The new Alfa Romeo 147 and Crosswagon Q4 headlined the marque's striking stand in Bologna, the two new models making their first major Italian public appearance since they recently went on sale.

The youthful stand was decorated in shades of red and metallic grey, the colours that have always been used to convey the sportiness and sophisticated technology of Alfa Romeo cars.

The message embodied in the slogan 'Beauty is not enough', is the underlying concept of Alfa Romeo's new advertising campaign, and expresses the importance of 'content over form'.

Customers love Alfa Romeo cars for their renowned Italian styling and good looks, but also come to appreciate their handling and engineering when they try them for themselves.

They also recognise the driving satisfaction that typifies an Alfa car over any type of road under any situation and in any weather. And all the cars shown at the 29th Bologna Motor Show were ambassadors of this philosophy.

The place of honour was naturally reserved for the latest arrival: the New Alfa 147. With its well-proportioned yet muscular lines, the look of the new car has changed inside and out: heir to a winning model, today it is bigger, more powerful and with more personality, it has grown up as its targeted a wider audience.

The new model also introduces a number of new products in the field of mechanicals and equipment, including the spirited 150 bhp 1.9 JTD 16v M-Jet engine, a brand new robotised gearbox, a new Comfort suspension and the most sophisticated safety devices: including VDC, ASR, ABS with EBD and curtain-bags.
 

Good looking, sporty and stylish: the New Alfa 147 stimulates your driving instincts and thrills you to the core. Four cars were on show in Bologna: three are equipped with the powerful 150 bhp 1.9 JTD 16v M-Jet, one with the sparkling 115 bhp 1.9 JTD.Two Alfa 147s displayed in Bologna sported the Exclusive outfit which features leather upholstery, a Bose Hi-Fi, new 17" alloy wheels and parking sensors in addition to the equipment on the Distinctive version.

Meanwhile another model to have recently gone on sale, the Alfa Crosswagon Q4, a car that marks Alfa Romeo's return to the world of four wheel drive vehicles. The Alfa Crosswagon transmission features four permanently engaged drive wheels, three differentials and torque distribution preferentially to the rear. The Torsen C differential continuously modulates torque distribution between front and rear axles according to grip.

This feature makes for a sporty drive that in turn increases active safety. Both Crosswagon versions on show were equipped with the vivacious 150 bhp (110 kW) 1.9 JTD 16v M-Jet and offer a very distinctive interpretation of an all road vehicle as far as style and design are concerned.

One of the two versions on display at the Bologna Motor Show stood out for its Racing features, because it is this car that will accompany the Italian Alpine skiing team in the World Cup, the World Skiing Championships and the Winter Olympics.

The brand, which is already represented on the uniforms of both the men's and women's Alpine skiing teams, has, as part of a more ambitious project, created the Alfa Romeo Ski Racing Team, consisting of 8 athletes and 3 trainers. The team will also endorse a number of press and outdoor advertising campaigns.