Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 2.0 JTDM TI (2011) CAR review

Here is a Alfa Romeo 159 thing: you could start today and I bet you and I should be more than froth. You will be hard to believe that this is an old design six years, so well done are 159 style. And 159 Sportwagon is just as desirable properties - which marks Giugiaro Design on the sides appear to be well deserved.

That's the problem with Alfa Romeo. They pull the strings of the heart. However, probably always will. We tested the latest Alfa 159 2.0 JTDM with 170 CV and in your choice of red beans (not shown), which attracted more attention in the parking office than any other car reaches the end of his life right. You still have to wait a little, since the new Alfa Romeo Giulia launch was postponed to 2013.

Thus, the Alfa Romeo 159 has an abundance of style. Is the depth of expertise to save this search stealth?

Unfortunately, when you consider the fact that the face of the Latin part of the package of 159 will begin to feel his age. From the moment plip key, only to hear an ominous warning beep Subaru style that you, your neighbors, you will find some of the tech board is, ahem, a bit 'old-technology.

Sink into the beautiful, as the seats (standard on our top-dog TI trim) and a mixed bag. The band seems a few years behind the latest C-Class and A4, even if we see 2005 3-Series is a feeling of age now (which it replaced in 2012). E 'to make the 159 cheaper plastic (it sported scratches around the gear lever) ergonomics chaotic Alfa sat-nav installed down low in practice, at the knee, electronic read-out apparently by 1990 passenger compartment carpet feet, which fell loose to reveal the floor of the back, and multimedia screen, which seems a bit 'too Halfords for our tastes. functionality of satellite navigation is lagging behind the competition and not pair Bluetooth my Blackberry.

Not all bad news. The summit has a pleasantly smooth Squidge board for it, while the driving position is reassuring, tilting the front seats of the driver and the back of a lot of choice. It's time to try some consideration.

How does the Alfa 159 JTD drive?

Start the 2.0 JTDM and you immediately notice how well behaved this common-rail diesel engine. We should not be surprised, the Fiat Group have been invented by the common-rail diesel decade ago, and continue to produce some cracking of the Oilers in all shapes and sizes.

select first, and note that the precision passing slotty. All bode pretty well. The JTDM develops 170 hp and 266 m pounds, but feels it needs a good rev to get the most out of it. Fortunately, becomes little by little over a diesel and I've never been hit in the contest to choose a higher speed. It is a refined and smooth engine, and that change is a pleasure to use with a reassuring mechanical slot.

The most powerful 170 bhp 2.0 JTDM do not think so fast, that makes us question the low-power 136hp version now available. Alfa 0-62 mph 8.8sec and quotes 52.3mpg, while we average closer to 33mpg during our week with the car. We noticed a slight turbo layer does not go well below 2000 rpm. The epic high leverage should be a part of the blame, we found ourselves on the occasion of the fourth on the roads, the ratios of more long legs.


We are so used to brilliant turbo in all, and beyond 159 does not work as hard as you can imagine - especially when it comes to emissions. This is how the competition stacks:

	Bhp	Lb ft	0-62mph	Mph	Mpg	CO2
Alfa 159 SW 2.0 JTDM	170	266	8.8sec	135	52.3	142/gkm
Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TDI	168	258	8.7sec	140	51.4	144g/km
BMW 320d Touring	184	280	7.7sec	145	58.9	128g/km
Mercedes C220 CDI est	168	295	8.5sec	136	60.1	124g/km

And handling the 159 Sportwagon?


Unfortunately, these years are creeping on compact Alfa executive. The 159 is a car to drive a little perplexed. Even in the 19-inch wheels of our car, which works very well on motorways and smooth road, with good primary and secondary action shots not to disrupt the progress on secondary roads. The biggest surprise was a particular section of the striatum that exceeded the M42 and crashed into the cab, as if the basic structure was not rigid enough.

Turn off the roads and find a good gust way back, and 159 of the discharge continues. These Bridgestone Potenza 235/40 R19s rotated and crashed into the streets full of potholes and B, steering wheel shakes when the body rests in the turns faster and 159 Sportwagon is really difficult to tie down the stream, without a hitch. E90 3-Series - was launched at the same time, remember - would be to let the dead.

Having said that, after nearly 700 miles in 159, this means that it grows on you. The management is strong enough and quick wit, and he would ring around an Audi A4, the only other significant price FWD. You can even walk heel n 'in it and it's not often we say that a field of diesel.

A quick note for night driving, the complex design of front-end works wonders, you will pay separate fog lights big dividends.

How practical is the Alfa Romeo 159 Sport Wagon?

Another report is mixed. Alfa 156, the predecessor of 159, was more famous boot space in the square shape that property. The 159 to 445 liters - only 40 more than the four doors and the luggage compartment is a good width and length, with an effective, simple load cover to keep prying eyes at bay, more useful cubby holes and with a ski pass. The problem is boot lip 159 Sportwagon is an extraordinary 25cm deep - this is the least accessible starter break we tried at times.

The rear seat legroom tight unfathomable, too. Since this property is a compact executive, rear passengers get more space VW Golf. The adults will head to brush the roof and taller passengers will move the back of the knees of front seat passengers.


Court

I said at the beginning that perfectly encapsulates the 159 Alfa Romeo problem. This was something beautiful, a compact exec with real panache about it in a sea of ​​Germans same again. And yet, how we want them even brought a sample of the Teutonic logic to bear in areas such as ergonomics cabin electronic systems and attention to detail.


We say Alfa has been on a roll style, well, never really. Can you name the last Duff Alfa Romeo design? If they can make the new Giulia look half as good as the improvement and the other half back into the weaknesses, it could be something of a car. Each time you pull the cylinder of aluminum foil that lines the door handles, you'll be glad you chose to German hegemony.

just one more way for men CEO, Sergio Marchionne, should not make the new 159 too sensitive, too bright polished in all areas, I can imagine people like me complain about boring perfection in an Alfa Romeo.

CAR's rating

3

Handling

3

Performance

4

Usability

3

Feelgood factor

5

Readers' rating

4.5

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Zagato TZ3 Stradale: A Dodge Viper ACR Dressed as an Alfa Romeo

We do not know if Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne future plans for the future, next-generation Dodge Viper includes the development manager of Alfa Romeo, which is based on the basis of muscle cars, but the famous Italian coachbuilder Zagato has a formula for try out the new TZ3 Road.

