Contents

Alfa Romeo 166

Alfa Romeo 166
Overview
Manufacturer	Alfa Romeo
Production	1996[1]–2007
Model years	1999–2007
Assembly	Italy: Rivalta, Turin (1998–2002) Mirafiori, Turin, (2003–2007) [2]
Designer	Centro Stile Alfa Romeo: Walter de Silva Daniele Gaglione (facelift)
Body and chassis
Class	Executive car (E)
Body style	4-door saloon
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Platform	Type E[3]
Related	Lancia Kappa Trumpchi GA5[4][5][6] Trumpchi GS5[4][5][6]
Powertrain
Engine	Petrol: 2.0 L Twin Spark 16V I4 2.0 L Alfa Romeo 12V turbo V6 2.5&ndash:3.2 L Alfa Romeo 24V V6 Diesel: 2.4 L JTD turbo-diesel I5
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 4-speed ZF 4HP20 automatic 5-speed AW 50-5ECT-i automatic[7]
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,700 mm (106.3 in)
Length	4,720 mm (185.8 in)
Width	1,815 mm (71.5 in) 1,800 mm (70.9 in) (from 2003)
Height	1,416 mm (55.7 in)
Curb weight	1,420–1,550 kg (3,130–3,420 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Alfa Romeo 164

The Alfa Romeo 166 (Type 936) is an executive car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo, between 1996^[1] and June 2007. The car was designed by Centro Stile Alfa Romeo, under the control of Walter de Silva, and was facelifted in September 2003.

The 166 served as the replacement for the 164. In order to keep the design fresh, Alfa Romeo made a series of modifications to the Lancia Kappa based underpinnings, radically changing the suspension set up, and also taking a clean paper approach to the interior.^[8]

The car was initially available with the following choices of petrol engines: a 2.0-litre Twin Spark 4-cylinder engine rated at 155 PS (114 kW; 153 hp), a 2.5-litre V6 rated at 190 PS (140 kW; 187 hp), a 3.0-litre V6 rated at rated at 226 PS (166 kW; 223 hp) or a 2.0-litre turbocharged V6 rated at 206 PS (152 kW; 203 hp). The Diesel engine options consisted a L5 2.4-litre 10v common rail turbodiesel version rated at 136 PS (100 kW; 134 hp), 140 PS (103 kW; 138 hp) and 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp), praised for its refinement.

The TS model used a five-speed manual gearbox, whilst the 2.5 and 3.0 had the option of a Sportronic automatic gearbox. The 3.0 V6, L5 2.4, and V6 Turbo were otherwise supplied with a six-speed manual gearbox.

The top models were named "Super" and included a MOMO leather interior, 17" alloy wheels, rain sensitive wipers, cruise control, climate control and ICS (Integrated Control System) with a colour screen. Options included xenon headlamps, GSM connectivity and satellite navigation.

The suspension system consisted of wishbones at the front and a multi-link setup at the rear.

By the second half of 2001, Centro Stile Alfa Romeo began working on a facelift for the 166.^[9] The facelift was designed by the newly hired Daniele Gaglione under the supervision of Wofgang Egger.^[10] The facelift of the 166 was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The facelift included upgrades to the chassis, interior, and engine range. The new front end resembled the also recently revised 156.

The 2.0-litre V6 Turbo model was dropped because of marketing problems, the 2.5-litre V6 underwent a revision and now had a power output of 188 PS (138 kW; 185 hp). A new 3.2-litre V6 was introduced as a range topping option, rated at 240 PS (177 kW; 237 hp). Both the new 3.2-litre and the 2.0 Twin Spark models now featured the six-speed manual gearbox, whilst the 3.0 model was retained but made available only in the Sportronic form.

The L5 2.4 was re-engineered with Multi-Jet technology which allowed up to five injections per cycle, second stage common rail, with a maximum injection pressure of 1400 bar and four valves per cylinder, to output a class-leading 175 PS (129 kW; 173 hp).^{[citation needed]}

In October 2005, the Alfa Romeo 166 was officially withdrawn from sale in markets for RHD. Sales of the 166 never grew as Alfa Romeo had hoped, following the facelift in September 2003, and the additional lack of a diesel engine in the United Kingdom, Australian, and Irish markets limited its reach into company car sectors. The 2.4 JTD diesel engine was only available in left-hand drive markets.

In June 2007, the production of the 166 effectively ended, with no direct successor. In September 2008, the platform was sold to the Chinese state-run manufacturer GAC Group.^[11] In total, fewer than 100,000 units were made.

In August 2009, Autocar named the 166 as "Britain's Worst Depreciating Used Car", as it held just 14.4% of its original used value after three years.^[12]

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