Alfa Romeo 159 GTA test mule
posted: Tuesday 03 October 2006 by Luca in: Alfa Romeo Future Cars Saloons
Someone on the Autopareri forums managed to get a couple of snapshots of an Alfa Romeo 159 GTA test mule.
In the photo from the front you can get a tantalizing glance of the red cylinder heads, typical of Ferrari and Maserati V8s, transversely mounted. The photo of the rear shows four oval exhaust tubes.
There are some doubts about the precise nature of the engine in this test mule: some details seem to point to a bi-turbo version of the Holden-derived 3.2 V6, which was supposed to equip the first mules of the 159 GTA, but was subsequently rejected (too much torque for the transmission) in favor of a V8.
The Ferrari/Maserati-derived V8 engine should weigh just 20 kg more than the 3.2 V6 of the 159, and 30 kg less than trhe 2.4 JTDm turbo-diesel engine, and rumours about the GTA say that it should weigh 7/8% less than the 159 3.2 V6 Q4, with which it shares the four-wheel drive system, with a 65% bias to the rear for torque distribution.
Below the fold you can also find a couple of images of the 4.7 V8 engine of the 8C Competizione and of the 4.2 V8 engine of the Maserati Quattroporte. The question is: which one of these will the V8 of the GTA resemble most ?
Update: added a new image of the engine and corrected the text of the post to reflect doubts on the precise nature of the engine.
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Jalopnik
03 Oct 2006 - 11:29 - #1Spy Photos: Alfa Romeo 159 GTA Gasp. What’s that under the hood of that Alfa Romeo 159 test mule? (Note to Forum Dell’Auto Italia, adjust your dosage; obsessive paranoia can be controlled.) Those are red cylinder heads, are they not? And we all know what…
Autoblog.nl
03 Oct 2006 - 11:50 - #2Alfa Romeo 159 GTA test mule Op het Autopareri forum zijn wat snapshots van de Alfa Romeo 159 GTA verschenen. Het geheel is nogal onduidelijk door iemand die los is gegaan met een watermark-tool, maar enfin. Op de foto zijn de rode cilinderkoppen te zien die typerend zijn voor de …
Jalopnik
03 Oct 2006 - 13:14 - #3Spy Photos: Alfa Romeo 159 GTA Gasp. What’s that under the hood of that Alfa Romeo 159 test mule? (Note to Forum Dell’Auto Italia, adjust your dosage; obsessive paranoia can be controlled.) Those are red cylinder heads, are they not? And we all know what…
Stephen Manjai
14 Oct 2006 - 13:38 - #4What a pleasure for all Afla Romeo owners, enthusiast and drivers alike, that the Alfa Romeo 159 GTA will have a v8 Maserati Engine. The Fiat Group has taken too long to make this ultimate decision. Frankly I’m sick and tired of all the hype around the 4.2 V8 309KW Audi RS4 and the equally overly hyped 4.0 V8 307KW BMW M3.
First things first, it’s good to know that Alfa Romeo are distancing themselves from the front wheel drive configuration for the 159 GTA, this principle should be carried through to the replacement vehicle for the 166. Sticking to the topic at hand however, the Alfa Romeo 159 GTA should be able to hand it to the new BWM M3 and Audi RS4, and the new C Class, when it comes off the showroom floor otherwise the Fiat Group should’nt bother producing it.
I Love Alfa Romeo, there is no other car in its class that summons the passion that Alfa’s do out of their drivers. The refinement of a naturally aspirated Italian engine is phenomenal, and I am proud to be an Alfa owner. I also pray, from the depths of my heart that the 159 GTA does not come out with a turbo version of the V6 motor. Turbo’s should be left to the mass produced rice cookers and sewing machines frome Japan.
I hope chief engineer Mr. Massai heeds the call of all Alfa Romeo drivers and fans out there.
I will be waiting patiently to see what happens and what Fiat Auto decide to do with the 159 GTA.. I only pray that the car has a better engine and transmission than it’s competitors. That is all that they have to work on. They have already won the beauty contest. The Alfa Romeo 159 is the most stunning looking car in its segment, neater than the bangled 3 series BWM and the Audi A4.
Regards,
Stephen Manjai
(Proud Alfa Romeo Driver and Enthusiast)
Grant Close
25 Oct 2006 - 08:44 - #5I have enjoyed my 156 GTA for two years now. I forgive it’s torque and corner understeer, even it’s Italian (temperamental) selespeed. Because Alfa makes you drive like you make love…with passion.
My wife drives a sleek, poweful and beautiful M5. No detail is missed. But swap from Alfa to BMW…no way.
Car guys beg me to buy a range of marques; RS4, M3, even s204 Subaru or the new HSV Holden.
I wait with patience and anticipation for the 159 GTA. Only Italians can translate the viscoral pasions of life into a car. The style is a foregone conclusion. The engine, suspension and braking triangle is still to be seen, specifications absorbed absorbed and trials understaken. Show us soon Fiat/Alfa, so I can place my order!!
Valentino, puglia, Italy
04 Feb 2007 - 20:21 - #6Hi,
I am an impassioned driver Alfa Romeo.
I rate Grant Close in all!!!!!
The alpha Romeo is passion, the safety feeling that transmits this car, on the roads kind in curve is strong!!!
Hi from Valentine. Italy, Puglia.
Yehaaa!! - Alfa Romeo Forum
26 Jun 2007 - 15:47 - #7[…] Re: Yehaaa!! Starting to look more and more likely that it will be V8 of some sort seen this and http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qMqTsRTiQNc last week….. […]
Nick N
12 Oct 2007 - 18:49 - #8Alfas are best, far better than M3 or RS4.Have a 156 gta, will buy a 159 gta too. Hope for V8 at least 4,2 l and lots of horses/KW