ALFA Romeo test drive 159 since 2005 sedan

ALLEARITE

From the gamma of Alfa Romeo, the GTA modification has disappeared the fastest, the most sports, the most clockwork. Can it be replaced by model 159 in the top version? And how did the tuning studio react to the empty niche? These questions were asked by Vadim Nikishev. Photo: George Sadkov.
Alfa Romeo gained sports glory back in the 20s of the last century. Alpha fans are not touched that the Italian car won the last victory in 2004 at the European Body Championship (ETCC). They forgive her a lot: relative unreliability, whims, difficulties of the service all this with more than the opportunity to carefully get the key with the family coat of arms: understanding will appreciate.
What do they love for? For living engines, acute handling, and most importantly for the emotions that she can give to a skilled driver. Yes, she is imperfect. But remember: there is a girl from the cover, and you will not even turn after.
But it happens the other way around: it seems not to the standard of beauty, but the heart is compressed. Alpha is just one of those on which they look.
The abbreviation GTA appeared in 1965 at sports alpha julia. GT is, of course, the Grand Prix of Tourism, and the letter A alleggerita, lightweight. The generation of 156 in 2002 also received the Schildik GTA, and with it the altered exterior, the 250-horsepower atmospheric V6 and the drove. Let it not be super -light, but the fast (and well -controlled) modification led the model range.
But with the change of generations of the hot version, it was gone again. Instead of it, customers are offered the top alpha-159: with a 3.2 liter engine (260 hp) and a branded all-wheel drive transmission Q4.
We decided to use it as a starting point in a comparative test with the other two, who passed through the hands of tuning professionals from the Moscow company Alfa Racing.
Allegro is lively
The car knows how to fire 260 atmospheric horses. True, the motor here is not quite Italian (or not Italian at all; the interpretation depends on the degree of love in the alpha): the V-shaped engine was developed by the Australian division of the GM company Holden, and the Italians were engaged in its finishing. What happened in the end? The first enchanting sound. At low speeds, the release constantly reminds of itself by a dissatisfied baritone: let's add to the gas! I added to the 4th mark on the tachometer Ryk stopped. From the point of view of acoustic comfort, the mode is perhaps optimal. And if you twist the motor before cutting off is not Italian! By nature, he reminded the old in -line six BMWs in the entire range, such a correct, German character of the alpha playful lightness at the top.
The engineers explain the need for an all -wheel drive transmission: with the front -wheel drive to implement more than 200 hp. Even on dry asphalt, not everyone is given, and even on a slippery coating, by the way, it is on slippery that the C4 company drive should be fully revealed. It is cunning: in the standard, the center differential Thorsen distributes the moment between the front and rear wheels in the proportion of 43/57, and when slipping varies it in the range of 22/78 ... 78/22.
The anterior inter -ceiling differential is blocked by 35% during acceleration and 40% when braking with such an arsenal alpha allows you to rush quickly and beautifully on the ice, on the snow ... But we had only the asphalt of the Dmitrov auto policy at our disposal. Under such conditions, the 159th rests slightly at the entrance to the turn, 1080 kg (60% of the equipped mass), which reach the front axis, affect the turn. Having risen on the arc, he holds on to his well done: the pyrell's tenacious 18-inch tires dig on the road, and the inter-axial differential plays the moment that under the thrust of the alpha smoothly shifts out. It reacts to the driving of the steering wheel and discharge of gas, but it is impossible to tease on the asphalt. Even at a speed of a hundred, the car stubbornly clings to the coating, with the addition of gas stabilizes and goes to where the hood arrow is aimed. Reliable, safe, but without the acuteness of GTA.
Acchelerando accelerating
Nevertheless, the standard, albeit 260-horsepower, motor transmission Q4, if not a burden, then not a joy. At least on the asphalt. Yes, it allows you not to catch momentum at start, and in the bend it boldly press on the gas. But this is not a sports philosophy, but rather a representative car. But the same motor with a compressor of the autoDodel is needed all -wheel drive. After all, its declared capacity is 348 hp. at 6200 rpm, and the peak of torque at 4500 rpm is 430 N. M (the difference is 108 N. M with the standard).
Outwardly, the first of two ravens is not much different from a regular machine. Rear anti-wing, overlays on the bumper and thresholds belonging to the body kit, which is available to all owners of the 159th model. Wheels OZ Ultraleggera Crystal Titanium with a dimension of 18 inches do not seem large, and the weight of the disks is pleasantly surprising: only 8 kg each! A wonderful indicator that has a positive effect on the equipped mass. Judge for yourself: a standard machine weighs 1808 kg, and a tuning, burdened with a supercharger, is 3 kg easier! Where did the weight go? There are few options: the lack of a spare and a five -kilogram handicap on each wheels.
In the movement, the charged motor identifies even deaf, and the matter is not at all in the issue (here it is standard). The characteristic sound of a drive supercharger complements the evil hissing so the bypass valve works. The increase in the dynamic characteristics of the weight: the compressor V6 takes the alpha for a mark of 100 km/h for 6.5 s and allows it to overcome the speed barrier of 240 km/h. By the way, the maximum speed of the forced 159th is exactly the same as the depressed 156 GTA, which we tested two years ago (ZR, 2007, No. 1). There, the announced capacity was lower than 320 hp. It is a pity, then we could not compare it with a standard machine, now there is such an opportunity. And you can safely state: the compressor is effective. Confirmation of this additional 13 km/h maximum speed.
But there are questions. Take a look at the measurements of elasticity here the supercharger practically does not give a win. Moreover, in the fifth gear from 60 to 100 km/h, the compressor alpha is inferior to atmospheric.
Why? Apparently, in this case, mechanical losses in the drive eat an increase provided by the compressor. But at high speeds, everything falls into place. In slipping, this alpha is controlled not only by the steering wheel, but also by gas, even on the clip. Only noticeable rolls and the physically tangible severity of the six -cylinder engine are upset by a fan of active style.
Abbelland is decorating
If you do not chase the ceremonial indicators, but focus on the pleasure of driving, then the choice will fall on another modification of the 159th. The basic engine developing 186 hp does not affect the imagination. But he is light. And the power can be raised in the same way to install a drive supercharger.
Autodelta promises 250 hp. A little less than the standard V6.
But mass, mass! With two extra cylinders and the replacement of the wheels, 200 kg disappeared with ultra-light 19-inch OZ. From each axis they removed along the centner and the character of the machine changed from the solid to the gambling. This is no longer a heavy broadsword, but a light rapier. ALALARITE, lightweight!
The compressor is helped by the two rear direct -flow muffler novitec.
In the transmission, naturally, with an initially shorter main pair, a self -locking differential appeared. And the KW Var.2 suspension with an adjustable collection course, although it is tuned to soft mode, significantly reduced the rolls in corners. And the excitement added to controllability: now the machine unequivocally responds to the discharge of gas.
Alfa-156 GTA fans should not be sad. Compared to the predecessor, the 159th has grown up, prettier. We attribute the increased hardness of the body to twist to the pluses. And the fact that the top version was walking the fat should not be embarrassed: it has its own target audience. If you want sports, take the Alpha-159 with a 2.2 liter engine, and invest the remaining money into the professional installation of the compressor. Will the saved on the suspension and the wheels have enough? Easily!



 

Source: The magazine "Driving"