Alfa Romeo 159

Alfa Romeo 159
Alfa Romeo 159 2.0 JTDm ECO Elegante
Overview
Manufacturer	Alfa Romeo
Production	2004–2011
Assembly	Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy
Designer	Italdesign Giugiaro
Body and chassis
Class	Compact executive car (D)
Body style	4-door saloon 5-door estate car
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive / four-wheel-drive
Platform	GM/Fiat Premium platform
Related	Alfa Romeo Brera Alfa Romeo Spider
Powertrain
Engine	1.75 L TBi I4 t/c petrol 1.8 L MPi I4 petrol 1.9 L JTS I4 petrol 2.2 L JTS I4 petrol 3.2 L JTS V6 petrol 1.9 L JTDm I4 t/c diesel 2.0 L JTDm I4 t/c diesel 2.4 L JTDm I5 t/c diesel
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 6-speed Selespeed semi-automatic 6-speed Q-Tronic AWTF-80 SC automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,700 mm (110 in)
Length	4,660 mm (183 in)
Width	1,828 mm (72.0 in)
Height	1,417 mm (55.8 in)
Curb weight	1,385–1,695 kg (3,053–3,737 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Alfa Romeo 156
Successor	Alfa Romeo Giulia

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 uses 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 within the end of 2011, although it is still marketed in several countries. Around 240,000 cars were built.

The Alfa Romeo 159 had a troubled development, being designed in the midst of the Fiat-General Motors joint venture which was terminated in 2005.

Originally, the 159 was intended to use GM's Epsilon platform; however, late during its development it was changed to the GM/Fiat Premium platform. (The Premium platform is more refined and expensive, being intended for E-segment executive cars such as an Alfa Romeo 166 successor but that never materialised, so Alfa Romeo attempted to recoup some of the platform development costs with the 159.

General Motors originally planned Cadillac, Buick and Saab models for this platform but ending up discarded them over cost concerns.) Unfortunately, the 159's late transition to what was fundamentally made as an E-segment platform resulted in the 159 having excessive weight, a problem shared by its sisters, the Alfa Romeo Brera coupe and Spider convertible.

In 2008, changes made to the interior, dashboard, instruments and materials, and aluminium components were introduced, which reduced kerb weight by 45 kilograms (99 lb). Consequently, of its executive car platform, the 159 is larger than its predecessor at 4660 millimetres (183.4 in) long some 225 mm (8.9 in) longer than the Alfa 156, 1828 mm (71.9 in) wide and 1417 mm (55.7 in) high.