Alfa Romeo Set To Boost New Zealand Wagon Market

While sales of conventional wagons have declined in New Zealand during recent years, there has been steady growth in sales of European compact sporting wagons, epitomized by first the Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon along with, as launched late last year, the all-new Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon, and the Italian car maker is set to capitalize on this growth by adding another four key versions, a new entry level diesel and new automatics, to the New Zealand line-up.

“Nothing shows the change in this market sector more than the growth in our Sportwagon range,” says Lawrie Malatios, General Manager of Alfa Romeo in New Zealand. “While the Sportwagon version of the 156 accounted for nearly of a half of 156 sales in Europe, it was less than ten per cent of sales here and we had just one engine variant. With the launch of the 159 Sportwagon, we were confident enough in the growth of this sector to offer the new car in three engine choices and now we are adding another engine and self-shifting gearboxes to all of the existing versions. More than that, we believe that these new versions will become the top sellers in the range.”

So why are these European wagons succeeding where others are not?

“The Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon allows our owners to have their cake and eat it,” explains Mr Malatios. “On one hand they have a uniquely stylish European car, with performance and handling to match, and on the other they have versatility and flexibility of a wagon to meet changing lifestyle and work needs. With traditional wagons, not to mention 4WDs, ownership usually meant giving up the style, performance and handling. This is why this market sector has grown so large in Europe and it is growth when we are now seeing replicated in New Zealand.”

Alfa Romeo is also capitalizing on the growing diesel market, again a market sector it and the European marques have pioneered. The new additions to the 159 Sportwagon include a new entry level diesel, the acclaimed 1.9 litre 110 kW JTD unit, and an automatic gearbox as an option for the 2.4 litre version of the same engine as well as a new Selespeed sequential manual gearbox for the 2.2 JTS engine. The 1.9 litre engine is available as standard with the all-new Q-Tronic gearbox, an option on the 2.4 JTD Turbo diesel and the same gearbox is also available with the 3.2 JTS V6 engine, making this model the new ranging-topping Alfa 159 Sportwagon model.

“All the evidence shows that, even allowing for the skew towards automatics in the total New Zealand market, the diesel market and the wagon market are even more aligned to self-shifting gearboxes,” says Mr Malatios. “This is why these new versions of the 159 Sportwagon are so important. We expect the 1.9 and the automatic version of the 2.4 to account for the majority of Sportwagon sales in New Zealand and, therefore, they will significantly grow total Alfa Romeo sales in New Zealand with their arrival.”

The efficiency and effectiveness of the Q-Tronic gearbox in the Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon is shown by the remarkable economy of the 159 Sportwagon 1.9 litre JTD and the near zero reduction in performance compared to manual versions of the 2.4 litre and 3.2 litre engines. With the 1.9 litre power unit, the 159 Sportwagon has an official open road fuel consumption figure of just 5.6 litres per 100 km, yet combines this with a spirtly performance of zero to 100 km in just 9.8 seconds. Perhaps more remarkably, the 159 Sportwagon 2.4 JTD diesel has exactly the same 0-100 km time in manual and automatic forms of 8.6 seconds, while loosing just 4 kmh off the top speed. The V6 version has exactly the same top speed of 237 kmh in manual and automatic forms and there is a very modest increase in the 0-100 kmh time from 7.2 seconds for the manual to 7.4 seconds for the Q-Tronic.

Supplied by Aisin, but thoroughly adapted to its application in the Alfa Romeo 159, the Q-Tronic gearbox is an all-new design and is available on 1.9 litre and 2.4 litre JTD Turbo Diesel engines and the range-topping 3.2 litre JTS V6 engine. It enables the 159 to be driven in automatic mode with all the functions typical of an automatic transmission (parking, reverse, neutral and drive) or in sequential mode by simply moving the gear selector in a Tiptronic-style mode.

The ‘Q-Tronic’ name continues the Alfa Romeo tradition of using the letter ‘Q‘ to indicate the most sophisticated technology developed by the company: from the famous Quadrifoglio to the ‘Q4’ of the permanent four wheel drive. The term Tronic, on the other hand, tells us that the system is controlled by a smart electronic control unit that governs optimum gear shifts.

The automatic transmission ensures more effective use of engine performance and greater comfort, particularly around town. The Q-Tronic backs these advantages with very comfortable gear shifts. The innovative system also allows those who do not wish to renounce the pleasure of a sporty drive to use the system in sequential manner in the same way as a gearbox with fixed ratios controlled in sequence: when the gearbox is pushed up (‘+’ sign), the gearbox shifts to the next gear up while when it is pushed down (‘-’ sign), the gearbox shifts down a gear. In this mode too, the system ensures the driver is able to maintain a sporty drive because, unlike sequential gearboxes offered by rival cars, the Q-Tronic does not force gear shifts at high engine speeds and the change may be made when the driver wishes.

