Italian brand Alfa Romeo exited the upper mid-range segment in 2007 when production of the facelifted Alfa Romeo 166 was discontinued . Since then, we have been waiting for the successor of the mentioned model and it looks like we will see it.
According to alleged reports from a British daily, it looks like the Italian automaker is currently working on a competitor to the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E Class . This is surprising news for many fans, as last year Sergio Marchionne stated that now Alfa Romeo will mainly focus on the successor to the MiTo , Giulietta and 159 . And lo and behold, they are also working on a large premium sedan.
The new Alfa Romeo in the E segment should have a platform from the Maserati Ghibli , which will be presented next month. Power units from the Ghibli model are also expected in the engine compartment. Specifically, it is a twice-turbocharged 3.0 -liter six-cylinder with an output of 385 horsepower and also a 3.8 -liter Twin Turbo eight-cylinder with an output of around 480 horsepower. The basic motorization on the European market will most likely be the turbocharged four-cylinder MultiAir with an as yet unknown performance.
It is quite likely that the engine range will also include a diesel unit – a 3.0 -liter six-cylinder, known from the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300 . It goes without saying that the platform from Maserati will have rear-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive will be possible for an additional fee, as this is how the platform is designed.
The successor of the Alfa Romeo 166 should be introduced during 2015 and may bear the name 169, the price is not yet known.
Photo gallery: auto-moto-sport.de, autoevolution.com
