The 169 will be the first rear-wheel drive Alfa in nearly two decades. Based on the Quattroporte platform, the 169 will feature a longitudinal engine, RWD and a transaxle gearbox that will help the weight-distribution. This will make from the 169 a very good alternative to Mercedes, BMW and Lexus luxury sedans.

The 169 will be designed at Alfa Romeo Styling Center. Comparing to the Quattroporte which has a length of 5.052 mm, the Alfa 169 will be shorter having the following dimensions: length - 4.950 mm, width - 1.900 mm and height - 1.400 mm.

The engine range will consist of V6 and V8 units, which will drive the rear wheels through transaxle gearboxes. The engines will be: 2.8 liter V6 engine delivering 250 hp, 3.2 liter V6 engine delivering 285 hp. 3.6 liter V6 engine with an output of 320 hp, 4.3 liter V8 engine with an output of 400 hp at 6300 rpm and 368 lbs-ft and a 3.0 V6 diesel engine with an output of 275 hp and 457 lbs-ft. The top speed will start at 155 mph for the 2.8 liter V6 engine and will go up to 175 mph for the 4.3 V8 engine. The 0 to 60 mph sprint will be made in 6.1 seconds for the 2.8 liter V6 engine and going up to 5.2 seconds for the V8 engine.

Later two more powerful engines will be added: a 4.0 liter V8 diesel engine with an output of 380 hp and 590 lbs-ft and the GTA 5.0 liter V8 with an output of 530 hp at 7000 rpm and 442 lbs-ft.

Designed by the Alfa Romeo Styling Centre, the 169 will have number of distinctive features that will highlight its strong personality and make it immediately recognizable, in the best Alfa tradition. Starting from the front, which will be strong and essential, like all the models from the Alfa Romeo family and also the line of the entire 169 will give the impression of an aggressive car with elegant forms.

We also believe that the 169 will be a Maserati Quattroporte featuring elements of design from the 8C Competizione. The 169 will have the same rear lights as the 8C Competizione.

When will go on sale the 169 will have a prince on the range of $60.000 - $65000.

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History



1972-1984 Alfa Romeo Alfetta

The Alfa Romeo Alfetta was an executive saloon car and fastback coupé produced from 1972 until 1984 by Alfa Romeo. It was popular due to its combination of a modest design with powerful engines, selling over 400,000 units until the end of its production run.

The Alfetta 1800 cc is a saloon with an unconventional mechanical set-up recreating the concepts used on the 159. The cars new features include new suspension and balanced weight distribution, ensuring excellent roadholding and comfort. The car mounts front independent transverse link suspension, with De Dion type suspension at the rear, as on the 159, giving the wheels more grip, something which is also helped by the arrangement of clutch, gearbox, differential and brakes into a single rear assembly (already used on the 8C 2900 and on the 159) incorporated into the bodyshell of the car, leaving only the engine at the front.

The Alfetta was the base for the GTV, a fastback coupé version of the saloon, introduced in 1974 as Alfetta GT, initially available only with the 1.8 litre (1779cc) version of the Alfa DOHC four. For 1976, with the final phasing out of the earlier 105 Series 1.3 and 1.6 litre coupes (GT 1300 Junior and GT 1600 Junior) and the 2.0 litre 105 series 2000 GTV, the Alfetta GT became a range, also available with the 1.6 litre (1570cc) and 2.0 litre (1962cc) versions of the same engine as the Alfetta GT 1.6, Alfetta GT 1.8 and Alfetta GTV 2000. The GTV designation was initially reserved for the 2.0 litre top version.

In 1979, some minor revisions, including a revised engine with new camshaft profiles and a change to mechanical-and-vacuum ignition advance, saw the 2.0 litre redesignated the Alfetta GTV 2000L. In 1981, the GTV received a restyling, with grey plastic bumpers and all matt-black trim replacing bright stainless steel, the 1.6 litre and 1.8 litre versions were discontinued and the Alfetta 2000 GTV became the base coupé model as the Alfa GTV 2.0. The Alfetta name was dropped, but the two-litre coupé retained its type designation of 11636 for left hand drive and 11637 for right hand drive.

1988-1997 Alfa Romeo 164

The 614 was first unveiled at 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show and it is considered to be the first of the 'New Generation' of Alfa Romeos. It was the last model to be developed while the marque was still independent (although it was launched a few months after the purchase of the company by Fiat), and was most notably the first large front-wheel drive Alfa.

