The Dynamics Do It
by Mike Grundon (21 Apr 04)

Thank the Lord it’s finally happened. Alfa Romeo has, at last, turned its sporting executive flagship saloon 166 into a good-looking motorcar. I know it’s all a question of taste, but for me, despite the vast majority of motoring pundits telling me it was "stylish" and even "one of the most beautiful cars on sale", until now it simply wasn’t, and the low sales figures and high depreciation seem to have backed me up.

Alfa is hoping for big things with the new 166 which has just gone on sale. It’s not so much a new car as a revision of the old 1999 model, and as such retains some of the saintly sporting qualities of the marque but also inherits some of its weaknesses when it comes to practicality. It’s a bit more than a facelift, although it’s not a new product.

But those changes around the front are absolutely wonderful. Gone are the weary-looking expression and the outdated interpretation of the corporate air intake. Replacing them is a more overtly aggressive and sporting attitude, following the styling themes set by the 147 and 156: deep air intake, aggressive headlight clusters, offset number-plate, that sort of thing.

Alfa says €60 million has been invested to bring about these changes, and sums them us as "new styling by Alfa Romeo Centro Stile, carefully considered cabin trim revisions, extensive standard equipment specification upgrades, painstaking suspension modifications and comprehensive safety equipment, including the fitting of a sophisticated vehicle dynamic control system as standard across the range".

Prices for the range stay around the same, starting at £21,750 and rising to £29,900. There are four well-equipped models and three petrol engines to choose from; still no diesel in the 166 yet. Alfa has deleted two engines - the old 2.5-litre V6 and the base three-litre - and added a range-topping 24-valve 3.2-litre V6 which the 166 shares with the GTV and Spider, and the new sports coupé, the GT (see separate launch report).

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