Alfa Romeo has released the all-new 159, the latest design from the Centro Stile at Arese in Milan, built on a brand new platform; a new platform that is designed with high strength steels and fabricated from a number of box sections welded together to give high levels of torsional rigidity. It is this rigidity that enables the suspension to strut its stuff and the torque from the new power-plants to be applied to the wheels so efficiently. Alfa Romeo has had a history of producing great looking, good to drive cars with high revving engines, but in a climate of safety conscious consumers this car is being billed as a design built around a solid structure. This allows the new 159 to achieve the now obligatory 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

That's the safety box ticked; if you are transporting your family around in the Alfa 159, it needs to be. But, is this a car you can get excited about? Is it a car that you can look forward to getting up early to take the long way to work? Is it a car that makes you take that sneaky peak at it in the car park? The answer to all that should be yes. The sculpted bonnet lines lead in to a front shield that is definitively Alfa. Running from the bottom of the air dam to the edge of the bonnet, it brings together the perfectly proportioned light clusters in a way only the Italians can.

It certainly looks the business both inside and out, but is the Alfa Romeo 159 all show and no go? Well the new range of engines should prove to dispel that theory. There are three petrol and two diesel units at launch. The petrol engines come with variable valve timing on both the intake and the exhaust cams, as well as Alfa’s 'Jet Thrust Stoichiometric' technology. This direct injection technology allows cleaner, more efficient combustion and results in 90% of torque being available from just 2000rpm. What this really means is that your conscience is clear as you hammer the engine down your favourite B-roads. The multi-jet oil burners have variable vane turbochargers that should give a torque curve so flat you could hang a shelf by it and particulate filters to keep the environmentalists happy.

In this ultra competitive sector the Alfa needs to do more than look good. It seems to have gone some way to address the needs of the consumer. If safety and strength is paramount, style is high on your agenda and you like the cut of this Italian cloth then the Alfa Romeo 159 is a suit worth wearing. The Alfa Romeo 159 is on sale now and priced between £19,995 and £28,195 on-the-road in the UK.

Equipment for the UK market is as follows:

Turismo:
- Front and rear electric windows
- Dual-Zone climate control
- Remote central locking with alarm and immobiliser
- Electric heated and folding door mirrors
- Seven airbags, including driver’s knee bag
- Electronic key and start button
- Stereo radio/CD with steering wheel audio controls
- Leather steering wheel and gear knob
- Fog lights
- Cruise control
- ABS with EBD and HBA
- VDC
- 16-inch or 17-inch alloy wheels

Lusso:
In addition to the Turismo specification, Lusso adds:

- Leather interior trim
- Visibility pack (rain and dusk sensors)
- Rear parking sensors
- 17-inch alloy wheels

Petrol engines:

- 3.2-litre JTS V6
- 2.2-litre JTS
- 1.9-litre JTS

Diesel engines:

- 2.4-litre JTDM 20v
- 1.9-litre JTDM 16v

On-the-road prices:

- Alfa Romeo 159 1.9 JTS Turismo £19,995
- Alfa Romeo 159 2.2 JTS Turismo £20,995
- Alfa Romeo 159 2.2 JTS Lusso £22,395
- Alfa Romeo 159 3.2 JTS V6 Q4 Turismo £26,795
- Alfa Romeo 159 3.2 JTS V6 Q4 Lusso £28,195
- Alfa Romeo 159 1.9 JTDM 16v Turismo £20,495
- Alfa Romeo 159 1.9 JTDM 16v Lusso £21,895
- Alfa Romeo 159 2.4 JTDM Turismo £22,995
- Alfa Romeo 159 2.4 JTDM Lusso £24,395

Paul Wilkinson - 23 Mar 2006