Alfa's Ferrari-powered M3 rival?

[omicron]

Alfa Romeo looks set to abandon a high-performance version of the Holden-built V6 in favour of a Ferrari V8 as the Italians' 159 GTA targets the Audi RS4 and new BMW M3.

Our spy photographers have snapped a muscular-looking 159 sedan testing at Germany's Nurburgring circuit, and the thinly disguised vents on both the front guards and the bonnet suggest this prototype is powered by a high-performance V8.

The flagship variant of the 159 was expected to be powered by a bigger-capacity, dual-turbocharged version of the Holden-built 3.2-litre V6 already included in the mid-sized Alfa's range.

It seems, however, that the Italians want to jump into the upcoming battle of V8-powered German mid-sizers that by the end of the year will include Audi's RS4, BMW's M3 and Mercedes' C63 AMG.

An Alfa insider confirmed the 159, which launched in Europe in 2005, has a platform capable of accommodating a V8 engine up to 4.5 litres in size. And Drive.com.au's source said the V8 from the Ferrari F430 has plenty of heat to disperse, which would be aided by the multiple air vents.

The supercar engine would be possible because Alfa Romeo sits under the same, large Fiat umbrella as Ferrari (as well as Maserati and Lancia). The Ferrari/Maserati joint-developed V8 has a capacity of 4.3 litres and in the Ferrari F430 produces 360kW of power and 465Nm.

The V8 would be detuned for the 159 GTA, however, whose rivals (RS4 and M3) both feature 309kW V8s. Mercedes has yet to release details of the C63 AMG that debuts at September's Frankfurt motor show.

Another clue to V8 power in our pictures are the quad exhausts on the 159 prototype, which accompany typical GTA cues such as large low-profile tyres, slightly flared wheelarches, and side skirts. The prototype also wears a rear spoiler, unlike its predecessor the 156 GTA.



Alfa used the 156 hot-rod to resurrect the GTA badge it used in touring-car racing in the '60s and '70s. GTA is the abbreviation for Gran Turismo Allegerita. Allegerita is Italian for 'lightened'.

The 159 GTA ? expected to debut at next March's Geneva motor show before arriving down-under in early 2009 ? will include other performance-focused tweaks, such as bigger brakes and firmer suspension, to make it stand out above regular 159s. It will be offered in both sedan and wagon body styles.

Unlike its front-drive predecessor (in sedan form), the 159 flagship will spread the greater power generated by a V8 to all four wheels with Alfa's 'Q4' all-wheel-drive system.

Drive.com.au's source hinted that the Ferrari V8 will indeed be the 159 GTA's power source, but said two other options were also available for consideration.

The V6 that Fiat initially takes from Holden's Elizabeth engine plant before tuning for Alfa specification can be increased from its current 3.2-litre capacity to a maximum 4.2 litres. One or two turbochargers would further boost power, as Saab has achieved with its 2.8-litre derivative of Holden's V6 (206kW for 9-3 Aero XWD).

Fiat Powertrain Technologies was also commission by GM, as part of the divorce settlement, to build a large-capacity diesel engine that is expected to be a V8.

The V6-powered, 184kW 156 GTA was on sale between 2001 and 2005, and cost $90,000 when it reached Australia in early 2003.

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=41226&vf=7

[SJ_GTI]

"That's hot." 

[TheIntrepid]

It looks like the '08 Lancer.

Who's the chick, Tony?

[SVT_Power]

It looks like the '08 Lancer.

Who's the chick, Tony?

You can't tell who that is?

[JYODER240]

It looks like the '08 Lancer.

Who's the chick, Tony?

[Raza]

I just pissed my pants in joy.

[SJ_GTI]

New Rule: No one is allowed to tell TheIntrepid who "the chick" is. 

[565]

Seems more like an RS4 rival.

[Raza]

Seems more like an RS4 rival.

Audi and Alfa Romeo are not good enough to be BMW rivals.  As a matter of fact, any car company that begins with the letter a is not on BMW's level.

[SVT666]

New Rule: No one is allowed to tell TheIntrepid who "the chick" is.?

I won't tell him.

[Michael Estorol]

I hope this is FWD. Lancia Thema 8.32 redux.

[Madman]

I hope this is FWD. Lancia Thema 8.32 redux.

Funny, I was just thinking the same thing.




