02 Mar 05
Set among a fine smattering of classic Alfas were a pair of new 159 saloons, as already previewed on 4Car. We also saw the Brera with its full interior for the first time, revealing a 159 dashboard and not very much rear seat space. It looked stunning, though; a straw poll among journalists suggested the Brera was 'car of the show' for many.
This was Alfa chief Karl-Heinz Kalbfell's first motor show in his new role, fresh from Rolls-Royce, and he was bullish about Alfa Romeo's prospects. "We have to make an Alfa an Alfa," he said, "and not an Italian BMW. You cannot lead by following the footsteps of others. Italy is too small to sustain Alfa Romeo so we must go worldwide. The US is a large market, and there is substantial work to prepare for it, but Alfa should be good for 300,000 cars a year."
And here's an interesting snippet. The 159's and Brera's new 3.2-litre V6 is based on a GM Holden design but has Alfa Romeo cylinder heads. But the way it ends up in the Alfa is more devious than you could ever imagine. The engine is built up in Australia by Holden, complete with original Holden heads. It is then shipped to the US, where it's taken to bits and all the Alfa castings, intake and exhaust systems are added. The pieces are then sent to the Alfa plant at Pomigliano d'Arco, where the 159 is made, and built up into an Alfa engine.
It gets better. The block castings are partly sourced from Teksid in Mexico. Teksid is owned by... Fiat.