Alfa Romeo TZ3 TZ3 StradaleYou see Stradale Alfa Romeo Zagato is a sports car for the body based on hardware platform and mechanics Track Dodge Viper ACR conquest, which has the same 600HP 8.4-liter V10 engine that standard Viper SRT-10 together with a gearbox 6-speed manual and a suspension of the race-spec. All body parts carbon fiber Stradale TZ3 is new with the icing is the classic Kamm-tail (K-line) design.

Alfa Romeo TZ3 TZ3 StradaleThe stradale are second and final tribute to the Zagato 100-th anniversary of the Alfa Romeo (1910-2010) which began in 2009 with a presentation of the 8C Competizione Corsa based TZ3, which won the Design Villa Este Design Award 2010.

Alfa Romeo TZ3 TZ3 StradaleUnlike the Corsa, which was an isolated case controlled by Alfa Romeo Zagato collector Martin Kapp stradale TZ3 will be built in a limited number of 9 units with the first example, already delivered to the American collector and Alfa Romeo Zagato (and Saratoga Automobile Museum Director) Eric King. NO2 and NO3 stradale TZ3 will be delivered to Japan and Europe.

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ALFA ROMEO TZ3 CORSA AT THE XII VILLA D’ESTE CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE

The TZ3 Corsa is not a design exercise.

It does not take inspiration only from the 90 year collaboration between the two brands, neither only
from the Milanese conjunction between Alfa Romeo and Zagato.

The TZ3 Corsa is a race car, honouring 100 years of races and victories across the whole 20th
century.

It celebrates men and machines of the Alfa Romeo Zagato common tradition: Scuderia Ferrari of the 20’s and 30’s, Alfa Corse of the 40’s and 50’s, Autodelta of the 60’s and 70’s up to the latest Scuderia Zagato of the 80’s and 90’s.

Recalling these racing emotions, the TZ3 Corsa is based on a mono shell carbon fibre tubular
chassis, coupled with a tubular frame and a lightweight aluminium body. It boasts Technical Partners such as OMP and Pirelli.

Following Zagato’s gentlemen-driver heritage, the car has been commissioned by the Alfa Romeo
Zagato collector Martin Kapp, during the Zandvoort Tribute to Zagato event, where more than
130 Alfa Romeo Zagatos were celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the brand.

Martin Kapp owns, among his Alfa Romeo Collection: SZ coda tonda and SZ coda tronca, TZ
and TZ2, Junior Z and S.Z..

Tribute to the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo’s Racing Heritage:

Alfa Romeo and Zagato achieved the best results since the beginnings thanks to the Mille Miglia
victories of the 1500 6C, the 1750 GS and the 8C 2300 Zagato of the Scuderia Ferrari. Already
in 1933 an official advert of the Alfa Romeo 8C proclaimed: “The Spider that, with the trio Alfa
Romeo - Scuderia Ferrari - Carrozzeria Zagato, brought countless victories in the homeland and
abroad for the honour of Italy.”

Even the grandiose Quadrifoglio Verde was placed on the bodies of Zagatos of the Alfa Corse
team numerous times. Among the most glorious moments is the victory of the Formula 1
championship of Juan Manuel Fangio, aboard his Alfa Romeo 159 bodied by Zagato, as well as
the victorious Alfa Romeo 3000 CM bodied in 3 samples by Zagato.

During the 60’s, the list of absolute victories of the Giulia TZ and TZ2 by Zagato for the Autodelta
of Ing. Carlo Chiti, was never-ending. Some of the most memorable victories included the 1964 12
hours of Sebring, the Targa Florio, the Nurburgring, and the 24 hours of Le Mans.

The single-brand Alfa Romeo S.Z. championship emphasized the Alfa Romeo ES30’s
(Experimental SportsCar 3000) technical and dynamic abilities. The S.Z. delivered, and continues
to so today, constant performance and driving pleasure to the Gentlemen drivers of the Alfa Zagato
team, across the most important racetracks in Europe.

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PANDION A DREAM ALFA ROMEO BY BERTONE

After a two year absence from the international scene, Bertone returned to the Geneva Motor Show, unveiling the Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept car: an aggressive yet beautiful coupé designed as a tribute to Alfa Romeos' one hundred year anniversary.

The Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept: an extreme and controversial sports car in typical Bertone fashion. The size of the concept car (4620 mm in length, 1971 mm wide, 1230 mm high, 2850 mm wheelbase) offers a compact sports car external dimensions with a large sports car interior feeling, all powered by a 4.7 litre, 450 CV 8-cylinder Alfa Romeo engine.

The Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept is the first car produced by Mike Robinson in his new role as Design and Brand Director at Bertone. A pure 'dream car', the Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept takes its rightful place as a member of Bertone's historic Alfa Romeo family: cars that have always been style icons, influencing the history of the automobile and Italian craftsmanship in their excellent design quality, proving themselves to be undisputed benchmarks for the entire world of car design.

The name comes from the animal world, as Pandion Haliaetus is the scientific name for an Osprey: a sea hawk that nests and lives in coastal areas. The designers, led by Mike Robinson, have drawn inspiration from the wings of this predator to invent the spectacular door opening mechanisms, and from the hawks' facial markings to project the traditional Alfa family feeling into the next era of design.

Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept

In almost a century of Bertone tradition, it is not the first time that natural wonders have inspired the names of concept cars. Just think of the Corvair Testudo (1963) and, by no coincidence, the Alfa Romeo Canguro (1964), Carabo (1968) and Delfino (1983).

Design: the initial concept

The Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept's taut and muscular body is the result of an original interpretation of the Alfa Romeo badge, where the man-eating snake depicted there represents the attraction of elegance (what we call the 'Skin'), and the aristocratic cross symbolises the rigour of rational thought, the technological aspect (what we call the 'Frame'). According to this interpretation, the Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept's design is, like every Alfa Romeo, a perfect synthesis between 'Skin and Frame', an ideal balance resulting from a tension between opposites: technology and sensuality, rationality and instinct, architecture and sculpture, structuralism and organicism, industrial excellence and excellent craftsmanship.

The design of the Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept is based on a concept Robinson calls: "Skin & Frame" - a new interpretation of the inherent duality in the 100 year old Alfa Romeo logo. "Skin" refers to the snake in the logo, representing the world renowned Italian excellence in beautiful, seductive forms; and "Frame" refers to the cross in the logo, representing the mechanical excellence in high performance Italian race cars. The combination of the two has now become a dynamic dial searching for an ideal balance resulting from the tension between opposites: technology and sensuality, rational and emotional, architectural layout and sculptural form, structural and organic, industrial excellence and artisan excellence.

