Less 12 … the months that (probably) will separate the inclusion of the new Alfa 149. From indiscretions gathered, in fact, the new compact Alfa arrive on the market in the second half of 2009, expected in late summer and in time for the Frankfurt Motor Show. Unless unexpected.

This model is already spoken for a while ‘, pitted in turn forecasts and interpretations of messages more or less “encrypted”, who knows how filtered. All this has helped create a well-outlined the situation. Thus, the rendering made on the basis of our exclusive “blown”, show a compact car in similar proportions to the Fiat Bravo and aligned to the family feeling of the last Alfa Romeo. The front is the second tribute to the 8C Competizione, more successful than the myth.
Thanks to greater width, it is more obvious aggressiveness of the complex, limiting that effect “cartoon” which, according to some, affecting the front of the small house. The same applies to the proportions and profile of the tail, on which designers have a scope far broader though perhaps less suited to hide the relationship with Fiat and Lancia models. This is also the architecture accomplice to five doors, leaving the declination three-door – now “out” in this segment – the exclusive preserve of the sister.

We see instead of what we know of the nascent compact “Lombard-Piedmont.”
First, the new 149 shall not be called so, in honor of the new trends of naming Alfa Romeo opened with the myth. Some journals already speak of “Julia”. However the car will be fully an Alfa Romeo of the “new course”, although born along the lines of progenitor. As the current 147, in fact, the basis for the development of a platform Fiat there. The Alfa 149-Giulia plant will use the already asset base of Fiat Bravo and Lancia Delta, in a step short version (the so-called Compact platform), from 2.60 meters. This does not, however, the equation 149 = Bravo, as is already whale in the minds of some nostalgic defeatist.

Given the results of cousins Bravo Fiat and Lancia Delta, the “five-star EuroNCAP be within reach, but not all. The platform Compact, in fact, by virtue of its great flexibility will be seasoned with special ad hoc as the extensive use of aluminum in particular, the rear Multilink and, perhaps, a review more or less radical dell’avantreno, still top-secret. Certainly find an evolved version of the Alfa manettino DNA that can also change the calibration of the electronically controlled dampers, and surely find the electronic Q2 and interesting units to 1.4 liter gasoline. Thanks to technology “multi” Indeed, the now famous 1.4 T-jet, in addition to step 120 and 150 horses, could achieve considerable (perhaps excessively) power of 180 horses, leaving the nascent 1.8 T-jet exclusively on more powerful versions (… and there is talk of an GTA 265 horses). The supply-side diesel sostanzierà in his unit by 1.6 and 1.9 Multijet, with power up to 190 horses.

The 149 large, secure and technology, aspires to a repositioning in the market higher, so as to leave room (and customers) to the myth. And remember that this is a compact premium we think especially the price, starting from a range of between 25 and 30 thousand euro. A car interesting, and certainly not “low cost”, but the remarkable technological Caratage, which aspires to replace a compact, the 147 between light and shadow was some history Alfa for almost an entire decade.