2009 Alfa Romeo 149 spy photos

By Alborz Fallah | February 06th, 2008

One brand which we don’t cover greatly is Alfa Romeo. There is not all that much to talk about as Alfa tends to keep a low profile in the Australian market, but that might all change with the next-generation Alfa Romeo 149 – the successor to the 147.

Our European photographers snapped a mule undergoing winter testing. The car might look a little odd to you and that’s because it has a new front (possibly a hint of the Alfa 149 in there) but the rest of it resembles the current Fiat Ritmo (named Bravo everywhere else).

The 149 will go head to head with the likes of Volkswagen’s Golf. The car has an overall-length of 4.30 metres as it based on the same platform as the Fiat Ritmo.

Details are sketchy but the lineup is expected to come with a range of turbocharged petrol engines (89kW – 198kW). Of course there will be a V6 powered GTA variant as well.

Alfa Romeo has been criticised for making some of the world’s most beautiful cars powered by some of the world’s most god-awful engines, so here’s hoping the 149 will change all that.

http://www.caradvice.com.au Anthony

Against Peugeot, Volkswagen and now Skoda. Value for money, at least in Australia, is just not there with Alfa Romeo these days.

In the 70′s and even 80′s their cars like the 1750 and GTV 2.5 were superb lookers and performers.

These days, Alfa design has lost its way although, the 8C Competizione is a stunner. They would do well to take some design cues from this car and feed them into their more affordable offerings
Elitist

GTA- excellent value.
http://www.caradvice.com.au Anthony

That maybe the case Elitist but we haven’t driven one. I do know that the V6 GT at $79,000 plus, was definitely not a great buy, given its lackluster performance against cheaper offerings from competitive brands.
jbot

198kW in a car this size? Hell yes!
Chucky

jbot Says:
February 7th, 2008 at 11:53 am
198kW in a car this size? Hell yes!
——————————————

Through the front wheels? Hell no!!

I like Alfa Romeos but they really need to work on their pricing. The 4 cylinder models are not too bad, but as soon as they whack the V6 in there, they just jack up the price like there’s no tomorrow (with only a couple extra features to show for it). What a ripoff, especially since that engine is made here by Holden.

For example, the 159 V6 is $25,000 more than the 159 2.2 JTS at a staggering $78,000. For that price you could get an Audi A4 2 litre turbo quattro with $10,000 worth of options, and it will have better resale value. Alfa Australia must be on drugs.
No Name

Ritmo cheese cracker with a Alfa badge..say no more
Sine Pares

Most modern cars (read German) look like my Braun electric razor. Gray, boring and without soul. Alfas put some Brio and excitment back into the hands of drivers. That’s worth the price! You want value for money? Get a bicycle or better take the bus!
nat

Indeed. i love my 159 wagon – the turbo diesel is the only way to go. test-tried the V6 – great motor and gearbox but not so great fuel consumption at around – ouch! – 18 l /100km. Which makes a toorak tractor look positively green….hmm.

BUT soul and speed the alfas have in abundance. Bello.

NSR
http://superchargedportugal.blogspot.com John

If it is as good as the Bravo it will be brilliant.
Graham Williamson

I’ve just seen the photos of the new 149 and I’m not ashamed to say, I’ve had to change my underwear. Is it wrong to really LOVE a car??!!
NoName

THIS IS NOT AN ALFA …IT’S A FIAT BRAVO
Daniel

Thats a Fiat Ritzmo… LOL
Mark

More like GOD-LIKE engines. The looks are ok but most Aussies miss the point completely with Alfa & Fiat. Outright speed and handling in reality a complete waste of time. Balance between ride/handling & performance/economy plus solid plastic & metal when compared to the cheap stuff most Japanese cars are made of. Japanese cars have to compensate with air bags!!! As an example just look at the Performance/economy equation of the RITMO 1.4 TURBO…0-100 in 8.1 secs & 7.1 litres per 100 kms…how many other new cars can be driven away for $30,000 with those stats???!!! BTW – I own a 5 series BMW and an E class Mercedes…
http://www.caradvice.com.au Honay

this picture here is not an alfa 149 but it is Fiat Bravo. I think it has been a mistake or they have miksed the Fiat Bravo and alfa romeo 149
Matt

I must correct “Chucky” only the block is Holden sourced all other components are Alfa unlike Audi/VW, Ford/Volvo that basically rebadge. This explains why the power outputs and torque figures are different from Holden donks. I was looking at a 159 so i did some research, i do agree they are overpriced but the 159 has now dropped significantly in price since it was first launched.
Dimitris

The spy photos are of a FIAT BRAVO car, not an ALFA!
sam

To everyone that says its a fiat, yes there is a fiat badge on it.. but look at the front grill. Theres no doubt that thats an alfa, they just put a fiat badge on so it doesn’t attract attention (hence spy photos!)
Coates

“Alfa Romeo has been criticised for making some of the world’s most beautiful cars powered by some of the world’s most god-awful engines” Um, by who?
Beautiful – yes
God-awful engines??? The 3.2 GTA would have to be one of the best V6 engines made, ditto the 3.0 V6. Reliable, good power, torquey and frugal given the performance. Did I mention the sound?

You can criticise trim quality (although not too far short of entry level “German” cars), the Selespeed gearbox, and the front wheel drive philosophy is crap once you step up the horsepower ladder.

Bud god-awful engines? Seriously.