According to this interpretation, the vibrant energy in every Alfa Romeo is represented by Pandions' spinal structure (or 'Frame'), which crosses the length of the car from the V-shaped grille in the nose of the car to the V-shaped bumper in the tail of the car, crossing the interior as a visually aesthetic structural element which supports the surrounding shell (or 'Skin').

Design: details that count

The Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept's front end features a long and sculpted sloping bonnet that creates what is, to all intents and purposes, a mask, almost like the helmets worn by ancient warriors. The Alfa Romeo 'family feeling', immediately recognizable at first glance, does not admit even a hint of retro nostalgia and looks to the future with a revolutionary and novel elegance. There is no doubt it's an Alfa Romeo with a look that has never been seen heretofore. The typical Alfa quad headlights are buried deep in the outer-most tips of the T-shaped grille, highlighting the wide stance of the impressive coupé. Four white bars of light strike the observers' curiosity, two position lights above and two fog lights below, creating a virtual bi-plane of light at night. The typical five horizontal bars on every Alfa Romeo radiator grille are just visible here, offering a reference to the marque's historic identity. The front grille is full of thousands of tiny intertwined blades which contribute to the new Algorithmic Design throughout the car.

The Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept has the profile of a true sports car, with no room for compromise. The architectural layout is 'cab rearward', meaning the passenger compartment is positioned towards the rear of the car and the long bonnet pushes the car's visual centre rearward. The body side visually connects the sensuous front end with the razor-edged rear by means of an extremely long flowing side window which stretches from front wheel arch to rear, enhancing the excellent accessibility of this low-bodied sports coupé. Since sports cars are traditionally difficult to get in and out of, this important ergonomic activity has been facilitated with an extra wide door opening to make up for the low roofline. This new graphic formula not only adds a striking new visual division between the upper and lower parts of the body, but it also offers an incredible panorama window for passengers inside. The strong diagonal dark-light division in the rear of the side view accentuates the powerful rear wheel drive layout and draws special attention to the hidden door opening mechanism.

The rear end features a striking array of crystal-like blades which are intertwined in various widths and lengths, protruding out into space. The rear of the car in fact has a disembodied or "pixilated" look, representing a tail-of-the-comet metaphor, as if the sheer speed of the vehicle is pulling the underlying, technical "Frame" rearward, away from the sensuous, flowing "Skin" above. This "dematerialization" phenomenon of the car is generated by the intrinsic motion of the form, which means the car looks like it is moving even when it is standing still.

There are also two small fixed white shields below the rear bumper which hold the quad tailpipes, creating a visual continuation of the white side panels which seem to wrap around under the car.

The taillights are fully integrated into the organic tangle of the blades and disappear when turned off. The new Alfa Romeo family feeling is again visible in the rear of the car with same V-shaped bumper found on the front of the vehicle, which the travels the entire length of the body, forming a powerful virtual, Alfa Romeo backbone.

The doors, as in many other Bertone-designed masterpieces (such as the 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo, the 1970 Lancia Stratos 0, the 1972 Lamborghini Countach, and the 2007 Fiat Barchetta), open in a visually striking manner. Virtually hinged around the axis of the rear wheel, the Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept doors open by rotating backwards, ending up a perfect 90 degrees above the center of the rear wheel, lifting up the entire body side of the vehicle, from the front fender to the rear fender. When fully open they are more than 3.6 metres high. This spectacular solution is design mainly for glamour, bringing back the "wow" factor to today's lackluster automotive industry. This futuristic door mechanism also has a pragmatic side as well. Since all 'extreme' sports cars are literally impossible to get in and out of, the Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept is designed to utilize the horizontal space in the car since the vertical space is so limited.

In the event of an accident that results in a 'roll-over', the doors detach from the car body so that the passengers can exit of the car.

The interior: minimalist glamour

The shapes that make the Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept spring to life are the result of a design study aimed at creating an organic whole, without resorting to short-cuts to ensure continuity between the interior and exterior, a perfect balance between architectural rigour and the spectacular shapes of living organisms.

The design language used to create the passenger compartment has resulted in a fluid environment, due to the fittings that seem to have grown spontaneously, without ever having been either designed or constructed. We have named this expressive code, never seen before in the automotive sector until today, algorithmic design. The concept, taken from the world of mathematics, indicates an organic alternative to traditional design and is the 'propagation of random forms'. It is as if the design were following a kind of complex development which is neither linear nor geometric, generating an 'auto-organising' shape, with the 'spontaneous growth' of algorithms such as 'swarms' or 'vines'.

When observing the interior of the Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept, the first things that draw our attention are the front seats. The car's layout is typical of Alfa Romeo coupés, i.e. 2+2. While the two rear seats are the classic 'extra spaces', the front seats are two incredibly thin (30 mm) ergonomic chaise longue chairs. They have carbon fiber shells (that mimic the style of the car's exoskeleton or 'skin') covered in Technogel® and backlit with reLIGHT® fabric, that conforms to the shape of the driver's or passenger's body. The principle that inspired the designers was that of 'zero gravity', i.e. a warm and welcoming environment that would convey a sensation of enhanced quality of life inside at first sight, but… with zero gravity.

In fact, all the furnishings inside the passenger compartment all tend to float visually, suspended in the magic of the blue light. Behind these minimalist choices however lies a careful study of ergonomics: the seats are the result of a perfect synthesis between high performance, flexibility and lightness. The clear floor is illuminated in the same "swimming pool blue" color of the seats, offering a spectacular visual continuation of the voluptuous seats, with its' flowing contours where the driver and passenger can feel protected in a truly glamorous shell.

The steering wheel is clearly that of a sports car, while the controls are similar to those of Alfa Romeo race cars, with two analogue dials placed directly on the steering column. Three of the four LCD screens offer a rear view inside the passenger compartment (two on the sides, one on the windscreen) and they are directly connected to the external video cameras that substitute the rear view mirrors normally placed outside the car. The larger screen placed in the centre (9"), in the middle of the console - and within reach of the passenger as well as the driver - also displays information on the car's systems (air conditioning, sound systems, Sat Nav, etc…).

Conclusion

'We are walking in the footprints of giants.' That is the Bertone company motto. The giants referred to are Giovanni and Nuccio Bertone. However, following in their footsteps does not mean copying them, on the contrary. It means applying their teachings and using them as guidelines for further advances. We ask our designers to follow a total creative method, where they observe phenomena that are apparently unrelated to each other and try to apply them to the automotive world.

