Secret executive cars of 2006 - Alfa Romeo 159

On sale: February 2006
Price: From £18,000 (est)

The success of the 159 is essential for Alfa . The company knows it has its work cut out in this sector, with the brilliant new BMW 3 Series raising the bar again in terms of performance and build quality.

In Alfa’s favour, some compact executive buyers still aren’t convinced by the new 3 Series’ looks, or whether it still has the desired air of exclusivity.

The 159, on the other hand, looks fantastic, with a sharper front end which draws heavily on the design of the stunning new Alfa Brera coupe. It’s sure to turn heads in the company car park.

The 156 it replaces was always popular with style-conscious buyers, but fell short of rivals when it came to ride comfort, quality and reliability. Alfa says it has worked hard to improve all of these.

In fact, the Italian manufacturer had originally hoped the 159 would hit UK showrooms by the end of 2005, but the launch was moved back to February 2006 to ensure any early production quality issues were fully ironed out. At least this shows dedication to improving standards.

Engine options range from a 150bhp 1.9-litre diesel to a 260bhp 3.2-litre V6 – all fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox at launch. Automatic and Selespeed clutchless transmissions will follow later in the year. There’s also the option of four-wheel drive on some models.

For more details on the What Car? 100 Secret Cars of 2006 and Beyond, see the February 2006 issue of What Car? magazine, on sale now.


See the February 2006 issue of What Car? magazine for a free 100 Secret Cars of 2006 and Beyond supplement.