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| On the road Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon and Alfa Spider: the affirmation of Italian style! Just six months after the launch of the saloon two new models join the Alfa line-up, making their world debut at the Geneva Motor Show : the Alfa 159 Sportwagon and Alfa Spider. With their pure lines and aggressive personality, these two vehicles go for sporty, refined looks, each in their own style. Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon Looks-wise, this estate seems almost sportier than the saloon of which it is a direct descendant! Its lines are dynamic, flowing and elegant, its roof elongated and its rear doors distinctive. With a length (4.66 m) identical to that of the saloon, its interior is proclaimed as very comfortable and the volume of its boot greater than the 156 Sportwagon's. Above all, the Alfa 159 comes with the same engines and trims as the saloon. Thus for the diesel range, in order of output we find the 1.9 JTDM with 120 and 150 hp and the famous 2.4 JTDM 5-cylinder engine, delivering 200 hp. The petrol range for its part offers three new JTS engines: 260 hp 3.2 V6 24v, 185 hp 2.2 and 160 hp 1.9. All of these engines work together with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Certain versions will offer automatic transmission and a robotised Selespeed gearbox, also with 6 speeds. The 260 hp version will be equipped with four-wheel drive. Alfa Spider This new model perpetuates the glorious Alfa Romeo tradition embodied by the Giuletta Spider of the 1950s and the Spider Duetto. Its unveiling comes as its brother, the Brera, has just been voted most beautiful car of the year! Like the Brera, the Alfa Spider is an elegant convertible 2-seater coupé equipped with a multi-arm rear axle. Its dimensions are generous: 4.396 m long, 1.830 m wide and 1.367 m tall. Its rear end is one of a kind, with 4 exhaust pipes. The choice of engines presents the very best of the marque, with two direct injection units designed in partnership with General Motors: a 4-cylinder 2.2 JTS with 185 hp and a 3.2 V6 with 260 hp (available only with Q4 four-wheel drive). The same engines are to be found beneath the bonnets of the 159 and the Brera. Like the Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon, the Alfa Spider has remarkable road-holding qualities, thanks to its quadrilateral suspension at the front and multilink suspension at the rear. Fotografie © Alfa Romeo  | |||||||||