However design research is not enough. At Bertone we study concepts, and therefore each design is the result or a spinoff of an innovative idea or a new phenomenon. Mike Robinson, Design & Brand Director at Bertone, comments: 'Cars are like films: they must tell a story to win people over. The best car designers are necessarily excellent narrators and their products, whether they are concept cars or mass-produced products, reflect their creators' ability to gather fascinating ideas from every field, from all over the world, to bring them together and transform them into new and great stories. This is what we have attempted to do with the Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept.'

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GIULIETTA 2011

Having made its world preview at the 2010 Geneva International Motor Show, the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta makes its debut and, from May 2010, will be marketed progressively on all the major markets, thus relaunching the brand in one of the most important segments in Europe.

In Alfa Romeo's Centenary year, the name Giulietta is a tribute to an automobile and an Alfa Romeo legend. In the Fifties, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta caught the imagination of car enthusiasts throughout the world, making the dream of owning an Alfa Romeo and enjoying its high level of comfort and technical excellence accessible for the first time.

Now the Alfa Romeo Style Centre has produced a new Alfa Romeo Giulietta, a five-door hatchback with an evident Alfa Romeo appearance and capable of expressing both great agility on the most demanding routes and providing comfort on everyday journeys. This is due to the new Compact platform which, thanks to the sophisticated technical solutions employed for the suspension, the dual pinion active steering, the sophisticated materials used and the manufacturing technologies implemented, allows the Alfa Romeo Giulietta to achieve exceptionally high standards both in terms of on-board comfort as well as its dynamic and safety features (active and passive).

A new platform to enhance road holding and agility in total comfort and safety

Alfa Romeo Giulietta

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta introduces an entirely new platform - called Compact - designed to satisfy the most demanding customers in terms of road-holding, agility and safety. It ensures both exceptional dynamic performance and high comfort levels, thanks to the refined technical solutions employed for the suspension, a new-generation steering system, a light and rigid structure created from materials such as aluminium and high-strength steels, and avant-garde manufacturing techniques.

This new platform will allow the Alfa Romeo Giulietta to accommodate the needs of all customers in this category, combining on-board comfort, functional interiors and generous boot space, with the dynamic qualities that belong to every Alfa Romeo. Furthermore, driving satisfaction and comfort can be adapted to meet every customer's specific needs thanks to the Alfa DNA selector, a device that customises the vehicle's behaviour to suit different road conditions and driving styles. The new platform of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta was designed to integrate the vehicle's different systems and exploit them to the full, thus emphasising the three set-up functions (Dynamic, Normal and All Weather) available through the Alfa DNA selector. This device, fitted as standard on the entire range of the new model, is designed to modify the operating parameters of the engine, gearbox, steering system and Q2 electronic differential, in addition to the behaviour logic of the Vehicle Dynamic Control system (VDC).

Sporty and comfortable, Italian style

The perfect blend of sportiness and style, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta redefines the Brand's technological standards and emotional values.

The front displays a brand new interpretation of the classic shield, embedded in the front bumper and suspended between the air vents. This is the starting point for the design of the entire car, which combines an energetic personality with a distinctly elegant form. The front headlights have DRL with LED technology and a day light function for maximum active safety.

Even the profile of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is brimming with personality, giving the impression of an agile and sturdy car. This is above all due to the side windows which recall the appearance of a coupé, emphasising the dynamism and fluidity of form, thanks also to the concealed rear door handles. The ribs on the sides of the vehicle seem to elongate the car while the clean lines which end at the rear accentuate the angular shape of the car's body.

The rear, like the front and side, features distinct styling which emphasises the feeling of a muscular car, firmly gripped onto the road surface. In addition, like the headlights, the innovative rear lights also use LED technology, not only for the sake of style but also preventive safety.

Lastly, the measurements of the new car amount to a compact and dynamic shape, while at the same time guaranteeing excellent comfort and a spacious boot (350 litres): it is 4.35 metres long, 1.46 metres high and 1.80 metres wide, with a wheelbase of 2.63 metres.

Advanced features for maximum wellbeing on board

Attention to detail and high quality materials used for interiors are, today as always, the most developed expression of Italian style. More specifically, the dominant concept in the interiors of the new model is lightness. The lines are clean and the dashboard develops horizontally. The seats are comfortable and their shape is designed to ensure maximum comfort during long journeys.

Thanks to the advanced ergonomics in the interior design, every switch is ideally located: the main ones are grouped together at the centre of the dashboard and feature the same design as those on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione.

The navigation system with pop-up display allows drivers to safely display the route or the mechanical operating parameters set by the Alfa DNA device without having to take their eyes off the road.

There are practical open storage compartments situated in various areas of the passenger compartment: in front of the gearbox, on the centre console and on the interior trim of the doors. There are closed storage compartments - depending on the version - on the top of the dashboard, under the dashboard opposite the front passenger (cooled with dual zone climate control) and in the front and rear armrests.

Innovative engines for a thrilling, environmentally-friendly drive

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta guarantees the highest levels of performance and technology through a range of engines that are state-of-the-art in terms of technology, performance levels and environmental-friendliness. At the time of its commercial launch, 4 Turbo engines will be available, all Euro 5 compliant and with a Start&Stop system to reduce consumption levels and emissions fitted as standard: two petrol versions (120 HP 1.4TB and 170 HP 1.4TB Multiair) and two diesels (105 HP 1.6 JTDM and 170 HP 2.0 JTDM, both second-generation MultiJet engines). The range is completed by the high performance 235 HP 1750 TBi with direct injection and scavenging control in combination with exclusive Quadrifoglio Verde interiors.

This latter version equipped with a 235 HP 1750 TBi engine perfectly represents the way in which Alfa Romeo offers the most in this segment. Not just a means of transport, but a vehicle that can really connect with the customer. There is strong acceleration thanks to high torque levels even at low revs, a smooth response that minimises gearbox use thanks to the flexibility typical of modern petrol engines, and an engine note that is engaging without ever becoming intrusive. In detail, the 1750 Turbo petrol engine boasts advanced technical solutions including direct fuel injection, dual continuously variable valve timing, a turbocharger and a revolutionary scavenging control system that gets rid of any turbo lag. The resulting performance is comparable to - or better than - that of many 3-litre engines while still delivering fuel consumption typical of a compact four cylinder unit. It should be noted that the specific power of 134 HP/litre is the highest in the world for a 4-cylinder unit installed in this category of vehicles, as well as being the highest ever achieved by an Alfa Romeo production engine. The specific torque too, totalling 194 Nm/litre, is the highest of all petrol engines in this category, while the maximum torque of 340 Nm, reached at just 1,900 revs, is excellent.

