Alfa Romeo has announced that its all-new 159 sports sedan will be launched in Australia on 1st June 2006, heralding a whole new family of cars from the Italian performance car maker.

“The 159 is a vitally significant car for Alfa Romeo and it represents the beginning of a rush of new models for Alfa Romeo over the next six months,” said David Stone, General Manager for Alfa Romeo in Australia. “The significance of the Alfa 159 only starts with the fact that it will replace the Alfa 156, one of the most important cars in history of Alfa Romeo.”

“The 156 revitalised Alfa Romeo worldwide, collected a cupboard full of awards and drove Alfa Romeo back into the Australian car market. Simply replacing one of the most lauded cars ever sold is a major task in itself, but the Alfa 159 also provides the basis for another three new models arriving in Australia this year, the Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon, the Alfa Romeo Brera and the new Alfa Spider. The arrival of the Alfa Romeo 159 is truly the start of the next generation of Alfa Romeo cars,” said Mr Stone.

The Alfa Romeo 159 debuts a whole new ‘platform’, a production term that encompasses the drivetrain, chassis and body, and which means that virtually nothing is carried cover from the previous model to the new 159. This all-new platform is also the basis for the three other new Alfa Romeo models arriving in 2006. The 159 Sportwagon is, as the name suggests, a wagon that is based on the 159 sedan, but which retains the performance, style and driving ability of the sedan, while providing a new level of versatility and flexibility in its use. The Brera is Alfa Romeo’s new range-topping sports car and has been acclaimed around the world for its styling and performance. This year will also see the introduction of one of the most famous Alfa Romeo names of all time, the Alfa Romeo Spider, and the return of the classic open-top Alfa Romeo to the Australian car market.

Alfa Romeo has confirmed that the 159 will be initially launched in Australia with a choice of two engines, the 2.2 litre 136 kW four cylinder petrol engine and the 2.4 litre 147 kW JTD-m Turbo Diesel engine. These will be joined soon after launch by the all-new 3.2 litre 191 kW V6 engine which will also offer the Alfa Romeo Q4 four wheel drive system.

The diesel Alfa Romeo 159 is, following the launch of the 147 JTD in January, the second diesel Alfa Romeo to arrive in Australia. With diesel power units accounting for 76 per cent of Alfa Romeo sales worldwide, well ahead of the 49.8 per cent share diesel has in the European market as whole.

The Alfa Romeo 159 range will, when all the versions have arrived in Australia, cover a significantly wider area of the Australian market. Along with the matching growth in market sector coverage provided the 159 Sportwagon, Brera and Spider, the 159 will provide Alfa Romeo with significant opportunities to expand sales into new market areas.

The arrival of the new Alfa Romeo models has also been heralded by a growth in the Alfa Romeo dealer network across Australia, with three new dealerships opening in Australia already this year in Orange, Albury and, most recently, Campbelltown in Western Sydney.

“This year is the year of renewal and growth for Alfa Romeo in Australia,” said David Stone. “These new models and our new dealers clearly and amply illustrate that Alfa Romeo is moving to the next level in the Australian market.”

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