Madman of the People

[Tave]

I hope this is FWD. Lancia Thema 8.32 redux.

Don't hope too hard.

the 159 flagship will spread the greater power generated by a V8 to all four wheels with Alfa's 'Q4' all-wheel-drive system.

[Raza]

I hope it's FWD.

[Tave]

You're going to be one sad little boy come Christmas Day.

[Raza]

You're going to be one sad little boy come Christmas Day.

I like turtles.

[S204STi]

I love Alfa's design right now...great looking cars.  I suppose that's why I like my Alfa-lookalike Impreza so much.

[Raghavan]

I hope it's not uber heavy like the normal 159.

[red_shift]

Not an M3 rival, more of an RS4 rival.

I remember someone on C&D mentioning that Alpha 156 was a fantastic drive. (a FWDer)

[pommes-t]

Like all new Alfa Romeos, this car will suck!

...b?t I'd really like to have such a Lancia Thema 8.32 ... 

[Michael Estorol]

Not an M3 rival, more of an RS4 rival.

I remember someone on C&D mentioning that Alpha 156 was a fantastic drive. (a FWDer)

I've logged a couple of thousand miles in a 156 (1999 bog-standard 2.0 Twin Spark).
It was okay:  eager engine, nice steering and generally good fun despite somehow feeling over-tyred (in an effort to feel BMW-like, I thought).  I didn't suffer any reliability issues, but three colleagues did and it went back to the lease co. without a second glance.

[sportyaccordy]

Holy overhang!!!

With SH-AWD though, anything is possible. Should be interesting

[red_shift]

I've logged a couple of thousand miles in a 156 (1999 bog-standard 2.0 Twin Spark).
It was okay:? eager engine, nice steering and generally good fun despite somehow feeling over-tyred (in an effort to feel BMW-like, I thought).? I didn't suffer any reliability issues, but three colleagues did and it went back to the lease co. without a second glance.

I am planning a European Vacation this summer. Got any ideas where I can rent this car? Someone urged me to
try and drive this car sometime back. Most likely I will be doing a one week sightseeing in Rome and if possible
some another country nearby.

[giant_mtb]

It looks like the '08 Lancer.

Who's the chick, Tony?

I thought it looked more like an F-350.

[Michael Estorol]

I am planning a European Vacation this summer. Got any ideas where I can rent this car? Someone urged me to
try and drive this car sometime back. Most likely I will be doing a one week sightseeing in Rome and if possible
some another country nearby.

hmmm - good luck; the 156 has been out of production for a couple of years so I doubt any of the major renters will offer it, even in Italy.  You should be able to find a 159 (roomier and more practical anway); I think Hertz offer the Brera as one of their 'Fun' [sic] options but it wouldn't be cheap.  Driving one around in central Rome would be, er, interesting.
What you really want is a scruffy old Alfasud.  A Panda would be my choice.
 

[pommes-t]

hmmm - good luck; the 156 has been out of production for a couple of years so I doubt any of the major renters will offer it, even in Italy.? You should be able to find a 159 (roomier and more practical anway); I think Hertz offer the Brera as one of their 'Fun' [sic] options but it wouldn't be cheap.? Driving one around in central Rome would be, er, interesting.
What you really want is a scruffy old Alfasud.? A Panda would be my choice.
?

Rome's traffic isn't that bad IMO. In Napoli things are getting more difficult... The more south you come in Italy, the more anarchists are on the road....

[Raza]

Are you all telling me that the RS4 is not an M3 rival?

[red_shift]

Are you all telling me that the RS4 is not an M3 rival?

Just that M3 and RS4 have different drivelines.

[red_shift]

hmmm - good luck; the 156 has been out of production for a couple of years so I doubt any of the major renters will offer it, even in Italy.? You should be able to find a 159 (roomier and more practical anway); I think Hertz offer the Brera as one of their 'Fun' [sic] options but it wouldn't be cheap.? Driving one around in central Rome would be, er, interesting.
What you really want is a scruffy old Alfasud.? A Panda would be my choice.
?

Panda is on my list, definitely.

[Raza]

Just that M3 and RS4 have different drivelines.

In that case, the M3 has no rivals, because nothing else in its price class is RWD with a manual transmission. 

If the RS4 competes with the M3, and this competes with the RS4, then it competes with the M3 as well.  Doesn't that make sense?