The range of engines available can accommodate the needs of all customers. First of all the 120 HP 1.4TB is the ideal engine for those in search of a car that can handle city traffic effortlessly while keeping running costs to a minimum. The turbo engine guarantees prompt response even at low revs (maximum torque is achieved at just 1,750 revs) while Start&Stop, in the city, makes it possible to cut consumption and harmful emission levels drastically, without compromising comfort and on-board safety.

The 170 HP 1.4 TB Multiair engine is an amalgam of technology, which blends high performance levels with the lowest emissions and fuel consumption levels in its class for petrol engines of this power rating. It is a brilliant and flexible engine, with a maximum torque of a generous 250 Nm (when set to Dynamic), fitted with a Start&Stop system and with fuel consumption and emission levels resembling a diesel engine more than a petrol one with this power rating (4.6 l/100 km in the extra-urban cycle and 134 g/km of CO2 emissions). The combination of this engine with the new platform places the Alfa Romeo Giulietta at the top of its segment both for its dynamic qualities as well as comfort and practicality during everyday use.

The 105 HP 1.6 JTDM is a flexible and economical diesel engine that will surprise customers due to its prompt response (in Dynamic mode, max. torque is a generous 320 Nm at just 1,750 revs) combined with extremely low fuel consumption (in the extra-urban cycle, it is just 3.7 l/100 km). This is possible thanks to the combination of second-generation MultiJet technology and the Start&Stop system. Consequently, it is an engine dedicated to all those in search of a car with character and a distinctive style, affording the typical agility and handling of an Alfa Romeo yet able to combine the latter with limited running costs.

For customers who use the car mostly on the motorway or who demand the maximum performance levels from a diesel engine, Alfa Romeo suggests the 170 HP 2.0 JTDM. Again, it is an amalgam of technology which combines second-generation MultiJet technology with the Start&Stop system. The result is a vehicle with the highest performance levels of its segment, extremely flexible driving (with the dna selector set to Dynamic mode, the available torque at 1,750 revs is a generous 350 Nm), among the lowest fuel consumption and emission levels in its category for cars with this power rating (124 g/km of CO2 and 4.1 l/100 km in the extra-urban cycle). Thanks to the exceptional qualities of the new compact platform, this version is able to blend fantastic dynamic and motoring performance levels with the highest comfort and practicality in its segment.

All the engines are combined with a state-of-the-art manual 6-speed gearbox belonging to the three axle transmission family, which can withstand and transmit high maximum torque values. Subsequently, the Multiair and 170 HP 2.0 JTDM engines will also be combined with an innovative dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Segment-leading safety, comfort and dynamic behaviour

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta was designed to achieve the highest Euro NCAP safety rating to offer total protection for both driver and passengers. In addition, the new platform was devised to guarantee the utmost interaction of the systems in charge of controlling the vehicle dynamics.

All this is controlled by the real 'brain' of the vehicle, namely the Alfa dna device, which manages all the sophisticated electronic devices for dynamic vehicle control: VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control), Dual Pinion Active Steering, the Q2 electronic differential, the response and torque curve of the engine, the braking system with pre-fill function. All these systems guarantee genuine Alfa Romeo driving safety, vehicle traction and performance.

The new compact platform, thanks to the sophisticated technical solutions employed for the suspension and the materials used, such as high-strength steels, aluminium, magnesium and xenoy, can accommodate the needs of the most demanding customers in terms of on-board comfort and quiet running, placing the Giulietta at the top of its category also in terms of the everyday practicality of the vehicle.

Extensive range

Devised to cater for the different needs of segment C car drivers in pursuit of driving satisfaction and comfort, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is available in two versions (Progression and Distinctive), along with two customisations (Sport Pack and Premium Pack).

All the devices linked to active and passive safety are fitted as standard on the entire range. The Progression version comes with the Alfa dna system (with Q2 electronic differential and DST), VDC (including ASR and hill holder), 6 airbags, front seat belts with dual pretensioners and front seats with anti-whiplash system as standard. The standard equipment also includes manual climate control, 16'' wheels, front and rear electric windows, trip computer, stereo system with dual tuner radio, 6 speakers and MP3 CD player. The latter version (Distinctive) offers the following in addition to the standard equipment of the former: 16" alloy wheels, dual zone automatic climate control, leather steering wheel with radio controls, front armrest with storage compartment, cruise control, fog lights, reconfigurable control panel, seats upholstered in Competizione fabric, front armrest, and a stylish chromed insert (chrome line) framing the side windows. The dashboard on the Distinctive version is also distinguished by a stylish insert painted in magnesium grey or, alternatively, in Ghiaccio white, Alfa Red as well as in brushed burnished aluminium.

Customers can further customise their Alfa Romeo Giulietta with two specific Packs (Sport and Premium). The first pack is designed to highlight the sporty character of the vehicle with specific features which improve the already excellent handling of the car and includes 17''or 18'' alloy wheels, side skirts, sports pedals, sports seats with leather and microfibre fabric upholstery, brushed burnished aluminium dashboard insert, burnished headlight frames and dark interiors (black ceiling and pillar lining).

For customers in search of even more technological and complete on-board equipment, the Premium Pack includes bi-xenon lights with AFS function, the Blue&Me system with Bluetooth function, USB port and MP3 player, radio/mobile phone controls on steering wheel, rear parking sensors, rain-dusk-humidity sensors, electrically folding door mirrors and an electrochromic rear-view mirror.

To customise their Alfa Romeo Giulietta, customers can also choose from the list of options available, including a large panoramic sunroof, navigation system with maps and pop-up display and a Bose® Hi-fi. In addition, the Blue&Me-TomTom system is also available, which adds navigation functions to the functions of the Blue&Me® thanks to the TomTom portable navigation system which is perfectly integrated with the vehicle's existing systems thanks to a Bluetooth® interface. The TomTom portable navigation system is positioned on the dashboard using a support designed to guarantee maximum safety in the event of impact and complete integration with the vehicle's other systems and improved ergonomics in everyday use.

There is also a special trim specification dedicated to the version fitted with the 235 HP 1750 TBi engine. It's called the Quadrifoglio Verde (four-leafed clover), a legendary brand which has competed on tracks all over the world. Only available on this engine type, this special version is distinguished by its sporty lowered ride height (15 mm at the front and 10 mm at the rear), 17'' wheels (18'' as an optional), an enhanced braking system with calipers painted Alfa red, as well as sporty interiors which include sporty leather and microfibre seats. All designed to guarantee the best in driving pleasure and segment-leading active and passive safety. It offers reduced fuel consumption for this power rating; the "Quadrifoglio Verde" is thus reinterpreted for today, combining the utmost driving pleasure with greater environmental awareness for eco-conscious and environmentally-friendly sportiness.

