Alfa Romeo are out in force at the Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour for the Australian International Motor Show, with the production 8C Competizione displayed alongside examples from the full range, including the 159, Brera and Spider.

Following on from their market launches in the middle of the year, Alfa has brought examples of its 159 and 159 Sportwagon to the show. The car is presently selling to expectations, with 220 examples sold so far this year, an excellent result considering the present unavailability of an automatic gearbox option. The Sportwagon, decked out in a combination of Alfa red paintwork and tan leather, is powered by the 185bhp 2.2 JTS four-cylinder, whilst the 159 sedan (in vesuvio grey, with red leather) acknowledges the ever-increasing importance of diesel powerplants in the Australian car market, being powered by the 200bhp 2.4 JTDm five-cylinder turbodiesel.

In January next year, the diesel range (which accounts for three-quarters of all Alfa sales worldwide) will be expanded with the addition of the 150bhp 1.9 JTDm 16V for both the 159 sedan and Sportwagon, paired with the six-speed automatic gearbox recently launched in Europe. Alfa Romeo expects this variant to quickly establish itself as the most popular version in the range. The first few months of 2007 will also see the availability of the Q-Tronic automatic on the 2.4 JTDm and 3.2 V6 Q4 versions of the 159, as well as on the Brera and Spider V6, whilst an upgraded version of Alfa’s Selespeed robotised manual gearbox will also land here at around the same time as an option for 2.2 JTS models. With the addition of these variants set to broaden the 159’s appeal enormously, Alfa Romeo are quietly optimistic that the present rate of sales can be doubled.

Nevertheless, in terms of the present, Sydney marks the first show appearance for the new Spider, already present in dealerships. The example at the show is a 2.2 JTS model, resplendent in Kyalami black paintwork with black leather. The successor to a proud tradition of Alfa Romeo convertibles, the Spider has attracted much favourable comment throughout its time on display, and is set to continue the devoted following that its predecessors have long enjoyed here. As striking as it is, however, the Spider is playing second fiddle to the true star of the stand.
 

This is the production version of the 8C Competizione, air-freighted in from the Paris Show just a day before the show opened. Mounted on an angled plinth which unfortunately somewhat detracts from onlookers’ ability to take in the stunning design as a whole, the 8C has nevertheless proven one of the true stars of the show, garnering a similar reaction to the concept which appeared at this show two years ago. Speaking on the sidelines of the show, Press Officer Edward Rowe confirmed that, despite its left-hand drive only status, half-a-dozen or so serious enquiries had been made about the 8C from Australian collectors, with pricing expected to be around A$300,000.

Elsewhere on the stand, the venerable 166 has had a final upgrade. With right-hand drive production having ceased, the final batch of 166s have been upgraded to Ti specification, for the same recommended retail price as before of A$84,950. Just fifteen examples remain in the dealer network, and in addition to the now-superseded 166’s equipment levels, add unique Ti 18-inch alloy wheels, black leather sports seats, satellite navigation system with colour screen, sunroof, rear parking sensors, and Xenon headlamps.  The mechanical package remains the same as before, with the 220bhp 3.0 V6 hooked up to the five-speed Sportronic automatic gearbox. The example displayed features marostica grey paintwork, with black leather. It is not the only ‘Arese’ V6-engined Alfa at the show; alongside it is an example of the stylish GT Coupe in a combination of stromboli grey/red leather, equipped with the flagship 240bhp 3.2 V6. Finally, the range is rounded out by an example of the 147, a five-door 2.0 Selespeed in novona grey/black leather, and a Brera 3.2 Q4, displayed (as at the Melbourne Motor Show earlier in the year) in a combination of blue misano/blue leather.

by Shant Fabricatorian