Alfa Romeo 166 3.2-LITRE V6
Facelifting a car must be a hideously tricky task. Working to a strict budget and often not including the stylist who initially penned the car, many facelifts end up a woeful dogs dinner of clashing design cues, awkward angles and jarring details. Its hard to think of many that have succeeded in genuinely offering something new and improved. All too often manufacturers lose their resolve and instead opt for a minimal change, involving a reprofiled front bumper and grille resulting in a set of changes only the most dedicated anorak could spot.
For a case study in how to effectively facelift a car, one need look no further than the latest Alfa Romeo 166. Give the car a new engine as well and youve got a mouthwatering recipe.
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In fact, the 166 was the only model in the line up that didnt get the benefit of this, one of the worlds greatest powerplants. It was to be found plumbed under the bonnet of the GT Coupe, the GTV, the Spider and the GTA versions of the 147 and the 156. The 166 range also includes a four-cylinder 2.0-litre Twin Spark, plus the existing 3.
0-litre 24v V6 (in this instance mated to a Sportronic automatic box) but those looking for the definitive article will doubtless gravitate to the mighty 240bhp 3.2-litre V6 model which is priced from £29,900. Engines dont get any more charismatic than this and when mated to the six-speed manual gearbox, it covers the sprint to 60mph in around seven seconds flat. The engine note is a classic Italianate V6 yowl as you approach the redline and although youll cringe when you consider the 297g/km CO2 emissions and the average fuel economy figure of 22mpg, youll consider them a reasonable price to pay every time you bury the throttle.
The engine itself is something to behold, a riot of chromed pipes and crackle finish cam covers. The trend for burying the engineering beneath bland plastic covers looks like reversing, Alfa never subscribing to this look. Some enthusiasts have been a trifle sniffy insofar as that 240bhp of power is directed to the front rather than the rear pair of wheels but such is the weight of the V6 that the 166 has little difficulty in deploying its power in all but the greasiest situations - in which instance the traction control system cuts in to maintain decorum. The handling is a little sharper than its predecessor but the problem of weight in the nose is apparent at the limit, where the 166 will revert to safe understeer fairly early.
Typically bouncy B-roads are its nemesis. Press hard here and the suspension will wave the white flag and the front of the car can ground out if the amplitude of the undulations changes suddenly. Revisions to the suspension have cancelled out the high-sped float that afflicted the old 166 and the car is now a very accomplished A-road mauler.
"Engines dont get any more charismatic than the 3.2-litre V6 powerplant"
The interior has come in for a freshening with better materials and lighter colours used. The 166 cabin always did feel a very special place and was designed in a far more extravagant fashion than German rivals, but materials quality was probably its key bugbear. It feels a good deal beefier these days with some expensive soft touch finishes and nearly makes the premier league as far as fit and finish is concerned, though the silvery plastic of the centre console is maybe not as classy as some rivals brushed aluminium or carbon fibre trims. As one of the most spacious contenders in its class, it's no surprise to find that both front head and legroom are both excellent. The rear passengers aren't quite so well catered for but at least there's a huge boot, even if you have to lift things over a high sill to get to it. Interestingly, the Italians have resisted the temptation to follow the competition by decorating the cabin with wood; they would like you to think this car to be above all that. Instead, the money has been spent on useful driving aids. Dominating the fascia is a new Siemens-designed 'Integrated Control System'. This centre-console-mounted screen handles the stereo, climate control and (where fitted) satellite navigation system, standardising the kind of technology that cost thousands extra in the opposition. Nor does the technology stop there. A glance at the technical specification reveals a positive forest of acronyms: Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), a Traction Control System (TCS), Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) and of course, the latest four-channel Bosch ABS. The VDC Stability Control System appears on the 3.0 and 3.2-litre V6 models, a package which leaves a generous margin of driver enjoyment before deployment.
In this respect its only rivalled by Porsches PSM system. Is it enough to put the Alfa Romeo 166 at the top of the tree? In truth, probably not. The talents of German rivals are just too manifold and their appeal too tempting for most. As an alternative to the mainstream, however, it now makes more sense than before and you wont have to make any excuses for the front end styling.
If feeling a million dollars is big on your priority list, the 166 can be yours for less than you might think.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Alfa Romeo 166 3.2 V6
PRICE: £29,900 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 17
CO2 EMISSIONS: 297/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 155mph / 0-60mph 7s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (average) 22mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/width (mm) 4720/1815
