Alfa Romeo 149

A frequent and respected contributor of Italian Automotive newsgroups ("Dr Pianale" / Dr Platform) has an interesting write-up about a "clinic test" for the new Alfa 149.

The upcoming Alfa 149 (or Alfa "Y") was definitely a surprise: much bigger than the 147, mainly due to the use of the "premium platform" from the 159, which put a firm lower bound on the wheelbase and on the width of the car, which strains at the upper size-limits of the C segment.
Such an upsizing of the 149 compared to the 147 might be exlained by the future entry-level Alfa, the small Alfa sports car based on the Grande Punto platform.

Finally, hypothetical engines and prices given out during the "clinic test":
Gasoline:
1.4 turbo 8v 120 hp - 20.800 €
1.4 turbo 16v 160 hp
2.2 JTS 185 hp
3.2 V6 260 hp (only with Q4 4WD) - 40.000 €
Diesel:
1.9 JTD 120 hp - 22.000 €
1,9 JTDm 16V 165 hp
2.4 JTDm 210 hp (only with Q4 4WD) - 40.000 €
Source: © eurocarblog.com by Luca