2009 Alfa Romeo 149 hatch first look
October 20, 2008 by George Skentzos
Following the design chemistry first introduced with the 8C Competizione then successfully transplanted onto its new MiTo model, Alfa Romeo has revealed its stunning 149 hatch.
A direct rival to the Ford Focus, the new 149 is based on the same platform as the Fiat Bravo which is also shared with the Lancia Delta.
The 147 replacement is deceptively familiar to the new MiTo however features a much more performance oriented design with its raked hind quarters, spoiler, twin exhaust pipes and LED tail-lamps.
It will have the performance to match its good looks, with power expected to come from a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 1.9-litre diesel unit with power ranging from 90kw to an impressive 185kW.
Available in both three and five door guise, the new Alfa Romeo 149 hatch will go on sale in European markets by mid 2009 with local availability yet to be announced.
Source: AutoExpress
Print it: 
Will Alfa ever put a foot wrong with their styling?
Looks better than mostly anything out there…
Those who read my post’s know i am biased, smarta$$ed and deeply cynical.. so let me say, WOW just WOW not a wrong line on it.
Bellissomo. (or something)
wow…
scratch the 09′Mazda3 SP25, Ford Focus TDCi and Astra i am hoping for/dreaming for for my first car – I WANT THIS!
love Alfas, have for many many years (my favourite car when i was like 8 was the alpha 156) and this just tops the cake… absolutely stunning/brilliant.
What an amazing looking car. But a ‘direct’ rival to the Ford Focus? I don’t think so. I mean it may roughly be the same size, but it will cost twice as much.
Sexy hatch…and i bet if we get it, it will be 40-50 grand i bet…
That is so incredibly good looking.
But Ford Focus? Come on, we all know alfa’s are expensive. Even in italy they would not cost the same as a focus. This will be 40 grand or more, no doubt. The 185kw version even higher.
It will have too have a decent gearbox to squeeze performance out of the 1.4 turbo. Any word car advice on the ratios and transmition type?
I only dislike the grille, apart from that, looks good.
If this was wearing any other badge everybody would be saying it’s UGLY.
I think that, as usual, everyone is blinded by the badge. Each to thier own, but this ain’t a good looking car.
For the most part Bret, I agree with you.
‘A direct rival to the Ford Focus’ great line CA… pfffft
Boxter,
Don’t be too hard on CA, the entire article is just a cut’n paste from the quoted source (except for metrification)
Those looks and the fact that Alfa Romeo is actually pretty reliable and very well built these days equals a fantastic car. Three of my friends own 159s and they love them and dont get problems with them either. I might buy one of these.
Oh and by the way Boxter, this is a direct rival for the focus, just not in Australia. In Europe the pricing is actually pretty similar so a three door 1.6 petrol Alfa is about fifteen thousand pounds and a three door 1.6 Focus is about fourteen and a half thousand pounds. I know its irrelevant to Australians but its just your market that puts these cars apart.
Why bother with a car like this when they already have the far better looking Brera.
This thing looks ridiculous – like the previous model Subaru Tribeca crossed with a VW Golf and a Porsche
@Wheelnut: Agreed. Got that puffy, bloated look about it. How did the Top Gear boys describe the MiTo? I believe the term was ‘Minger’. lol.
am I the only one who thinks it is ugly? :( The only Alfa I like now is the Brera…
Wow. Looks like a four-door Mito with slightly evolved-from-the-current-design tail lights.
If it was any other car manufacture, I’d be heaping sh*t on it coz it’s unimaginitive.
But it’s Alfa. And I just can’t help loving it. (Especially if it comes with 185 KW!)
I quite like it, but at the same time can understand why it’s not everyones cup of tea.
I however am not going to be as arrogant as some here as to assume that anyone who dissagrees with me must be blinded by the badge or some other mindless reason.
I prefer the audi A3… I wonder how this car will be priced.
the 149 looks a million dollars.
hey RoFlmaTiC the a3 looks like its been designed by robots dude…
Looks like herbie and Skeletor banged together. Looks alright on the back though. It reminds me of the volvo.
30-35k top spec aud and im interested.
Perhaps the standard a3 is a little conservative Adam, but I think the s3 is brilliant.
Probably similarly priced to the 185kw variant of the 149 too
best thing about nice looking alfas like this is if you wait a couple of years you can pick one up for half the new car price. Current 147 case in point. I wouldn’t touch one at the $40k+ sticker price, but a 2 year old one I bought with leather, sunroof, and 50,000km on the clock for $20k was a steal!
I do like alfas but never had the courage to own one. Forced fed 1.4 seems a bit un-alfa-ish. Would have thought an atmo twin spark 2litre to be the go.
Someone tell me how alfa can do ‘deer in headlights’ styling and everybody loves it when Subaru do it 6 years back and its WTF! and the grille is still a bit too anatomical.
The Brera is still king in the looks dept.
185kw from a 1.4 turbo – that would seem to require a large turbo to achieve, along with quite high revs and massive lag to 3500rpm.
Might be a real shocker to drive around town?
Oh dear CA………
This IS NOT the read 149, but simply a chop created by Auto Express.
Look at the door handles, they are copies. Even the rear one has the same key hole as the front.
Everyone go back to what you were doing, nothing to see here.
If this had a hyundai badge on it then you would all be saying how ugly it was!!!!!
well spotted oz
but this post did make me go to carsales and search for alfas…
1999 156 for 8k with cream leather interior…my heart pounds, my brain tells me to rethink
My next car.
SteveC
Oz is totally correct this is not the real deal… be very skeptical about anything Auto Express does.
Certainly looks like a European Car. It looks similar to other European hatchbacks sold in Europe. It does have a BMW Quality about it! I like the wide tire / Wide Track look about it. Looks similar to our “Crossover” vehicles being sold in the USA. Similar to the Ford Edge in shape and style. I still so not care for the bulbous front end treatment! Just like the Mi.To! They should have a much most 8C FRONT END! What is wrong with Alfa Romeo! Can’t they open their eyes and see style and beauty (8C) VS. just plane UGLY (Mi.To & 149)! Fire the Design Staff and make Three (3) cars in “B”, “C” & “D” segments using the FRONT and REAR of the 8C and stop wasting so much time and effort! Again, OPEN YOUR EYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just as Aston Martin is synonymous with S-E-X-Y ….Alfa Romeo is synonymous with F-U-G-L-Y!