Alfa Romeo at the 60th Frankfurt International Motor Show

Alfa Romeo has issued the following press release:

'Beauty is not enough' is the underlying concept of Alfa Romeo's new advertising campaign. The slogan expresses the importance of content over form. Customers are attracted to the Alfa brand by Italian styling and Italian good looks, but they also appreciate the handling and engineering of our cars when they try them for themselves. They also recognise the driving satisfaction that typifies an Alfa car over any type of road in any situation and in any weather.

The host of new products introduced at the Frankfurt International Motor Show are ideal showcases for our philosophy. The cars are indisputable stars of a display area that can be described as a film set made up of compartments. High-tech aluminium and glass cells form big curvy container-like rooms.

The setting is complemented by a great superelevated structure in aluminium, glass and steel elevation rods that will act as a press office and VIP room. A gallery open on all sides will display the Alfa Romeo range.

The place of honour goes to the new Alfa GT that will be accessible to the public for the first time. The model was created in conjunction with Bertone for original styling coupled with exhilarating performance. It represents a revolutionary new concept, i.e. sportiness combined with comfort and elegance. Three of the versions on show in Frankfurt are equipped with a 2.0 JTS 16v with Selespeed gearbox while a fourth car is fitted with the 1.9 16v Multijet.

Another focal point of the exhibition area is the New 166, Alfa's flagship that expresses harmony of form and content while also wedding the style of a great saloon with the sporting traits of a coupé. The model complements these successful features on the inside and outside with aesthetic motifs of great visual impact.

Its trim and colour matches are also very attractive and sophisticated. Two versions are on show: one equipped with a 3.2 V6 and manual gearbox and the other with a 2.4 Multijet 20v and automatic transmission, both in the Distinctive specification.

All eyes will also be on the New Alfa 156 and Sportwagon. As revised by the prestigious hand of Giorgetto Giugiaro himself, the two models represent an ideal marriage between sportiness and elegance, performance and formal balance. All the hallmarks of the brand, in other words.

In addition to these new products, the Alfa Romeo stand will host an Alfa 147 prototype with a 150 bhp 2.4 JTD engine paired with a six speed manual gearbox. This racing car took part in the Nurburgring '24 Hour' race on 1 June, where it was placed 19th overall and first in its category. It came in no fewer than six laps before the second diesel car.

As we all know, the name of Alfa Romeo is practically synonymous with motorsport.

And this vocation is exemplified by the Alfa 156 ETCC cars that are again due to race this year at the European Touring Championship. Alfa has now reigned as the undisputed champion of this popular, important competition for five years: three consecutive titles won in the Euro STC race and two Italian titles before that.

And so we move on from the world of racing cars to cars that drive on ordinary everyday roads. Beginning with the 147, our prestige compact car represented by a 140 bhp 1.9 JTD 16V Multijet version. The same power unit is also fitted to an Alfa 156 with a Distinctive specification and trimmed in the new Alfatex® patented cloth. The array continues with a saloon equipped with a 2.5 V6 24 valve power unit and a sportwagon version with a powerful 175 bhp 2.4 Multijet engine.

The German motor show will also welcome an Alfa 156 2.0 JTS bearing the TI logo and equipped with a Selespeed sequential gearbox. The Selespeed gearbox is no ordinary automatic transmission but a manual gearbox with robotised action that combines the convenience of an automatic device with the operating speed of a conventional control. You can also choose a conventional up-and-down joystick-type clutch. Or steering wheel controls located behind the rim. This car, in particular, comes complete with the sports designation TI (Turismo Internazionale), a label that Alfa once allotted only to its highest performing stars. Nowadays those two simple yet glorious letters reappear on a special line that may be requested on Alfa Romeo models.

Space is also given to the new Alfa Spider and Alfa GTV, here seen with a brand new look and a revised range of specifications and power units. These models have always evoked driving satisfaction from the viewpoints of sportiness and style and their appeal is unaltered. Two cars are present, both in the more opulent specification and with the powerful 240 bhp 3.2 V6 24v.

Visitors to our aluminium, glass and Plexiglas showchambers will also discover the 250 bhp 3.2 V6 24v (the heart of our GTA models) and the 165 bhp 2.0 JTS. We are also exhibiting two powerful Multijet, multivalve turbodiesels: the 140 bhp 1.9 16v and the 175 bhp 2.4 20v. The last showcase contains the sophisticated high double wishbone suspension fitted to GTA versions and also the 156 and 147 models. This is another way to remind visitors of the GTA family made up of the Alfa 156 and Sportwagon (available also with Selespeed gearbox) and the Alfa 147 (shortly to be available with a Selespeed gearbox). All compellingly-styled sports vehicles that combine a glittering racing pedigree with the cream of contemporary engineering.

2003-08-26 Please quote Autoindex.org if You use this news article!