As an exclusive feature on the 2.4 JTD and 3.2 JTS V6, the Q-Tronic also offers a Sport – Winter function that allows the driver to choose between two operating modes (Sport and Winter) in addition to the default setting. In detail, the Comfort mode active when the car is started with the lever in position D facilitates smooth gear shifts and balanced management of fuel consumption because gears are engaged at relatively low engine speeds. When the button beside the lever is pressed, the system changes to Sport mode. This lays the stress on performance and ensures a lively, entertaining drive because the gear shifts are set at higher engine speeds for a more sporty performance. When the same button is held down for longer, the system switches to Winter mode. This ensures maximum grip when the road surface is particularly hazardous, for example when the roads are snow-covered.

The Selespeed gearbox in the 159 Sportwagon 2.2 JTS can make gear shifts in sequential manual or automatic manner by means of a robotised hydraulic system and it uses as its basis the new six speed manual gearbox launched with the Alfa Romeo 159. It is extremely easy and intuitive to use.

The driver is free to decide the best way to drive: for example, the gear lever may be used to engage gears manually or use automatic mode may be selected, instructing the gearbox to automatically select the best ratio to engage, allowing for better road awareness, a safe and controlled drive as well as for comfort and convenience.

In sequential manual mode, gears are selected by pushing the gearlever. This emphasizes the fact that this operating mode is typical of sporty gear shifts where the inertia of car and driver intuitively indicate how the gears should be used.

It is also possible to shift gears by means of a paddle on the steering wheel.

The Selespeed gearbox also features a Sport key that may be activated in both manual and automatic mode. In the former case, the Sport mode reduces the gear shift time by approximately 20 per cent by compressing the torque reduction and return stages. During automatic operation, engagement of Sport mode moves the gear shift points to higher engine speeds.

Given that the Selespeed uses the same gearbox and clutch as the normal manual and has little or no weight penalty, it is no surprise that the performance figures are exactly the same as the manual – top speed of 220 kmh and a 0-100 km time of 9.0 seconds – but more of a surprise is that the Selespeed is actually more economical than the manual. This is because the programming of the gearchange selection in the Selespeed computer optimizes the abilities to minimize fuel consumption in the JTS engine and the Selespeed unit does a perfect gearchange every time, ensuring that now fuel is wasted during the gearchange process. Each off the official fuel consumption figures are, therefore, better for the Selespeed, for example, the open road figure for the manual is 7.3 l/100 km for the manual and 7.1 for the Selespeed.

The all new six speed Q-Tronic electronic automatic gearbox is available as an option with the 2.4 JTD turbo diesel engine and the 3.2 litre V6 JTS engine, while the new 159 Sportwagon JTD 1.9 Turbo Diesel is fitted with the Q-Tronic automatic range as standard. The Selespeed gearbox is an option on the 2.2 JTS version of the 159 Sportwagon. Prices range from a recommended retail price of $65,990 for the 159 1.9 JTD, through $62,990 for the 159 Sportwagon JTS; $69,990 for the 2.4 litre diesel 159 with the Q-Tronic gearbox and the V6 powered 159 Sportwagon with the Q-Tronic automatic gearbox is the new range-topping Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon with a recommended retail price of $85,990.

Replacing the Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon, itself praised for its stylish versatility, the 159 Sportwagon continues the reputation of its predecessor with styling that is easily a match for its sedan counterpart, while also offering the versatility of a fifth door, the flexibility of rear seats that fold down in a variety of combinations and an interior that has been designed with a host of features to maximize ease of use.

As pioneered in the previous Sportwagon and copied by other car makers, the fifth door on the 159 Sportwagon opens into the roof and does not just open the rear of the 159 to gain access. This means that the rear door can offer a generous opening, while at the same time allow an almost Coupe-like flowing conclusion to the styling of the Sportwagon that starts so elegantly at the front of the car.

The sporting lines and compact dimensions of the new Alfa 159 Sportwagon belie a surprisingly spacious, flexible interior. The new car has a wheelbase 105 mm longer than its predecessor, significantly improving both front and rear passenger legroom.

Moreover, despite being lower than the Alfa 156 Sportwagon, the new Alfa Romeo offers improved front and rear door access and an increase in interior headroom, particularly in the rear.

The Alfa 159 Sportwagon offers 445 litres of loadspace below the retractable luggage cover. The 60:40 split/folding rear seat features an integral armrest and ski hatch, and allows for the rapid expansion of the luggage compartment into a robust, practical, flat-floored load platform offering 850 litres of stowage below the window line, and an impressive 1235 litres overall.

