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The Alfa 159 will return to Frankfurt
next week with a number of novelties in terms of its
specifications and equipment. The saloon on display is the
TI (Turismo Internazionale) sports version, equipped with
the powerful 210 bhp 2.4 JTDM engine and the Q4 system. It
also features the sophisticated Blue&Me Nav system, which
offers a number of telematic services that are activated by
dedicated keys, making it possible to make emergency calls
and to ask for information, but also to stipulate insurance
policies at advantageous conditions. An Alfa 159 Sportwagon
will also be on the catwalk in Frankfurt, equipped with the
brilliant 2.4 JTDM engine and the 6-speed ‘Q-Tronic’
transmission. A description of the two cars follows.
The 200 bhp 159
Sportwagon 2.4 JTDM with the Q-Tronic transmission
The Frankfurt stand will include an Alfa
159 Sportwagon with Light blue paintwork and 18” alloys with
special hub trims from the Unique Alfa Vintage range. Inside
there are several items from the Collezione range; the facia
and panels are upholstered in beige leather, while the seats
are covered with luxurious beige ‘pieno fiore’ Frau leather.
The car on show is powered by the
powerful 200 bhp 2.4 JTDM 20v engine combined with the
Q-Tronic transmission, delivering peak torque of 400 Nm at
2000 rpm. The torque delivery reaches its peak at very low
engine speeds, and highlights the immediate, prompt response
to the accelerator pedal. With this equipment, the
Sportwagon reaches a top speed of 222 km/h and accelerates
from 0 to 100 km/h in just 8.6 seconds.
The 6-speed Q-Tronic transmission can
operate in automatic or sequential mode, exploiting the
potential of the 200 bhp 2.4 JTDM engine in full. The
‘Q-Tronic’ control lets you drive the car automatically,
with only a few simple moves of the gearshift, and all the
functions of an automatic transmission (park, reverse,
neutral and drive), or in sequential mode.
The name ‘Q-Tronic’ is the result of the
combination of the letter ‘Q’ and the term ‘Tronic’. The ‘Q’
revives the root adopted for the ‘Q4’ technology of the
four-wheel drive developed by Alfa Romeo, confirming the
research undertaken by the brand into technologies and
devices at the service of racing performance, driving
comfort and active safety. The term ‘Tronic’, on the other
hand, explains that the system incorporates an electronic
control unit that governs gear changes optimally and
intelligently. This is how it works: the automatic
transmission ensures the best exploitation of engine
performance and excellent comfort, particularly in town. The
‘Q-Tronic’ combines these advantages with easy gear changes,
with fewer impulses perceived by the driver. What is more,
drivers who do not wish to forgo the entertainment of a
sporty driving style can use the innovative system
sequentially, like a transmission with fixed ratios in a
sequence: moving the gearshift forward (towards the ‘+’)
changes up to a higher speed, while an impulse in the other
direction (towards the ‘-’) changes down to a lower speed.
The ‘Q-Tronic’ gearbox, which is
exclusive to the 200 bhp 2.4 JTDM version, also offers two
operating modes, ‘Sport’ and ‘Winter’. When the car is
started and with the gearshift in Drive, the ‘Comfort’ mode
is activated, which guarantees smooth gear changes and
balanced consumption because speeds are engaged at a
relatively low engine speed. Pressing the button next to the
shift changes to ‘Sport’ mode, which emphasises performance
and guarantees a brilliant, entertaining drive, with gear
changes set at the higher engine speeds, to bring out the
car’s sporty attitude. And finally, holding the button down
engages ‘Winter’ mode, which maintains maximum grip even if
the road surface is particularly insidious, for example on
snow-covered roads.
Alfa 159 TI 2.4 JTDM Q4
This saloon stands out for a number of features peculiar
to the TI specification. Starting from the low stance,
the sideskirts and the dark 19” alloys. The sportiness
of the instrumentation merges with elegance in the
refined interior, with black stitching on the leather
upholstery of the seats, steering wheel and gear lever
gaiter. The equipment of this particular car includes
‘8C Red’ bodywork and the Blue&Me Nav system.
TI (Turismo
Internazionale)
TI for Turismo Internazionale, the name that Alfa Romeo
once gave only to the most lavishly equipped of its
cars. They were derived from standard models but
stylistic touches and mechanical changes turned them
into thoroughbred sports cars for everyday driving. And
today those two letters, so simple but so glorious,
reappear on cars in the Alfa 159 family (saloon and
Sportwagon). Underlining that the Alfa Romeo brand means
the quality and guarantee of work performed right in the
plant for this particular sporty characterisation.
