| These spy photos of Alfa's
156 replacement, to be called the 158, show a disguised prototype undergoing
endurance testing at the Nurburgring race track in Germany recently. Dimensionally
larger than the current car, with deeper, more prominent bumpers, the 158
will be targeted for Alfa Romeo's US re-launch. Immediately obvious is
that the Guigaro-styled new car draws on the current car for its overall
shape, while the front end follows the "family" pattern with a large heart-style
grille while other features of the 156 such as the concealed entry handles
for the rear side doors are retained.
Based on the brand-new "Premium"
platform, developed with GM & Saab, the 158 will offer two and four
wheel drive options. The suspension will be double wishbone at the front
with a highly revised multi-link set-up at the rear. The 158 will use the
new family of all-alloy V6 engines being developed by GM at present.
The Premium platform based
Alfa 158 will be offered in both front and four wheel drive:
- FWD: 1.8 JTS 150cv, 1.9
m-jet JTD 140cv, 1.9 m-jet JTD 160cv, 2.0 JTS 170cv, 2.2 JTS 190cv, 2.4
m-jet JTD 200cv ( transverse engine mounting )
- 4WD: 2.0 JTS 170cv, 2.2
JTS 190cv , 2.8 V6 JTS 230cv, 3.2 V6 JTS 260cv, Quadrifoglio 2.2 JTS Uniair
310cv & 400Nm, GTA ( Europe & Japan ) 3.2 V6 JTS twin-turbo 300cv,
GTA ( USA ) 4.2 V8 JTS Uniair 430cv, 1.9 m-jet JTD 140cv, 2.4 m-jet JTD
200cv, 3.2 V6 m-jet JTD 250cv |
