course change (and traction) – He raced (and won) a lot, like every self-respecting Alfa Romeo. He was dressed like our police force, making a reassuring presence on Italian roads between the 1990s and 2000s. In the seven years it’s been in production, they’ve picked it up over 195,000 motorists. However, hardlyAlfa Romeo 155 It will never be able to make Alfie’s hearts beat like its noble rear-wheel drive ancestors. Now that has been accomplished Thirty yearsHowever, a place in the Alpha Club in the past is really due to that. And don’t care if there are still many, among the “hardcore” enthusiasts of the Milanese house, struggling to grasp the mechanical scheme.straight ahead“L Fiat derivation And the less “predictable” line compared to that of the Alfa 75 it took over in 1992.
Little Melanie, little Turin – the second model of Biscione born under the wing of the Fiat group, which bought the Milanese house from IRI in 1986 and launched the flagship 164 in 1987,Alfa Romeo 155 It’s a “wrecked” car. The famous and improved transmission design of the previous Alfa 75 (with clutch, gearbox, differential, and brakes grouped together in one block at the rear), which first appeared in the Alfata in 1972 and was a point of pride for all generations of Biscioni between the 1970s and 1990s, has been set it aside in favor of aA place much more than that “traditionalTo reduce costs, the choice falls Type 2 platform, a platform already used by the Turin Group for the Fiat Tipo and Lancia Dedra. The different mechanical setup and some structural constraints (for example the door frame) had inevitable ramifications for the body style of the car, which, although inspired by the wedge-shaped Giulietta, appeared visually heavier and bulkier.
Under the bonnet is the Alpha – Except for Q4 version From 186 hp, which shares a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo petrol engine and improved all-wheel drive design with the Lancia Delta Integrale, at launch the car is offered with engines of Alfa Romeo origin (but arranged transversely due to the new mechanical engine mount). at the base of the rangeAlfa Romeo 155 arises there 126 HP 1.8 Twin Sparkwhose dual drive, starting from the block and the light alloy head, is closely related to the larger engine 2.0 with 141 hp. On the other hand, the 165 bhp 2.5 V6 was derived from the 6-cylinder V-cylinder of the 1979 Alfa 6, no longer powered by a battery of six unibody carburetors but by a modern electronic injection system. The manufacturer also agrees to a version powered by the 1756 cc, 105 hp DOHC derived from Fiat, but unlike the 116 hp 1.7 Twin Spark, initially offered to the Portuguese market and also in Italy since 1993, this engine will never see the line lights. aggregation.
It’s time for the news – In the 1993 ProjectAlfa Romeo 155 benefit from some improvements Structural work, including strengthening the front of the frame and applying additional anti-slip bars in the doors. The engine range is further expanded with the entry 1.9 turbodiesel 90 hp (like its cousin the Fiat Tempra) and 125 hp 2.5, also turbo and diesel, produced by the VM of Cento and already mounted on the older sister 164. In 1994, the Siverstone Special Series made its debut: powered by the 1.8 Twin Spark, dedicated to victory in BTC extension (English Touring Car Championship) by Gabriele Tarquini, who is able to impose himself with his 155 TS D2 on the Renault Laguna of Alain Menu and on the Ford Mondeo of Paul Radisich.
Unparalleled on the track The great successes in competitions in Italy and abroad are precisely the main reason for interest forAlfa Romeo 155. The first version of putting the wheels on the track is GTA 400 hp, created on the basis of the Q4 with Lancia Delta Integrale mechanics. In 1992, drivers Larini, Francia, Nannini and Tamborini won 17 out of 20 stages of the Italian Touring Car Championship, leaving only crumbs for the BMW M3 Ravalia. These successes motivated the Alfa Racing team, which in 1993 decided to compete with 155 V6TI More than 400 hp in DTM extensionGerman Touring Car Championship. Surprisingly, Nicola Larini, who had nine more successes after his triumphant appearance at the Circuit Zolder, emerged victorious, replacing the Mercedes squadron. Between 1992 and 1997, the 155 also raced in the D2 version with the 2.0 TS with around 280 hp in other foreign championships, taking new victories in Spain, England and even South America.
Redesign and new engines – In the 1995 Designers update the lookAlfa Romeo 155 Partially redesigned the front grille (more ergonomic) and wheel arches (more “swollen” and flush with the bodywork due to the increased track width). On the front of the engine, an important novelty is represented by the debut of the New 2.0 four-cylinder Twin Spark Designed by the Fiat Group to replace the “old” Alpha dual camera. Born on a cast iron base with balancer shafts and a sixteen-valve cylinder head, the new engine delivers 150 horsepower, nine more than the previous unit of the same displacement. In 1996, shortly before leaving the scene, the 155 received the new Twin Spark 16 valves with outputs of 1,598 cc (120 hp) and 1,747 cc (140 hp).
Buy one today – Even yesterday it is considered a simple “old” car, todayAlfa Romeo 155 It begins to arouse a certain interest in the population of Alfist, especially among young people, who are attracted by the legend of the racing versions and low overall running costs. The most affordable versions are 1.6, 1.7 and 1.8 Twin Spark, with the prices can swing Between 1,000 and 5,000 euros for the most beautiful samples. With over two thousand euros, it wouldn’t be difficult to get the more powerful 2.0, to be chosen of course in the first 8-valve version, if you wanted to have an Alfa engine under the hood. 9000 euros may be sufficient for one person Silverstone Good condition: more “fanciful” than the regular versions thanks to the rear spoiler, and unique for the common thread that connects it to the competition model with which Gabriele Tarquini won the BTCC in 1994. Equal to average Between 9,000 and 16,000 euros for the 2.5 V6 engine: This engine is truly a fairy tale, and as it revs up, it gives a roar that is pure music for its fans. Finally, the all-wheel-drive burly Q4 prices well above €20,000: it’s Alfa’s lowest ever, but it’s a detail those interested only in pure performance will find it hard to pass up.
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