ALFA Romeo test drive 166 2003 - 2007 sedan

Supernova in the constellation "Alpha"

Alfa-Romeo-166 Alfa-Romeo 166
The flagship of the lineup alpha -Romeo - model 166 is first represented this fall. The sedan is equipped with gasoline engines with a working volume of 2.0; 2.5; 3.0 liters and a 2.4-liter diesel engine with the fuel system Common Rail. Gearboxes - mechanical five- and six -speed and four -speed automatic with a manual gearbox of sportswalls.

In the traditions of Alfa Romeo, to observe corporate identity. And not only in the form of an original radiator cladding. Each next alpha seems to grow from his predecessor and at the same time united by stylistic solutions with contemporaries. One hundred and sixty -sixth is an example. It simultaneously resembles both the aged Alfa-164, and the younger in class 156. Although the new large alpha seems less extravagant than the 156th presented a year ago, this can hardly be recorded in a passive. A car of this class is added by some conservatism in appearance - a classic with a sort of flight of sports. The latter is necessarily, after all, alpha romeo.
As for the constructive features and equipment, there is no need to talk about conservatism here. We will start the story, as they say, from under the hood. The car is equipped with five types of engines. The smallest - four -cylinder two -liter gasoline engine Twin Spark - is well known for previous models. The next engine of the same working volume, but already a V-shaped six-cylinder, is equipped with a Garrett turbocharger. Its specific power exceeds 100 liters. with. from a liter of working volume. The magnitude of the maximum torque is also impressive, which is achieved at fairly low speeds. Two more gasoline units are twenty -four -tied six 2.5 and 3 liters. These motors are very similar in character, but later. And finally, a diesel with a turbocharged: a five -cylinder motor with an unrequited combustion chamber (direct injection) is equipped with a modern Skmon Rail fuel supply system. It is impressive primarily by efficiency, especially against the background of gasoline colleagues.
Three types of gearboxes are provided for the new car: two with manual switching - five- and six -speed, as well as a four -speed automatic with the possibility of manually selection of gears. In Alpha, this system is called sportstronics.
Speaking of equipping, we will not touch such banal things as servo drives of everything and the whole or, say, air conditioning. For a car of this class, the absence of something like this is simply unthinkable. Naturally, the alpha has the entire set of sled systems: the anti -lock system of brakes, an anti -bowing and rapidly spreading system of stabilization recently, which, if a skid arises forcibly returns a car to a trajectory given by the driver.
On the central console is the display of the integral control system. It can work as a route computer, navigation system, manage music and climatic installation and even serve as a built -in mobile phone. We can talk about useful and interesting ideas implemented in the alpha for a long time, but it’s better to try once ...
The interior of one hundred and sixty -sixth, pleasing to a stylish and (on some modifications) expensive finishes, somewhat disappointed with a height, especially from behind - a person above average height strives to rest his head on the ceiling. In place of the driver, this is not so noticeable, but a high driver cannot raise a chair - there is still little air above his head. But the range of longitudinal adjustment is quite sufficient for the longest legs. The seat is quite convenient, so, using both steering adjustments - along the corner of the inclination and length of the column, it is not difficult to equip the workplace in the figure.
The view forward, despite the thick racks of the roof, did not cause complaints, but the outer mirrors are too small.
Now on the road. In order not to tire the reader with a story about several cars, we will dwell on general terms and the most striking differences in Alpha-166 options. The suspension of each modifications has its own characteristics. In the mild version, the car is very comfortable and almost imperceptibly for passengers straightens out with road surface defects, but a more stringent shows a sporty character. Here, the inhabitants of the salon feel the road much more clearly.
The car clings to the asphalt very confidently - at least, traveling along the winding highway, it was not possible to ask Alpha an impossible task. And I didn’t really want to. Firstly, the excessive zeal in sports driving on public roads is fraught with troubles, and secondly, I somehow don’t really want to practice such a solid apparatus.
In my opinion, the image of such a means of transportation is as fully as possible to one of the two -liter engines - a six with a boost - the motor is a flame with a fairly even characteristic in the entire speed range. Two six larger volumes, as already mentioned, are very similar in character. Of course, the difference in power between 2.5 and 3 liters of engines is noticeable, but both of them begin to work truly only at high speeds.
The diesel on Alfa-Romeo was perceived with a considerable share of skepticism until the engine itself convinced the opposite. Slightly grimacing from the process of touching (it is not easy to do it in a way), I quickly realized that this engine combines truly diesel pain with not at all diesel briefness. The owners who have to spend money on fuel from their pockets will be pleased with the moderate fuel consumption, but everyone who drove in this car will be able to appreciate the low level of vibration and noise.
Among other materials in the press pack, prepared for the presentation, was the issue of the magazine Quadrofolio with a catchy heading the Great Alpha. Yes, among her fellow tribesmen, she is already great, at least in size. Whether Alfa-Romeo-166 will become a truly great car, time will tell. So far, the company's analysts predict that it should go as many as nine percent of the European market in its class of cars. There are a lot, especially if you consider that the rivals in the struggle for the buyer Alpha are more than serious.
 

Igor Solidov. Photo by Vladimir Knyazev and Alfa Romeo

A source: The magazine "Driving"