The new Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon differs in one very significant area from its predecessor and that is it will match its sedan counterpart version for version across the entire drivetrain range.

Two new direct injection petrol engines – 2.2 litre 136 kW 4-cylinder unit and a 3.2 litre 191 kW V6 – combine the JTS (Jet Thrust Stoichiometric) direct injection technology of Alfa Romeo with continuously variable valve timing, (both inlet and exhaust), for the first time.

With specific power outputs of between 60 and 62 kW/litre, and almost 90% of maximum torque available at just 2000 rpm, all both new JTS units boast outstanding performance, yet offer significant fuel savings and readily comply with stringent Euro 4 exhaust emission regulations.

From launch the 159 Sportwagon was available with the 2.4 litre 20 valve 147 kW 5-cylinder JTD turbo diesel engine powerplant, featuring the company’s renowned JTD MultiJet common rail direct injection systems and exemplify the company’s on-going pre-eminence in the field of diesel technology and this has now been joined by the four cylinder version of the same engine, with 16 valves and 110 kW.

The JTD units feature variable geometry turbocharging, and incorporate a ‘for life’, maintenance-free particulate trap (DPF) in anticipation of Euro 5 emissions regulations.

Along with drivetrains, the 159 Sportwagon will also offer the same generous equipment levels as the sedan, with the addition of features designed to enhance its use. This include aluminium finish roof rails and load area features such as a retractable load area cover, netting system, side lockers in the load area and a rear power socket. These items are in addition to the luxurious hand crafted Italian leather interior including , even on entry level vehicles, many features only available as expensive options on rival models, including seven airbags, automatic Dual Zone climate control, cruise control, rear parking sensors, auto dimming rear view mirror, a multi-function display and trip computer, fog lights, 17 inch spoked alloy wheels (18 inch on the V6), and an RDS 8-speaker stereo radio with ten CD stacker and steering wheel mounted controls.

Optional equipment includes a sunroof and metallic paint on all versions and electrically operated seats, which are standard on the 3.2, on the 1.9, 2.2 and 2.4 versions.

Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro in collaboration with Alfa Romeo Centro Stile at Arese, Milan, the new Alfa 159 Sportwagon combines superlative engineering with outstanding performance and handling characteristics appropriate to the pedigree of one of the world’s most famous sporting marques. In terms of safety, it has nothing to fear from the competition, and has recently been awarded the prestigious five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, which puts it ahead of the field for its segment with regard to crash safety performance.

The 3.2 JTS engined versions of the new Alfa 159 Sportwagon are equipped, as standard, with Alfa Romeo’s state-of-the-art Q4 permanent four-wheel drive system. Q4 employs three differentials, with a self-locking Torsen C unit at the centre of the system which divides drive torque by a ratio of 57% to the rear wheels and 43% to the front in normal driving conditions. Torque is split between front and rear axles and constantly modulated by the central Torsen differential on the basis of available grip, with a bias towards the rear axle promoting handling characteristics appropriate to an Alfa Romeo sports saloon.

The suspension of the new Alfa 159 Sportwagon combines revisions to the proven high double wishbone set-up of the outgoing Alfa 156 with a new, sophisticated multilink rear configuration. The new system is designed to promote smooth, accurate steering responses, exceptional stability and controllability – even when close to adhesion limits – and first class body control allied to remarkable comfort over all road surface conditions.

The powerful braking system of the Alfa 159 Sportwagon comprises 305 mm ventilated front discs, and 278mm solid discs at the rear. Versions powered by the 3.2 JTS petrol and 2.4 JTDM turbodiesel engines feature larger, 330mm ventilated discs and Brembo four piston monobloc aluminium callipers at the front, with 292mm ventilated discs at the rear, for even greater, fade-free stopping power. In the best Alfa Romeo tradition, the Alfa 159 Sportwagon offers direct, lively and responsive speed-sensitive power assisted steering, with a rack requiring just 2.3 turns lock-to-lock; the most direct steering in its class.

Both passive and active safety features are comprehensively represented in the new Alfa 159 Sportwagon. In addition to seven airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, and a fully integrated Fire Prevention System, the new car comes with a comprehensive range of state-of-the-art electronic braking, traction control and stability systems fitted as standard. ABS anti-lock braking is combined with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution over all four wheels, and a sophisticated Vehicle Dynamic Control unit enhances cornering stability. VDC is further augmented by Anti-Schlupf Regelung (ASR) to limit wheelspin during acceleration.

The Motor Speed Regulator (MSR) modulates braking torque when changing down through the gears, and a unique Hill Holder function facilitates smooth hill starts.

ENDS

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