Destined to a young, sporty public, the cars with the TI
logo promise more entertaining driving, better handling
and more powerful braking. In a word, the dynamic
behaviour of a car that brings the sensations of the
racing circuit to our everyday roads. Models for people
who want the maximum in terms of sportiness. And they
want other people to know about it, albeit without
ostentation. As a result, the exterior lines of the cars
are not radically altered, and any intervention is
limited to a few small touches. This is why the cars are
still immediately recognisable from outside, but appear
more assertive, literally ‘glued’ to the road, thanks in
part to their low stance, larger tyres, 19” alloy
wheels, sideskirts and larger brakes with red callipers.
Inside, the TI ambience is expressed in the sporty shape
of the leather covered seats, the new steering wheel
with its sports grip, the gear lever knob covered with
perforated leather, and the dark upholstery of the
ceiling and pillars. The same sporty look is evident in
the instrument graphics, the pedals and the heel-high
strip with the TI logo. And finally, the burnished
aluminium trims and satin-effect housing of the wing
mirrors (optional) that characterise this particular
version, which also offers a superb array of standard
equipment, including a climate system with dual-zone
temperature and air distribution control, foglights and
the VDC system. These are cars that give great
sensations and authentic driving pleasure in everyday
use, that interpret brand values one hundred percent and
that are ambassadors of the ‘sportiness’ that makes them
famous all over the world. In a word, the new TI
specification is the perfect answer for customers who
wish to enter the world of Alfa Romeo sports.
The ‘Alfa Q4’ system
The Alfa 159 also adopts an evolved version of the
permanent 4x4 system with three differentials (with a
Torsen C self-locking unit at the centre). The heart of
this design is the ‘Alfa Romeo Q4 four-wheel drive’
system, which splits torque constantly and dynamically
between the four wheels, reaching the highest levels of
active safety and sportiness. The Torsen C self-locking
differential sends drive torque 57% to the rear wheels
and 43% to the front. The system also guarantees
excellent traction in all grip conditions by
automatically checking any slipping. The torque split
between the front and rear axles is modulated constantly
by the Torsen C central differential on the basis of
grip. This feature harnesses sportiness to enhance
active safety. Modulation is mechanical, continuous and
gradual, to enhance the perception of optimal,
enjoyable, easy driving.
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An Alfa 159 Sportwagon will be on
the catwalk in Frankfurt, equipped with the
brilliant 2.4 JTDM engine and the 6-speed ‘Q-Tronic’
transmission. |
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The Alfa 159
will return to Frankfurt next week in 2.4 JTDM
saloon and Sportwagon format with a number of
novelties in terms of its specifications and
equipment, including Q4, Q-Tronic and TI. |
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There are no gaps in the torque delivery. Where grip is
concerned, the behaviour adapts gradually and smoothly to
changing road conditions. This ‘mechanical’ control is
backed up by electronic stability control, which boosts
performance and safety margins, in line with the Alfa Romeo
philosophy.
The car is the state of the art in technical terms and
offers important advantages:
• Q4 permanent four-wheel drive with a Torsen C self-locking
differential makes for better roadholding, entertaining
driving and smooth responses. Other technological archetypes
with electronically controlled joints do not achieve the
optimal balance between understeer and oversteer or the
smoothness that are innate in the Alfa 159, and translate
into superb active safety.
• The torque split in favour of the rear axle makes driving
even more entertaining, because the car is even easier to
handle, without detracting in any way from stability during
sudden lane changes on the motorway, or other emergency
manoeuvres.
• The possibility of travelling safely when grip is poor
without having to use electronics to split torque, enhancing
the enjoyment of driving.
We could say that the Alfa 159 Sportwagon Q4 interprets
four-wheel drive from the Alfa Romeo point of view: it is
basically a ‘mechanical’ system enhanced by cutting-edge
electronic technology to guarantee maximum comfort and
entertainment, combined with superb performance and absolute
safety.
