Alfa Romeo 156
Alfa Romeo 156 Saloon ( 1997-2003)
The Alfa Romeo 156 is a mid-size car in the Alfa Romeo brand, which was built from autumn 1997 to summer 2005. The 156 derived from the semi - SUV Cross Q4 Wagon was sold on the European market by mid-2007. In Egypt, however, the Alfa Romeo 156 will continue to be assembled and sold at the Seoudi Group.
- 6.1 petrol engine
- 6.2 diesel
General
The Alfa 156 is considered a key model for the resurgent market success of Alfa Romeo, after the brand after the takeover by Fiat in 1986 with the new models first stagnated. Just two years after the launch of the 156 made more than fifty percent of the total production from Alfa.
Responsible for the design was Walter Maria de Silva, who later inter alia, the Seat Leon II and the Audi A5 designed. With the Alfa 156 de Silva took a typical Alfa Romeo design element from the 1950s again, deeply moved by the middle part of the grille down and the vehicle registration number placed asymmetrically. Completely new were embedded in the roof pillars handles of the rear doors, which give the appearance of a two-door four-door the.
The Alfa 156 JTD was the first diesel-powered vehicle, which was equipped with a common rail injection. From the facelift in 2002 there was the equipment variants Impression, Progression and Distinctive.
Development
The Alfa 156 was originally supposed to come on the market in 1998, for the larger Type 166 is a launch in 1997 was provided. However, since 155 broke the sales figures of its predecessor Alfa alarming, the development of type 166 was temporarily stopped and used all available capacity to bring forward the launch of the 156 in 1997.
The 156 ( known internally as the type 932) then appeared in September 1997 as a four-door notchback sedan, first with petrol engines of 1.6 to 2.5 liters displacement ( 88-140 kW) and common rail diesel engines with 1.9, respectively 2, 4 liter capacity (77 to 100 kW).
At the start of series but only a limited range of models was available. For example, the diesel models could be delivered until the spring of 1998. Also features such as leather upholstery were indeed ordered, but not available until spring 1998.
The Alfa 156 was in the press at first a very positive response. Thus, by the magazine " auto motor und sport" tested a 1.8 - liter version, the downhill a top speed of 244 km / h reached what was mentioned in the test very highly and as for Cylinder Class phenomenal. This echo also contributed to the fact that the Alfa 156 initially achieved very good sales and made it into the ranking of the 50 best-selling vehicles in Germany, which was not successful Alfa long time.
However, the early specimens reported due to the rapid production introduction to quality defects. Water leaks in the doors and on the lower floor, leaking rear windows, fixed continuous link system, faulty power steering and ABS sensors failing plagued many of the first copies. Alfa Romeo reacted quickly and turned quickly remedy available that has been done in the way of warranty or generous grace. Nevertheless, these shortcomings damaged the image of the vehicles. Added to this was shortly after the start of series one prescribed by the KBA recall what corroded door hinges had to be replaced.
Also, new versions of the software for the engine management system were developed because the engines were prone to cold start jerking in the early days at short intervals. Since especially in the German market, the engines were operated on long stretches of highway at high speeds, the cut-off speed was lowered to reduce the risk of defects.
Alfa Romeo pushed in the fall of 1998, a significantly improved version of the 156 after that had a softer tuned standard suspension to reduce the jerking of the front axle transverse joints, and had several improvements to increase the quality.
In May 2000 came after about six years of absence with the 156 Sportwagon again a combination of Alfa Romeo to the market. In contrast to most other combos he is not longer than the sedan, so as portable, but offers only limited cargo space.
Also in spring 2000, the results of the first crash tests of the Alfa 156 were published, which were very unfavorable. The test was carried out by the French car image and does not reflect the standardized NCAP. This obviously bad review, especially compared to the competition, and the subsequent discussions on the topic of crashworthiness have harmed the reputation of the Alfa 156 and reduced sales. The body could not be changed until the end of the model run time, but was strengthened in the area of the front axle; the number of installed air bag was nevertheless increased.
From September 2001, the two diesel engines contributed 85 and 110 kW, as their turbochargers were now equipped with a variable turbine geometry. At the same time was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the sporty 156 GTA with six-cylinder engine (see below). In Germany this model was sold from April 2002.
In March 2002 a minor facelift occurred - new rims, mirrors and bumpers in body color, new center console, head curtain airbags standard on all models - a new 2- liter gasoline direct injection engine with 122 kW (166 hp) replaced the previous 2.0 Twin Spark, the 2.4 -liter diesel made now thanks to optimized electronics 110 kW ( 150 hp). From the end of 2002, the 1.9-liter diesel engine with four-valve technology and 103 kW ( 140 hp ) was to acquire. Shortly before the change of model performance to 110 kW ( 150 hp) was raised. Diesel particulate filters a filter (DPF ), there was not for the 156; this was only introduced to the successor 159.
Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon (2000-2003)
Facelift
In September 2003, followed by a more extensive facelift with a larger grille and new headlights, a 129 kW (175 hp) five-cylinder diesel, 110 kW 1.9 - liter diesel, and improved suspension. The GTA was not affected by these changes.
As of November 2003, the special edition ti ( " Tourismo Internationale" ) was offered. In November 2004, the Sportwagon Q4 four-wheel drive and higher body As followed.
The end of September 2005, the Alfa 156 has been replaced by the Alfa 159.
Like the previous models Alfa 75 and Alfa 155 was the 156 by Claus Theo Gärtner, the film detective Josef Matula driven A Case for Two in the crime series.
Alfa Romeo 156 sedan (2003-2005)
Racing version in the World Touring Car Championship
GTA
In line with the famous GTA series ( Giulia Sprint GTA, GTA 1300 Junior) Alfa Romeo has released a GTA version in 2002 also from the model 156.
The 156 GTA, which was available as a sedan and Sportwagon, had an even sportier look, a different interior and especially another drive: received as a GTA 156 the last stage of the Arese V6 engine, also known as " the last true Alfa engine " applies. This V- engine has a cylinder angle of 60 degrees. In the 156 GTA it is mounted transversely to the direction of travel and has the following specifications:
- Displacement: 3179 cm ³
- Power: 184 kW (250 hp) at 6200 rpm
- Torque: 300 Nm at 4800 rpm
This engine enables the following performance:
- Top speed: > 250 km / h
- Acceleration 0-100 km / h: 6.3 s
The officially stated consumption values:
- Urban: 18.1 l
- Extra-urban: 8.6 l
- Total: 12.1 l
The somewhat dated V6 engine in the GTA in this model (as well as in 147 GTA, 166, GTV, Spider and GT) its last use. Responsible for the end of this engine, in addition to its emission and consumption behavior, certainly the elaborate production with correspondingly high costs.
Optionally, the GTA was available with the Selespeed circuit, but had been modified and improved over the "normal" Selespeed circuit. The standard was a 6- speed manual transmission.
The GTA was built with only the first face of the 156 series: While the other models with the facelift received the large grill ( Scudetto ), the GTA was the small original grill. The GTA was delivered as a single version of the Alfa 156 with black headlight reflectors deposited.
Cross Wagon Q4
The Cross Wagon Q4 is a four-wheel drive station wagon, based on the 156 Sportwagon and is compared with this set higher by 6.4 cm. It was produced between autumn 2004 and mid- 2007.
He thus offers more ground clearance and more clarity without compromising the claim to be a full-fledged SUV. The car comes standard with an innovative traction control system ( TCS) and the Alfa 's four-wheel drive " Q4 " and can therefore be better also in the border area be kept under control. The handling of the Cross Wagon Q4 has a sporty character and follows the tradition of Alfa Romeo.
Recognizable is the Cross Wagon Q4 to the massive front aprons front and rear. He was offered exclusively with the 110 kW ( 150 hp) 1.9 - liter four- end -cylinder diesel engine (305 Nm maximum torque ) in conjunction with a 6- speed manual transmission.
Landing gear
The suspension of the 156 - series front is realized with a lower triangular wishbones and an upper triangular trailing arm. The rear wheels are guided by the top and bottom shock absorbers of each of two transverse arms and a longitudinal arm ( " Camuffo - axis "). The upper arm of the front axle were made in a time in the automotive industry new vacuum casting process of aluminum, which had previously been found only in the 916 application Hinterachstragkörper the Alfa GTV / Spider series. The Alfa 156 was one of the rare vehicles with an almost clean Ackermann front axle. In this the inboard front performs very strong pivoting movements compared to the outside of the curve, since the wheel of a wheel swivel range is limited, which leads to a very large turning circle that had all Alfa models this time for this reason. However, this steering geometry permits free of Radierbewegungen curve behavior with an unusually clean feedback of the road condition in the steering wheel, causing the steering one of the strongest plus points was this Alfa.
Motors
Gasoline
- TS = Twin Spark ( dual ignition )
- JTS = Jet Thrust Stoichiometric ( gasoline direct injection )
Diesel
Awards
The 156 has won numerous international awards over the years. They include the title Car of the Year 1998, Auto Europe 1-1998, Best Compact Executive 1998, The car did I prefer 2000.