Alfa Romeo Models in 1990s (Road cars)

2000-2010    147

The Alfa Romeo 147 (Type 937) is a small family car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo from 2000 to 2010. The 147 was voted European Car of the Year in 2001.

The 147 was launched at the Turin Motor Show in June 2000 as a replacement for the Alfa Romeo 145 and 146 hatchbacks, and is based on the running gear of the larger 156 saloon. It was sold with 1.6, 2.0, and 3.2 litre petrol engines, and a 1.9 litre diesel engine. A sequential, paddle operated 'Selespeed' transmission was available from launch.

Two trim levels were available, Turismo and Lusso. The 147 was the first Alfa Romeo to have dual zone climate control and electronic traction control. The model was in production for ten years, making it one of the oldest small family cars on sale in Europe at the time of its replacement by the Alfa Romeo Giulietta in the end of May 2010. In total, around 580,000 cars were made.

2007-2009    8C Competizione

The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is a sports car produced by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo between 2007 and 2010. It was first presented as a concept car at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show and later released for sale for the 2007 model year. The name refers to the eight-cylinder (cilindro in Italian) engine (8C) and Alfa Romeo's racing pedigree (Competizione, Italian for 'competition'). Alfa received over 1400 orders for the 8C after the official announcement that the car would enter production. However, only 500 customers ended up with the 8C Competizione and another 500 with the 8C Spider.

2008-2010    8C Spider

The production version was unveiled at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. Production of the 8C Spider began in 2009, in Modena, with Maserati in charge of building the cars. As previously announced, 500 cars were built, each priced at €199,000 (£174,000) excluding taxes. 35 of 500 Spiders went to the United States. In the United States the 8C Spider started at a price of $299,000. In the October 2011 issue of Evo (magazine) the 8C Spider won the title of the 'Best Sounding Car'.

Alfa Romeo claims that the 8C Spider's top speed is 290 kilometres per hour (180 mph), which makes it slightly slower than the coupé version. The brakes on the Spider are Brembo carbon-ceramic units. The Spider has a two-layer electrically operated fabric roof. The windshield frame is made of carbon fibre to try to maintain a 50/50 weight distribution.

2003-2010    GT

The GT was based on Alfa Romeo 156 platform (also used for the 147) with styling by Bertone. The bodywork is in a classic coupé style, but uses a hatchback 3-door style rather than the 2-door style of the earlier GTV and some rivals such as the BMW 3 Series Coupé. Combined with a full rear bench giving 5 seats (rather than a 2+2 layout) the GT was advertised as being a practical sports car. Most mechanicals were taken directly from the 156/147 using the same double wishbone front suspension and MacPherson rear setup. The interior is derived form the smaller hatchback 147 and shares many common parts. The GT shares the same dash layout and functions, the climate control system as well as having a similar electrical system. Some exterior parts are taken from 147 with same bonnet, wing mirrors and front wings (from 147 GTA). The engine range included both a 1.8 TS, and 2.0 JTS petrol engine, a 1.9 MultiJet turbodiesel, and a top-of-the-range 3.2 V6 petrol. Luggage capacity is 320 l and could be enlarged to 905 l.

The GT was positioned as a sports car in Alfa Romeo's range, along with the Brera (which was based on the newer mid-size Alfa 159 sedan/saloon car).

In 2006 Alfa introduced a 1.9 JTD Q2 version with limited slip differential, and also added a new trim level called Black Line.

In 2008 Alfa introduced the cloverleaf model as a limited edition complete with new trim levels, lowered suspension, body kit, 18 inch alloy wheels and was only available in the colours black, alfa red, or blue. with engines 1.8 L and 2.0 L petrol, as well as 1.9 L Multijet turbo diesel.

2005-2010    Brera

The Alfa Romeo Spider (Type 939) and the Alfa Romeo Brera are two sports cars manufactured by Alfa Romeo respectively between 2005-2010 and 2006-2010. The Brera is a 2+2 coupé, while the Spider is its roadster version. Both models were built by Pininfarina.

12,488 units of the Spider, including 550 units of the Spider (210) version and 21,786 units of the Brera were built. Production of both models ended in late 2010, although remaining stock continued into 2011.

The Alfa Romeo Brera was introduced in production form at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. It translated the original's exterior appearance on a much smaller scale, becoming a mid-size coupé on the GM/Fiat Premium platform (shared with the Alfa Romeo 159), and designed to replace the outgoing GTV. A convertible Spider version of the Brera was also announced, to be launched shortly after the coupe and to replace the existing GTV-based Spider.

In Europe, the Brera was initially available with two petrol engines, the 185 PS (136 kW; 182 hp) 2.2-litre JTS and 260 PS (190 kW; 260 hp) 3.2-litre V6; and a 200 PS (150 kW; 200 hp) 2.4-litre JTD turbodiesel. Cars with the diesel or 2.2 petrol were front-wheel drive, whilst the V6 came with a Torsen four-wheel drive system similar to the 159's Q4.

At the 2008 Geneva Motor Show Alfa Romeo introduced updated "Model year 2008" Brera and Spider. The 3.2 litre V6 version became available in front wheel drive form, allowing for a top speed of 250 kilometres per hour (160 mph); all model variants adopted the e-Q2 electronic limited slip differential; and finally more aluminium parts gave a weight reduction of several kilos In 2008 - 2009, Alfa and Pininfarina developed the 2.4 jtdm 210 bhp diesel model with a considerable speed boost and improved roadholding. After 2 years the project was halted, with only 550 models ever produced this model became the most sought after of the range despite being a diesel version.

The following year, again at Geneva Motor Show, an all-new turbocharged petrol engine badged as 1750 TBi (Turbo Benzina iniezione) was added to the lineup. This 1742 cc unit featured direct injection and variable valve timing on both inlet and exhaust cams, and developed 200 PS (147 kW; 197 hp) and 320 N⋅m (240 lb⋅ft) of torque

2005-2011    159

The Alfa Romeo 159 (Type 939) is a compact executive car produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo between 2004 and 2011. It was introduced at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show, as a replacement for the 156. The 159 used the GM/Fiat Premium platform, shared with the Alfa Romeo Brera and Spider production cars, and with the Kamal and Visconti concept cars.

The 159 placed third in the 2006 European Car of the Year awards. Production of the 159 ended in October 2011, although it is still marketed in several countries. Around 240,000 cars were built.

The 159 was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro in collaboration with the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo. The nose features a traditional Alfa Romeo V shaped grille and bonnet, and cylindrical head light clusters. Similar to its coupé counterpart, the front of the car was influenced by 2002 Brera Concept also by Giugiaro.

A high waistline broadens until it reaches the rear "C" pillar. Several exterior design cues were intended to make the car appear larger, supposedly to appeal to potential buyers in the United States; however, the 159 was never exported to that region.

The interior also features styling treatments familiar from earlier cars, including the 156, such as deeply recessed instruments which are angled towards the driver. Alfa Romeo intended for the 159 to compete more directly with BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi by using higher quality interior materials; however, it has been said that Alfa Romeo misjudged their brand's positioning relative to the more well-known German luxury automakers.

2006-2010    Spider

The New Spider version (Type 939) was introduced at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, where it also received the "Cabrio of the Year" award. The Spider is based on the Brera coupe but is a pure 2-seater convertible. At the beginning there were two engine options available: the 2.2 L straight-4 and 3.2 L V6 JTS engines, and the JTD common rail turbodiesel was introduced at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show. This car replaced the Spider 916 model, introduced in 1995. This Spider version can be seen as the 6th generation of Alfa Spiders, the first version of which was released in 1966. Production ceased in November 2010.