A new platform to enhance road holding and agility in total comfort and safety

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta introduces an entirely new platform - Compact - designed to satisfy the most demanding customers in terms of handling, on-board comfort and safety. Furthermore, driving satisfaction and comfort can be adapted to meet every customer's specific needs thanks to the Alfa DNA selector, a device that customises the vehicle's behaviour according to three different logics (Dynamic, Normal and All Weather).

The new Compact platform continues Fiat Group Automobiles' platform rationalisation strategy - preceded by the Mini platform for A segment and the Small for segments B and L0 - and is a true point of departure from previous engineering solutions due to the new content introduced, the materials used and the levels of performance achieved. From the earliest design stages, the aim was to create a platform that would allow future Fiat Group Automobiles C segment vehicles, starting with the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta, to be ranked best-in-class in terms of handling, steering feel, performance-to-weight ratio, ride comfort, NVH (Noise Vibration Harshness), safety (active and passive) and climatic comfort.

So, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is a completely new car capable of expressing both great agility over the most demanding routes and providing comfort on everyday journeys. Plus, thanks to a specific suspension calibration offered by the Sport Pack, the sportiness of the new Alfa Giulietta can be further enhanced.

Innovative materials and state-of-the-art solutions

First of all, the underbody represents a generational leap in terms of the materials used. The entire structure is now significantly stronger and provides better performance without any increase in weight with respect to the previous generation. All this is thanks to the ever wider use of high and ultra-high strength materials, which now make up more than 90% of the total mass of the system: some structural parts, designed to provide high strength and the ability to absorb impact with minimal deformation, have been made from hot-pressed tempered steel.

Moreover, lightweight materials have been used for several structural elements bolted to the body structure. For instance, the front beam connecting the front struts and the third load path are made from extruded aluminium. The rear bumper beam and the third load path energy absorption elements are made from Xenoy (a thermoplastic with excellent energy absorption properties in relation to weight). The third load path energy absorption elements absorb the energy of low-speed impacts with obstacles and support the bumper in impacts with pedestrians. Employing these solutions has provided a weight reduction of 8.5 kg at the front and 4 kg at the rear with respect to conventional steel structures, without compromising safety performance.

Another new feature of the underbody is its modularity, which makes it ideal for use on a family of vehicles with different wheelbases and tracks. This modularity is provided by several central floor panels and the side members and does not affect any part of the front and rear structures. This reduces outlay to a minimum and means that the system can be applied to other vehicle systems without modification.

Many of the systems and components that make up the "Compact" architecture have been thoroughly revised with respect to the previous generation, improving performance and reducing weight (-35% for both the framework of the rear seats as well as the magnesium alloy cross car beam).

Best in class performance for comfort, handling and safety

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta offers exceptional handling performance and comfort levels thanks above all to the new suspension system employed. The MacPherson front suspension in particular was revised to offer maximum rigidity under side loads, reducing the weight thanks to the use of aluminium (saving 4 kg with respect to conventional solutions). The rear suspension is a sophisticated Multilink that guarantees the best trade-off between handling and ride comfort without compromising the useful volume of the boot. In this case too, special attention was paid to reducing weight and, thanks to the aluminium wishbones, this suspension allows for a weight reduction of over 10 kg with respect to conventional Multilink systems.

In addition, the new electric power steering system (dual pinion active steering) ensures an excellent steering feel and is integrated with the vehicle's active safety systems. As the name itself suggests, the solution employs two pinions fitted directly onto the rack of the steering box. The first pinion is directly connected to the steering column and guarantees direct and precise steering, without any artificial filters between the steering box and the driver's hands, affording a genuine and natural driving feel. The second pinion, again directly fitted onto the rack, is connected to the electrical actuator which is situated in the engine compartment, thus minimising the risk of impact with passengers in the event of an accident.

The climate control system, and in particular its operating logics, were completely revised and improved, in order to guarantee the best climatic conditions in the passenger compartment, while significantly reducing over-consumption of fuel (30% less than a conventional system). Similarly, thanks to specific technical interventions, exceptional noise and vibrational quality values have been achieved.

In terms of passive safety, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta was produced to obtain the maximum Euro NCAP rating, as demonstrated by over fifteen thousand hours of mathematical modelling, 80 crash tests, 150 tests on a HyGe slide and more than 100 tests on components and sub-systems. In detail, the new third load path increases the energy absorption potential of the vehicle front end and reduces both inertial forces and passenger compartment intrusion, thereby ensuring optimum passenger protection at higher impact severity. Safety is guaranteed by 6 airbags (as standard on the entire range); three-point seatbelts with double pretensioners and load limiters; a collapsible pedal unit and steering column; the second-generation anti-whiplash system and Isofix attachments.

Lastly, in terms of active safety, the new platform of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta was designed to integrate the vehicle's different systems and exploit them to the full, thus emphasising the three set-up functions (Dynamic, Normal and All Weather) available through the Alfa DNA selector. This device, fitted as standard on the entire range, is designed to modify the operating parameters of the engine, gearbox (where automatic), steering system, Q2 electronic differential and braking system, in addition to the behavioural logic of the Vehicle Dynamic Control system (VDC). The Alfa Romeo Giulietta will also be introducing Pre-Fill - a new function - activated when the DNA is set to Dynamic, which provides the driver with the quickest braking response possible. Under certain circumstances, i.e. when the control unit detects a hazardous situation requiring rapid braking, the braking system is pressurised a few moments before the driver actually hits the brake pedal so as to guarantee the quickest possible response of the system and thus reducing the vehicle's stopping distance.

These sophisticated features which improve the dynamic control of the vehicle are supported further by Dynamic Steering Torque (DST), a function which provides feed-back torque at the steering wheel that helps the driver to perform critical manoeuvres correctly, before the VDC intervenes to prevent loss of control.

Sporty and comfortable, Italian style

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta is the result of Alfa Romeo's new approach to style and technology, which began with the 8C Competizione supercar and is emphasised by the return to Italian names, on the one hand referring the brand's glorious past and on the other looking to the future with technological and emotional values.

The perfect blend of sportiness and style, the new car is characterised by its special appearance which combines compact size - it is 4.35 metres long, 1.46 metres high and 1.80 metres wide, with a wheelbase of 2.63 metres - with excellent on-board comfort and a spacious boot (350 litres). What's more, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta's dynamic look is further reinforced by: a high-impact front end with unmistakable Alfa Romeo lineage, a muscular profile enhanced by two bold creases, and a distinctly sporty rear end thanks to the spoiler and the sharply angled rear window.

