 156
Group NIn relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group N refers to a set of regulations providing 'standard' production vehicles for competition, often referred to as the "Showroom Class"....
version for the track. The 156 Group N had no carpets, seats or upholstery, but included additional track safety devices. The 156 has won the following titles:
- 1998 Italian Super Touring Car Championship - Alfa Romeo 156 D2, Fabrizio Giovanardi
Fabrizio Giovanardi is an Italian racecar driver.-Career history:Fabrizio began his career karting before switching to Italian Formula 3. In 1989 he switched to Formula 3000 to compete with First Racing and won the race at Vallelunga.A move to touring cars brought better results, as he claimed the...
- 1999 Italian Super Touring Car Championship - Alfa Romeo 156 D2, Fabrizio Giovanardi
- 2000 European Super Touring Car Cup
The European Touring Car Championship was an international touring car racing series organized by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second between 2000 and 2004...
Winner - Alfa Romeo 156 D2, Fabrizio Giovanardi
- 2001 FIA European Touring Car Championship
The European Touring Car Championship was an international touring car racing series organized by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second between 2000 and 2004...
- Alfa Romeo 156 D2, Fabrizio Giovanardi
- 2002 FIA European Touring Car Championship - Alfa Romeo 156 GTA Super 2000, Fabrizio Giovanardi
- 2003 FIA European Touring Car Championship – Alfa Romeo 156 Super 2000, Gabriele Tarquini
Gabriele Tarquini is a racing driver from Italy. He participated in 78 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on May 3, 1987. He scored 1 championship point, and holds the record for the most failed attempts to qualify...
Touring versions:
- Alfa Romeo 156 D2, 1997 cc @ 8200 rpm
- Alfa Romeo 156 GTA Super 2000, 1998 cc @ 8450 rpm
- Alfa Romeo 156 Super 2000, 1998 cc @ 8450 rpm
Coloni S1 Alfa Romeo 156
Italian race car constructor
ColoniEnzo Coloni Racing Car Systems, commonly referred to simply as Coloni, is an Italian motor racing team and former Formula One racing car constructor. While it has been successful in Formula Three and Formula 3000, the team was one of the least successful in Formula One history...
made an one-off racing car prototype for FIA Group-E Formula Libre called the Coloni S1 Alfa Romeo 156, or 156 Maxiturismo. The car is a carbon fibre
silhouette racing carA silhouette racing car is a race car which, although bearing a superficial resemblance to a production model, differs mechanically in fundamental ways. The purpose of silhouette cars is to provide a manufacturer with a tangible link to their consumer product offering so as to derive maximum...
on a tubular frame, powered by a 3.0 litre Alfa Romeo V6 engine producing between and . The car has a 6-speed
HewlandFounded by Mike Hewland in 1957, Hewland is a British engineering company specialising in racing car gearboxes. Hewland were the first company to manufacture a bespoke racing car gearbox....
-Coloni sequential gearbox and weighs around . It is capable of achieving over .
External links