The Alfa Romeo 164 was designed by Sergio Pininfarina in 1987. The design features elements from the Ferrari models and also is the logical extension and successor of the Alfetta sedan, particularly the late-model 'Long Nose, Square Light'.

The 164 was the first Alfa to feature extensive use of computer aided design for calculating structural stresses, resulting in a very rigid but still relatively lightweight body. The 164 was based on the Type Four chassis shared with Lancia Thema, Fiat Croma and Saab 9000.

The base engine on the 164 was the 2.0 L Twin Spark I4 engine with two spark plugs per cylinder. After it was used a 2.0 L 8-valve engine, derived from the Lancia Delta Integrale. The top-line engine was the 3.0 L Alfa V6.

Alfa Romeo 166

The Alfa Romeo 166 is an executive car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo since 1998. The 166 was the replacement for the Alfa Romeo 164, and though the 164 had had styling that was far from orthodox, the odd-looking 166 with its drooping headlamps and pointed nose still raised many eyebrows. The styling was very much in keeping with Alfa's corporate style of the time, which had begun with the smaller 156 model. The car was available with a 2 litre Twin Spark engine as well as 2.5 and 3.0 V6 units.

In the best tradition of Alfa Romeo, the Alfa 166 remains at the forefront of automobile engineering, offering driving pleasure that lives up to the highest expectations. The Alfa 166 offers four different petrol engines, plus the powerful new second generation Common Rail diesel: the 175 bhp 2.4 JTD M-Jet 20V. The Alfa 166 and the powerful new second generation Common Rail diesel: the 2.4 JTD M-Jet 20V, delivering 175 BHP at 4000 rpm. With generous torque, 385 Nm at 2000 rpm (in the manual transmission version), a newly calibrated turbocharger, and with the direct injection pressure increased from 1350 to 1400 bar, the new engine with 5 in-line cylinders is notable for its reduced fuel consumption, low emissions and remarkable quietness when warming up and cruising.

The Alfa 166 exudes elegance and character. It is a pleasure to look at, but above all a pleasure to drive. Luxurious interior comfort is matched by a structure that conveys tremendous safety, allowing the driver to concentrate on the car’s power and its control of the road.

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Competitors



2009 Porsche Panamera

The Panamera will be a "sport-coupe in the premium class with four seats and four doors". It will show up at the Frankfurt auto show as a concept car. The production vehicle is expected for the 2009 calendar year.

It is rumored that Porsche will use the new Panamera platform to build another new model, a GT Coupe replacing the ‘90s 944/928 models. The Panamera will be built at the Leipzig factory alongside the Cayenne, and sources are estimating an annual production of nearly 20,000 units. The sleek rear-wheel-drive four-seater will be powered by Porsche’s 4.5-liter V-8 - either the 340-horsepower version, or the optional 450-horsepower turbocharged engine. A hot 500-horsepower version may eventually follow. The new chassis may be shared with Volkswagen in an arrangement similar to the one that spawned the Cayenne.

Wearing the D1 Project Code-name the new four-door coupe will feature a tall roof for easy entry and exit, and enough luggage room in the rear for a vacation. The Panamera is anticipated to carry a price tag ranging between $125,000 and $175,000.

2007 Mercedes CLS-Class

The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class will kick off model year 2007 with three newly developed engines, even better safety and a more extensive range of standard equipment. The four-door Coupe is powered by the world’s first petrol engine featuring piezoelectric direct injection and spray-guided combustion. The 215 kW/ 292 hp six-cylinder engine of the CLS 350 CGI consumes about ten percent less fuel than a comparable V6 petrol engine with port injection.

The CLS 500 will be equipped with the new V8 engine from the S-Class, whose output of 285 kW/388 hp is about 26 percent higher than that of the previous eight-cylinder engine. Another new development is the CLS 63 AMG, whose V8 naturally aspirated engine generates 378 kW/ 514 hp. Mercedes-Benz is enhancing the vehicle’s standard range of safety features by adding the PRE-SAFE anticipatory occupant protection system and flashing brake lights.

The range of engines for the CLS-Class now includes two eight-cylinder engines with high output and torque. The CLS 500 will be equipped with the 285 kW/388 hp V8 engine from the S-Class, whose output surpasses that of the previous eight-cylinder unit by about 26 percent. At 530 Nm the engine’s maximum torque also exceeds that of its predecessor by around 15 percent. The new CLS 500 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5,4 seconds, 0.7 seconds faster than the previous model.

All of the CLS engines will be combined with the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission, which comes as standard equipment. What’s more, manual gear switching will be improved as a result of optional new gearshift paddles conveniently located on the steering wheel.