Alfa Romeo has announced that its all-new Alfa 159 sports sedan will be launched in Australia on 1 June 2006, heralding a whole new family of cars from the Italian performance car maker. “The 159 is a vitally significant car for Alfa Romeo and it represents the beginning of a rush of new models for Alfa Romeo over the next six months,” says David Stone, General Manager for Alfa Romeo in Australia. “The significance of the Alfa 159 only starts with the fact that it will replace the Alfa 156, one of the most important cars in history of Alfa Romeo.”

“The Alfa 156 revitalised Alfa Romeo worldwide, collected a cupboard full of awards and drove Alfa Romeo back into the Australian car market. Simply replacing one of the most lauded cars ever sold is a major task in itself, but the Alfa 159 also provides the basis for another three new models arriving in Australia this year, the Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon, the Alfa Romeo Brera and the new Alfa Spider. The arrival of the Alfa Romeo 159 is truly the start of the next generation of Alfa Romeo cars,” says Mr Stone.

The Alfa Romeo 159 debuts a whole new ‘platform’, a production term that encompasses the drivetrain, chassis and body, and which means that virtually nothing is carried cover from the previous model to the new 159. This all-new platform is also the basis for the three other new Alfa Romeo models arriving in 2006. The 159 Sportwagon is, as the name suggests, a wagon that is based on the 159 sedan, but which retains the performance, style and driving ability of the sedan, while providing a new level of versatility and flexibility in its use. The Alfa Brera is Alfa Romeo’s new range-topping sports car and has been truly acclaimed around the world for its styling and performance. This year will also see the re-birth of one of the most famous Alfa Romeo names of all time, the Alfa Romeo Spider, and the return of the classic open-top Alfa Romeo model to the Australian car market.