21.05.2004 Alfa Romeo reveal the enhanced active safety potential of their new four wheel steering system under final development as production readiness draws closer

Alfa Romeo’s interest in offering four-wheel-steering on future models has been recently confirmed by this experimental Alfa 147 Selespeed prototype fitted with a “by-wire” rear-wheel-steering set-up. 

Fiat’s engineering arm Centro Ricerche Fiat (CRF) were responsible for the work, which was carried out during the second half of 2003.

The engineering concept demonstrates the potential, in terms of active safety, of four-wheel-steering. 

Components of the Alfa 147’s McPherson suspension were modified to adapt the new system’s architecture, as was the car’s electrical system which was converted from 12 to 42 Volts. 

The setup’s electromechanical steering actuator guarantees the ease of handling during emergency manoeuvres. The electrical control system works by picking up receipts sent by sensors through a CAN (Controller Area Network) network. 

This control system then calculates the amount of steering needed to second the manoeuvre set-up by the driver, depending upon the car’s speed and adhesion conditions on the road.

The four-wheel-steering setup was recently included on the Alfa Romeo Visconte design study by Italdesign-Guigiaro which was presented at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show. 

It is still unclear as to when a production version of the four-wheel-steering will be launched on Alfa Romeo models, although it is rumoured that it may make a debut on the upcoming Alfa 158 range.