The Blue&MeTM Nav system
The Alfa 159 is available with the brand-new Blue&Me Nav
system, the latest evolution of the Blue&Me system which is
proving to be a huge commercial success just one year after
its launch: in fact it is requested by 20% of purchasers of
all Fiat Group Automobiles models. Today, Blue&Me takes
another step forward, with the new Blue&Me Nav version. In
addition to the version marketed until now (hands-free with
Bluetooth® interface and advanced voice recognition, USB
port, MP3 player and SMS text interpreter), the new Alfa
Romeo model will offer a new version that incorporates the
convenience of a navigator at an extremely competitive
price. Blue&Me Nav is already wired to enable a range of
telematic services developed in partnership with Telecom
Italia, such as:
• SOS calls: in an emergency the driver only has to press
the SOS button and a call and text message will be sent to
the control centre giving the car’s position. This service
is also activated automatically when an airbag inflates. The
vehicle is located rapidly so that roadside and medical
assistance can be sent. The SOS button is also used in the
event of a sudden indisposition or danger. These services
are free of charge during the warranty period.
• INFO: information at the motorist’s service. Wherever he
goes, the driver can receive updates about events, films,
museums, road conditions, trains, restaurants, bars and
plenty more. He only has to press the INFO button to speak
to an operator who will answer his every query. INFO
services are ‘pay-as-you-use’.
• Insurance services: thanks to the satellite location
system and agreements with the major insurance companies, it
will be possible to obtain discounts of up to 20% on Third
Party insurance and of up to 50% on Theft and Fire
insurance. If the car should be stolen, the tracking device
will trace it. It will also be possible to establish how
many kilometres the car travels and, on the basis of this,
to draft specific insurance policies, which are more
advantageous because they are based on the customer’s habits
and real needs.
Blue&Me Nav offers a simple, intuitive pictogram navigation
system that features an innovative method of introducing the
destination using voice controls. The destination is located
in real time: the map of the country is memorised on the USB
pen drive, and this makes access to the data faster and
quieter than when a CD is used. And with Blue&Me Nav, all
the functions are built-in, and the telephone, music and
navigation information is available on the instrument panel.
What is more, as he navigates, the driver can listen to his
favourite music, which he has memorised, together with the
map, on the same USB pen drive or media player, or make a
hands-free telephone call.
All the strong points of the
system
Blue&Me was developed in 3 years by Fiat Group Automobiles
and Microsoft. The partnership was ratified in July 2004,
with the long-term goal of designing innovative telematic
systems for cars, and it has created a product that has
established itself on the market, exploiting a perfectly
integrated technology that is in complete harmony with the
user, as its name suggests. Based on the Windows Mobile for
Automotive system, this device features an open system that
is always in step with the times, updateable, flexible and
modular. With the help of Magneti Marelli, Fiat Group
Automobiles and Microsoft offer a platform that adapts to
most cell phones, music players and other personal devices,
replacing current expensive, rigid hardware, with the great
benefit of being able to constantly adapt to innovations on
the market, remaining perfectly integrated into the car. All
at an accessible price.
Blue&Me is extremely safe and easy to use. The voice control
system, which is perfectly integrated into the controls on
the steering wheel and the information on the instrument
panel, allows a customer with a Bluetooth® cell phone to use
it even if the phone is in a jacket or bag, without taking
his hands off the wheel. And the advanced voice recognition
system allows immediate interaction, because the voice does
not have to be ‘learned’, and even allows incoming text
messages to be interpreted aloud. Occupants can listen to
hours and hours of digital music in MP3, WMA and WAV format
recorded on an iPod, a cell phone, an MP3 player or a USB
pen drive, by connecting the digital device to the USB port.
The customer who purchases the Blue&Me Nav system will
receive a navigation kit comprising a USB pen drive with the
memorised map, and a back-up CD that can be used to transfer
the map onto a personal MP3 player or iPod. The Nav key
connects directly to the navigation menu, which can also be
accessed via the controls on the steering wheel, or vocally.
The USB key is inserted to start navigating, and the driver
uses the keys on the steering wheel to choose his
destination by selecting the initial letters of the address;
he can even complete it vocally. Like all other information,
the navigation details can be displayed on the control
panel: destination address, pictograms of the directions to
follow, information on arrival and the usual vocal
suggestions of what manoeuvres to make, reproduced through
the speakers. Unlike other navigators, on which it is not
possible to navigate and listen to music CDs at the same
time without a CD changer, with Blue&Me Nav the driver can
navigate while he listens to the music saved in his media
player.
The navigation program can be used on a personal computer
together with the back-up CD, to save the maps of a number
of countries, purchased separately, on the USB pen drive.
Then the driver can select a whole country (for example
Italy, France, Germany, etc.), or part of a country (for
example northern/central/southern Italy), or even a region
that groups together maps of different countries (for
example northern Italy and Switzerland, Austria and southern
Germany).
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