An interesting lineup of Alfa Romeo prototypes were spotted recently parked outside the well-known Balocco proving grounds. Balocco is very well secured, with guards preventing unauthorized access to the many curious enthusiasts hoping to gain a glimpse of Alfa Romeo’s future model lineup.

Progetto 940

Catching a peek of Progetto 940, the replacement for the Alfa Romeo 147, is on the top of every enthusiasts’ list at present, and with two brand new prototypes having been reported recently, hopes are high that the first batch of photographs will be made soon. The two prototypes are rumored to be clad with heavy camouflage, disguising the new styling treatment pressed into the pre-production panels. Two drivetrains are undergoing trial on the Compact platform, namely front and four-wheel-drive. The latter will be used to lay down the raw power from the 3.2 V6 petrol engine, whilst a high grip diesel version may also be offered.

With the pre-production Progetto 940 prototypes believed to be stored inside the off-limits, yet irritatingly close hangars of Balocco, our focus is laid on the less covert cars, which were parked outside the grounds. With only one guardian supervising the prototypes, a member of the Italian Ilpistone.com forum managed to take several photographs. The photographer was quick to identify several ‘Muletto’, or mules, future Alfa Romeo’s, covered up using current production bodies.

Alfa Romeo 166 'Muletto'

These included an old Alfa Romeo 166 fitted with an Alfa Romeo 147 interior and two exhaust pipes. Literally a ‘collage’ of different cars, this 166 is actually one of the first Alfa Romeo 159 mules, with the 166 bodywork being the most appropriate size to test the premium platform on. The technologically advanced Alfa Romeo 147 interior, with CANbus (controller area network) electrics had been installed by engineers to substitute that of the 159. Last year, a mysterious white cut-and-shut coupé version of the Alfa Romeo 166, fitted with Alfa Romeo 147 wheels, was spotted at Arese. At the time it was unclear what project the prototype belonged to, as a coupé version of the 166 had also been under development, as confirmed by a 1:1 scale model. With this fresh information, it is possible that the car was an early test mule for the Brera.

Alfa Romeo 147 4x4

One of the more recognizable cars in the prototype line-up is a red Alfa Romeo 147, fitted with a 1.9 16v JTD engine, and four-wheel-drive. Previously spotted at Arjeplog a long time ago in early 2004, before being stored at Alfa Romeo’s experimental division at Via Biscaretti in Turin, the resurrection of this car is interesting. An engineer at Balocco disclosed to the photographer that the Alfa Romeo 147 will not be made available with four-wheel-drive, contradicting many previous claims. Comparing the new photographs to those taken in 2004, it appears that no changes have been made to the cars’ mechanics.
 

The rear differential is identical, and even the tire model used is the same. Staining on the exhaust pipe silencer reveals that the car has not been stored all year, with the car probably serving as an ongoing test bed for reliability checks on the Alfa Romeo 4x4 system. To date, the 4x4 system, as fitted to the Alfa 156 Crosswagon, has been very reliable, with no problems having been reported.

The engineer also mentioned that every car from Fiat Auto is tested with four-wheel-drive, including the Idea and Punto, despite the fact that most 4x4 models don’t make it to the market. The 147 4x4 prototype will be particularly useful as a representational mule for the all-wheel-drive 147 replacement.

Two Fiat Stilo Multiwagons were also at Balocco; one parked next to an Alfa Romeo 156 Crosswagon, the other parked in front of the Balocco restaurant. Making a detailed account of the prototypes, the photographer knelt down to take a look whether the latter car was fitted with all-wheel-drive, considering that the car might be one of the Stola built mules for Progetto 921, the Alfa Romeo Kamal project. It had no rear differential, an interesting observation as the low power versions of the Fiat SUV also only have front wheel drive. The other car, clearly identifiable as a Kamal mule with its cut out wheel arches, and Alfa Romeo wheels was in mint condition, even with the white paint underneath the wheel arches shining.

Unfortunately, the photographer forgot to look at this prototype in further detail. A shame, as a sheet of A4 paper was stuck in the rear left side window, most probably with brief technical specifications as is typical with Alfa and Fiat prototypes. What purpose this car currently serves is unknown, as the Stola built mules were constructed around the Compact platform which is no longer used for the Kamal project. It is highly possible that these old mules for the Kamal are now being used as mules for the Alfa Romeo 147 replacement, sharing identical technology in terms of platform, motorization, and transmission.

Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon

Various Alfa Romeo 159 prototypes in different stages of camouflage were also present. Despite the car already having been launched, Alfa Romeo engineers are fully exploiting the time they have for fine-tuning before the car goes on sale. Last week, the Dutch Autoweek magazine test drove a 159 fitted with the 1.9 JTD-M engine. The car performed outstandingly, and even managed to top 220 km/h on the Autobahn, despite the engine only having a few kilometers on the clock. Parked next to a lightly disguised white Alfa Romeo 159 sedan was a 159 Sportwagon. Despite the heavy camouflage, the elegant lines of the new Sportwagon are clear. The Sportwagon will be officially launched at Frankfurt later this year.

By Paddy Granger