Exterior style: the perfect blend of sportiness and elegance

The front features a a brand new interpretation of the classic shield, embedded in the front bumper and suspended between the air vents. This is the starting point for the design of the entire car, which combines an energetic personality with a distinctly elegant form. Everything has been made even more appealing by the bonnet surface treatment and the upright headlights. In addition, the car's exterior features finishes which emphasise the sportiness and elegance of its shape, such as the glossy treatment of the horizontal bars and V-shaped shield that gives the front end a top-quality, light effect.

Even the profile of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is brimming with personality, making the model look like an agile and sturdy car. This is mostly due to the side windows which recall the appearance of a coupé, emphasising the dynamism and fluidity of form, thanks also the concealed rear door handles and the play of light over the wheel arches and side skirts. The Distinctive and Quadrifoglio Verde versions boast a glossy steel (chrome line) side moulding for the windows, emphasising the cut of the side windows in a sophisticated manner. The ribs on the sides of the vehicle seem to elongate the car while the clean lines which end at the rear accentuate the angular shape of the car's body.

The rear, like the front and side, features distinct styling which emphasises the feeling of a muscular car, firmly gripped onto the road surface. Moreover, the rear end epitomises efficient use of space with a broad rear window fitted on a generous tailgate resting on muscular-looking pillars. Lastly, the bumper accommodates the number plate and, depending on the version, integral exhaust tail pipes.

The light clusters on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta are worth a separate mention. Both the headlights and the tail lights use LED technology which, compared with conventional light bulbs, afford greater brightness, high reliability and reduced consumption levels (consequently with a positive impact on emissions), long life and much faster response times (in the event of braking, for instance). Therefore LED technology serves not only a stylish purpose but also safety, reliability and the containment of running costs.

The headlights also feature an integrated day light function (known as Daytime Running Light) that - when the engine is started - automatically turns on the specific LEDs designed to guarantee maximum daytime visibility with reduced energy absorption and a very long life (this function complies with a European standard which will come into effect in 2012).

The headlights are available in two versions: with halogen light bulbs as standard, or with bi-Xenon as an option, with AFS system to offer improved quality light emission (both with or without dipped beams), excellent efficiency under all weather conditions and a longer life (compared to normal headlights fitted with halogen light bulbs, these devices treble brightness and duration). The AFS system on the other hand guarantees maximum visibility and safety even around bends or tight corners, allowing you to direct the beams in the direction in which the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is steering up to a maximum of 15°.

Advanced interiors for maximum wellbeing on board

The interior space was conceived and designed to guarantee maximum passenger space, enjoyment and in-car comfort so that any journey - whether long or short - is a pleasurable experience aboard the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. What's more, the interior space was devised to guarantee practical everyday use for customers, while the materials selected ensure maximum quality and durability of performance over time, as well as being the most developed expression of Italian style.

Specifically, the new car highlights the concept of lightness, as shown by the clean lines and the dashboard which develops horizontally, adding dynamism to the overall volume. In addition, thanks to the enhanced ergonomics of the interior design, every switch is ideally located: the main ones are grouped together at the centre of the dashboard and feature the same design as the switches on the 8C Competizione, while at the same time guaranteeing easy and immediate access.

The navigation system with pop-up display, situated on top of the dashboard, allows drivers to display the route and the mechanical operating parameters using the Alfa dna device safely, without having to take their eyes off the road.

The new car's interiors are completed by its comfortable seats which ensure maximum in-car comfort, however long the journey is. There are practical storage compartments situated in various parts of the passenger compartment: in front of the gear lever, on the centre console and on the interior trim of the doors. There are closed storage compartments - depending on the version chosen - on the top of the dashboard, under the dashboard opposite the front passenger (cooled with dual zone climate control) and in the front and rear armrests.

As regards colours and fabrics, the Progression version has a distinctly high-tech feel, where the black on the lower part of the passenger compartment plays against the metallic grey on the ceiling, pillars, dashboard inserts and steering wheel. The look of the seat trim is high-tech and sporty, emphasised by an electro-welded 3D honeycomb pattern.

In the Distinctive version, the car's interior is distinguished by the combination of black with metallic grey on the dashboard insert (also available in two other body colours, White and Alfa Red, or in brushed burnished aluminium). Unlike the Progression version, the seats are upholstered with a structured high-tech fabric featuring horizontal electrowelding in two colour variations (black and metallic grey). The leather steering wheel features a opaque black panel, while the inserts on the doors and the trim around the gearbox are glossy black.

Lastly, leather seats are available - in black, red, leather and grey - with two different interpretations: perforated leather with central 'cannelloni' or woven leather inspired by the 8C Competizione.

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THE SPIDER OF THE FUTURE AS SEEN BY PININFARINA

To mark its 80th anniversary, Pininfarina proposes an “open” Alfa Romeo that is exciting and a delight to drive

For those who still like to dream in a car. For those looking for a mixture of vanity, entertainment, and the pleasure of life in the open air. For those who love icons as the greatest expression of the age we live in. For those who want their cars to be an uncommon sensory experience in terms of both style and driving, without being obsessed by performance. For those who want to be excited by a dynamic, sporty car that transmits the exclusiveness and refinement typical of an Alfa Romeo spider designed by Pininfarina.

For all of them, we present the 2uettottanta.

2uettottanta: a name that evokes the legendary Duetto, but also the years of activity at Pininfarina, which launches the celebrations for its 80th anniversary with this concept car. And it has decided to do so with a type of car that is by definition, the work of Pininfarina: an Alfa Romeo spider. A very Italian product, which has become an export brand, representing the inexhaustible talent that the whole world associates with Italy.

The 2uettottanta reflects Pininfarina’s determination to look to the future with optimism following tradition, restating its excellence in design and its acknowledged capacity for aesthetic and technological innovation. It is a concept that represents an innovative approach, projected into the third millennium, to a topic that is firmly rooted in Pininfarina history, the 2-seater spider. And like the best Alfa Romeo sports cars to come from Pininfarina’s pencil, the 2uettottanta exalts the driving experience and concentrates on the excitement of being at the wheel of an open car with a great aesthetic personality. It is a car that can make people dream and excites even after many years. The icon of a lifestyle that harks back to a lively, tumultuous period. Like the Duetto of the Sixties, which helped to establish a trend based on the themes of rebellion and escape, thanks to the film “The Graduate”.

