News February 10 2007

159 range now automatic and with new diesel model

Alfa has added self shifting gearboxes right across its 159 range and introduced a new entry-level diesel model to meet the rapidly growing demand for diesel-powered cars in Australia.

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 JTD 1.9 Turbo Diesel is fitted with the Q-Tronic automatic range as standard.  The 159 2.2 JTS is now available with an option Selespeed sequential manual gearbox, providing drivers with the choice of letting the gearbox change the gears or doing it manual via steering wheel-mounted paddles or with the gearshift leaver. Over the first generation Selespeed, which was most popular variant of the Alfa 156, the new-generation Selespeed allows the driver to select ‘Sport’ mode in both manual shifting and automatic operating, as well as using new software and hardware for quicker, smoother and more responsive operation. For the first time this software is also adaptive to the driver’s style behind the wheel.

Prices for the new versions range from a recommended retail price of $52,990 for the new 159 2.2 JTS Selespeed, through $54,990 for the 159 1.9 JTD and $58,990 for the 2.4 litre diesel 159 with the Q-Tronic gearbox, to the V6 powered 159 with the Q-Tronic automatic gearbox is the new range-topping Alfa 159 with a recommended retail price of $77,990.

“Although the sales of the Alfa 159 have more than met our expectations since its launch in Australia in June last year, we have always known that, given the Australian market’s skew to automatics, it would not achieve its full potential until the Q-Tronic and Selespeed versions arrived,” says David Stone, General Manager for Alfa in Australia. “The Q-Tronic new gearbox marks a significant market shift for Alfa. Not only do we now have a state-of-the-art gearbox, with six gears, fuzzy-logic operation and Tiptronic-style gear selection, it is also available across most of the range and to further enhance this position we have added an extra diesel model to the range, with the acclaimed 1.9 litre JTD power unit.  The Selespeed version was the most popular 156 variant and we expect the 159 Selespeed to account for the majority of 2.2 JTS sales.”

“We ended 2006 on a high note, lifting Alfa sales in a shrinking market and we fully expect the arrival of the Q-Tronic equipped versions of the 159 to maintain this growth through 2007,” says Mr Stone.

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Q-Tronic gearbox

An all-new design

The efficiency and effectiveness of the Q-Tronic gearbox in the Alfa 159 is show by the remarkable economy of the 159 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 has an official open road fuel consumption figure of just 5.5 litres per 100 km, yet combines this with a sprightly performance of zero to 100 km in just 9.6 seconds. Perhaps more remarkably, the 2.4 JTD diesel has exactly the same 0-100 km time in manual and automatic forms of 8.6 seconds, while losing just 4 kmh off the top speed. The V6 version has exactly the same top speed of 240 kmh in manual and automatic forms and there is a very modest increase in the 0-100 kmh time from 7.0 seconds for the manual to 7.2 seconds for the Q-Tronic.

Supplied by Aisin, but adapted in its application in the Alfa 159, the Q-Tronic gearbox is an all-new design and is available on 1.9 litre and 2.4 litre JTD turbodiesel 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 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, refers to the electronic control unit that governs optimum gearshifts.

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 until the rev-limit is reached and the gearchange 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 which puts gear shifts at higher engine speeds. 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.

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Selespeed gearbox

Decide the best way to drive

The Selespeed gearbox in the 159 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 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 in the direction opposite to the direction of motion, and vice-versa to change down. 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 (Editor’s Note – we’ll be able to confirm how this actually works in practice when we get a chance to drive the car soon)

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 222 kmh and a 0-100 km time of 8.8 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. 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.

Six versions of the new Alfa 159 are now available, priced from $49,990 to $77,990, are on sale now with a choice of four powerplants. 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 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 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 has been 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 equally advanced four cylinder version of the same engine, with 16 valves and 110 kW.

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

For more information on the 159 model see our 159 JTD test drive ; 159 JTS test drive and FACTfile

© italiancar.net 10/02/07