The Alfa 159
officially arrived on the UK market at the weekend, and nowhere
was the passion and style that is associated with Alfa Romeo's latest sporting
sedan clearly more visible than during Mangoletsi's glamorous launch ceremony.
Mangoletsi, the UK's largest and longest-established
authorised Alfa
Romeo dealership has an embedded affinity with the sporty
Milanese brand that goes back almost 40 years. It was therefore only fitting that, under the dazzlingly bright lights of their
Cheshire showroom, the Alfa 159 should arrive in style and
glamour. These are characteristics which have closely associated this new
sedan ever since it received its world preview to such
widespread acclaim in Geneva last year.
The glitzy Alfa 159 launch party took place on Friday evening. The
dealership was bathed in a bright red glow cast by several
huge floodlights which left the showroom complex radiating a welcome ambiance. Clearly
visible from some distance as guests drew up, the lights made
it clear in no uncertain terms that an important event was
about to occur at this location. Adding to the atmosphere,
the North West Alfa Romeo Club had turned up with several
interesting Alfa Romeos, including the iconic SZ sportscar
and a very unique Alfa 147 GTA.
Mangoletsi's showrooms are usually crammed with
a comprehensive line-up of new Alfa Romeo and Fiat models,
but the space had been cleared, with the floor being dominated by a single Alfa 159 hidden beneath
an enveloping cover: its muscular, taut lines strongly
emphasised as they bulged outwards, appearing ready at any
moment to burst out from under the
bright red cloth. Waitresses dispensed a buffet dinner and
champagne to the assembling throng of guests, and the low,
bright lighting inside the showroom added to the growing sense of
anticipation. The new generation of Alfa Romeo had arrived
in a dealership which is firmly moulded on the principles of
the brand, and which boasts customers who will accept
nothing less than a full helping of the historic values of
flair, style and individuality on which the famous name cut
its global reputation.
With the lights dimmed and the all the guests
having assembled, Mangoletsi's Managing Director Fraser
Hudson kicked off the proceedings: "Let me welcome you to
Mangoletsi – the oldest and largest Alfa Romeo dealership in
the country and proud to be privately owned. Tonight is a
very special night. A night to not only celebrate the new
Alfa 159 but also a new breed of Alfa Romeo," he added
before launching into a detailed outline of the
Giugiaro-styled Alfa 159.
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The Alfa 159
officially arrived on the UK market at the weekend, and nowhere
was the passion and style which is clearly associated with Alfa Romeo latest
sporty sedan model more visible than during Mangoletsi's glamorous launch ceremony. |
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Tonight is a
very special night. A night to not only celebrate
the new Alfa 159 but also a new breed of Alfa
Romeo," said Fraser Hudson, Managing Director of
Mangoletsi. |
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Fraser is a typical enthusiast of the brand, something
obviously instilled into and reflected by all the staff at
Mangoletsi who were enjoying the important occasion of the
arrival of a brand-new Alfa just as much as the guests
obviously were. Fraser also outlined what Mangoletsi believe
to be unrivalled packages for contract hire and long term
care, and announced the winner of a raffle which awarded the
winner a free Alfa 159 for a week.
"In the past we
have seen dominance in the D-segment with German products
such as BMW and Audi and this is where the Alfa 159 strikes hard,"
he continued. "Autocar
recently published on their front cover the following quote
'At last a great reason not to buy German'. You will realise
why they said this as soon as you see the Alfa 159 and from tomorrow,
drive it. That’s enough
from me, you decide for yourselves!"
The lighting display had dimmed in order to build up the
atmosphere before they flickered over the hidden car. Dry ice started to swirl, and it was time to roll
back the covers, with a typical Latin flourish. The guests
crowded round and applauded as the Alfa 159 was
revealed: a 2.4 JTDm finished in Argento Alfa with a black
leather interior, and squatting aggressively on 19-inch
multi-spoke alloy wheels. It is a truly stunning, potent and infinitely desirable
package - this
is the car which undoubtedly will take the brand to dizzy new heights.
Commenting on
the impressive range of aftersales care packages Mangoletsi
has tailored for its customers, Sales Executive Craig Aspin
told Italiaspeed afterwards:
"We believe owning an Alfa Romeo should
always be an
enjoyable, smooth process. We pay a
great deal of attention to the requirements and demands of
our many customers who reward us a huge amount of loyalty,
which we all work hard to win and retain."
The new Alfa 159 replaces the much-loved 'Car of the Year'
award-winning Alfa 156, the Giugiaro-designed trend-stetter building in every area. However, the Alfa 156 hasn't quite
departed the scene yet, as Mangoletsi have secured the final
batch to arrive in the country which they are selling at
prices starting from £14,995. "A great car which still looks
fresh," adds Craig, "we half just half a dozen left now."
Despite almost
forty years as an authorised Alfa Romeo dealer, enthusiasm
for the product has not dimmed one iota at Mangoletsi. Two
more Alfa 159s were rolled out for guests to examine: a
2.4 JTDm Lusso finished in Rubino Red with tan leather,
front and rear parking sensors, and 18-inch, 7-round slot alloy wheels; and a 2.2 JTS Lusso
in Oltremare Blue with a black leather interior, 19-inch
multispoke alloy wheels and a split rear seat. "We
are now taking Alfa 159 orders for March delivery,"
added Fraser, "with the Brera, 159 Sportwagon and Spider
all sceduled to follow shortly we expect to have a very busy summer."
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