The Alfa Romeo 159 may be one of the most beautiful sedans on the market, but that hasn't been enough to make the model a sales success. As we learned after driving the new MiTo, Alfa isn't satisfied any longer to glide by on its name and looks alone, and so has started work on the replacement for the 159 even though the current model was only introduced in 2005.The main reason attributed to the 159's poor market performance has been its dynamic performance, inhibited by an overweight chassis designed by Saab during Fiat's partnership with GM. Its successor is tipped to be based on the same platform as the upcoming 149, however, which still means front-wheel-drive. With the numeric designation running out of room to grow, the 159 replacement is widely reported to revive the classic Giulia nameplate, with styling cues borrowed from the curvaceous 8C instead of the angular Brera. Sources suggest that the new sedan, anticipated for debut in 2010, is being developed specifically with the American market in mind.
Alfa Romeo's marketing people have been bouncing around the idea of ditching the current three-digit numbering system and proceeding with a nameplate nomenclature. The shift – already in place on some models and not on others – could increase the appeal of certain models even more, while helping them avoid a crossroads that will inevitably come up when models like the 159 need to be replaced.
Italian magazine Quattroruote has come up with a composite image of what it thinks that vehicle could look like. Unfortunately the results are rather cumbersome, essentially Photoshopping the nose from the MiTo onto the existing 159 body. The rear-end rendering is not much better, but intriguingly appears to carry a New York State license plate. While the existing 159 remains one of the most striking mid-size sedans on the market, we hope its successor – speculatively reviving the Giulia nameplate of old – will look a heck of a lot better than this.
Alfa Romeo has been turning out some impossibly beautiful cars. Unfortunately, most of the line-up is lacking the grunt to back up its killer looks, with the 8C Competizione floating beyond reproach atop the range and a huge gap down to the standard production models. Alfa is apparently looking to bridge that gap, however, with the 159 GTA.
In the video after the jump, you'll see footage of a 159 decked out with enormous AMG Black Series-style vents and four squat tailpipes from which you can clearly hear a monstrous engine resonate. The test mule, spotted near the Nurburgring in Germany, looks like a further development of the one spied last summer. Although curiously, rather than wearing camouflage, it's all decked out in big Alfa Romeo decals as if to scream "look at me" in true Italian supercar fashion. Initial reports suggested the GTA could get a slightly detuned version of the V8 found in the Ferrari F430, although either the 4.2-liter V8 from the Maserati GranTurismo and Quattroporte or the 4.7-liter unit from the 8C and GranTurismo S (both of which were also developed by Ferrari) would probably be the safer bet. Either way, the Italians are putting the likes of the Audi RS4, BMW M3, Lexus IS-F and Mercedes C63 AMG on notice, while the prospect of similar power for the Brera and Spider hangs in the balance.
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If you haven't seen an Alfa Romeo 159 rolling down the boulevard at night, you haven't seen how good a four-door sport sedan (or five-door sportwagon) can look. Fortunately, Alfa wants to keep its volume model on the sales track to success, and is launching a slightly revised version at next week's show in Geneva.
The updates largely mirror those of its equally gorgeous stablemates, the Brera and Spider, details of which we brought you earlier. That means an interior with revised ergonomics featuring more supportive seats, and a new sat-nav screen and climate control. By fitting lighter wheels, brake calipers and suspension components made from aluminum, Alfa has also cut about 100 unsprung pounds off the curb weight, which should improve driving dynamics. But in case it hasn't enough, Alfa is also offering its Q2 advanced traction/stability control system, in addition to the available Q4 all-wheel-drive system, mated to a range of smooth-running gasoline and diesel engines producing 140-260 and 120-210 horsepower, respectively. With the new improvements, a 159 would make a perfect daily driver to accompany an 8C Spider for the weekends.