The 2uettottanta is also a tribute to Alfa Romeo, which celebrates its centenary in 2010: the alliance between Alfa Romeo and Pininfarina is one of the most significant and durable in the history of the car, one of men and of passion, of design and cutting-edge technical solutions, which has generated an inestimable number of good-looking, innovative cars with plenty of temperament. With a predilection for sports cars and convertibles. The aim is to replicate all this with the 2uettottanta. So a clean, elegant line was chosen for this "simple 2-seater", which is proposed with a 1750 cc turbo engine positioned longitudinally, an obvious reference to the “1750 Veloce” of 1968, one of the many versions derived from the famous “Osso di Seppia” (Cuttlefish). With its red bodywork, inspired by the typical Alfa Romeo paintwork, the 2uettottanta is 1797 mm wide, 4212.6 mm long, 1280 mm high and has a wheelbase of 2500 mm.

The pleasure of driving and feeling in harmony with nature is transformed into light, sleek, refined volumes, and shapes that seem to slip through the air easily. This generates the theme of this concept: the expression of a single volume, which is some way from the ground and suspended. The 2uettottanta almost seems to lift up from the ground “going further”. It is an optical effect achieved thanks to a line that crosses the whole car horizontally. An uninterrupted sign applied to dynamic, sporty proportions – typical of Alfa Romeo spiders – accentuated by the configuration of the passenger compartment, which is shifted significantly to the rear. The force of the design lies in its exaltation of simplicity, which does not need to show its muscles but concentrates purely on agility and harmony.

The front end of the 2uettottanta underlines its true Alfa Romeo character. The design is simple, with a central line that runs smoothly along the nose of the car, while the execution of the surfaces is more sophisticated. At the centre, in full view, and anything but a purely decorative element, is the Alfa Romeo shield, which seems to emerge from the heart of the car and to stretch outwards, in Pininfarina’s futuristic, three-dimensional approach. The shield is made of aluminium and incorporates floating horizontal flaps. On either side are the two triangular lateral air intakes. The two elements impressed on the imposing bonnet create a natural link between the logo and the large windscreen, which has been designed as a ring in hand-beaten aluminium that emerges from the body of the car without interrupting its flow. The front headlights, which adopt the latest LED technologies, are embedded under the line that gives the whole car its character. A strip of carbon in the lower part of the front acts as an air splitter, channelling the air to the rear end of the car.

The side view of the car, where the theme of the single volume is repeated, highlights the flowing line of the whole, with the shapes merging naturally. The horizontal line “cut” into the sides gives a sense of great dynamism; it starts from the front wheelarch and extends back to the rear wheel. Like an athlete, for a car, being slim also means achieving aerodynamic efficiency. Pininfarina has always strived for natural shapes that can convey efficiency and respect of the environment, an approach confirmed by its great commitment to the theme of eco-sustainable mobility. The 2uettottanta is in perfect harmony with nature, becoming the formal expression of a response to the needs of our day: it is an arrow that flies through the wind almost without encountering resistance.

Smooth, essential, soft surfaces even at the rear, which echoes the front, albeit with slightly more emphasis on the muscles. The design combines stylistic simplicity with a strong character in the volumes and proportions, with details designed to underline the car’s dynamic, light personality. The two bumps seem to emerge from the volume, becoming floating wings that create the roll-over bars behind the seats. At either end, these bars generate an appendix designed to hold the seat belts. Even at the rear the light clusters are slender and embedded under the line that defines the whole section.

Great attention went into the design of the interior. The result is a spacious, comfortable passenger compartment, conceived with light, dynamic volumes, which envelop the occupants in a strong, reassuring embrace. The shapes are sewn into the leather, incorporating the touch controls: in its functions, the 2uettottanta is faithful to its vocation as a car designed to be a delight to drive. The facia extends fluidly to the sides merging into the doorway as the natural continuation of the volume of the car, thus creating a perfect symbiosis between exterior and interior. The dashboard has a driver-oriented configuration with an innovative approach to the classical circular Alfa Romeo “tubes” that contain the instruments. The tunnel contains the Alfa DNA gear selector in an ergonomic position; this varies the set-up of the car in three modes, Dynamic, Normal and All Weather, adapting the behaviour of the various systems on the vehicle (engine, transmission, suspension, steering, brakes, etc.) to the demands of the driver and the different driving conditions. The tunnel runs through the passenger compartment and it gives structure to the chassis, revealing the carbon elements: the choice of this material reflects Pininfarina’s constant research into alternative materials that can make vehicles lighter, reducing consumption and emissions. Another strong element of the interior is the steering wheel, which is a modern interpretation of the Duetto’s perforated three-spoke wheel, with the addition of a shift paddle for sequential control of the dual-clutch gearbox. An enjoyable drive and comfort are also guaranteed by the anatomical sporty seats. All the interior of the car “floats”: the ventilation ducts are positioned between the passenger compartment and the hull.

The size and design of the tyres, which were created specifically for the 2uettottanta in collaboration with Dunlop, accentuate the impression of strong character and force given by the car. The tyres are of the low profile type, right on the extreme edges of the plane view: designed by Pininfarina to incorporate the innovative technologies developed by Dunlop, their graphics reflect those of the car. Their aerodynamic shape and very smooth lateral profile, guarantee better roadholding and less resistance to air, thus reducing consumption. The rims are treated in aluminium in harmony with the rest of the car, and are a free interpretation of the classic five-circle Alfa Romeo pattern, revealing the high performance carbo-ceramic Alfa Romeo brakes by Brembo.

The 2uettottanta is not a pure styling exercise, but also a project and research: the goal is to grasp the spirit of the spider in the configuration, the proportions and the conception of the car as well as in its stylistic imprint. This working method is part of Pininfarina’s genes. For this project, the Pininfarina creative team were given carte blanche to express the values inherent in the Alfa spider “by Pininfarina”, the values that are deemed to have made the Giulietta Spider or the Duetto all-time classics. To achieve this result, the car was given a particular set-up, with a low centre of gravity and a passenger compartment that is very exposed so as not to isolate the occupants from the surrounding environment. The result is to bring the road “nearer” to the eyes of the driver and to increase the sense of dynamism even at low speed.

What is the 2uettottanta effect? Desire. Whoever sees it “must” possess it, drive it, enjoy it. Because the 2uettottanta is not an unattainable dream. Nor does the 2uettottanta only want to impress at first glance, but to achieve a beauty that does not strive solely for immediate confirmation, but gradually reveals all its values and transfers them to the future, making the style eternal. As it did in the case of the Duetto, which continues to be celebrated as an icon of design after more than 40 years.

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