This is the last model of Italian government managed ALFA ROMEO,but is also the first model under FIAT management.
FIAT required Alfa Romeo to share the body chassis with FIAT,LANCIA and SAAB as Quatro Project,but FIAT accepted to keep the taste of Alfa Romeo as mounting ALFA's engine and suspensions on 164.
The 164 is the last model which remains the real spirit of ALFA ROMEO,and was also released as an ALFA's challenging model for 90's.
It was produced while a transitional period of ALFA ROMEO,and is a symbol of the period.

At first 164 had been designed as transaxle FR sedan.However since FIAT merged Alfa Romeo,FIAT forced to re-design as FWD in order to share the body with some other cars.Under their requirement,Alfa Romeo re-considered engineering design.This big changing of design seemed to be against ALFA's will,but they already had a rich experience of FWD technologies.Then ALFA completed FWD sedan at highly quality with beautiful appearance made by Pininfarina.
It is difinitely not that it's a FIAT which has ALFA skin.It is a real and new generation's ALFA ROMEO.

Photograpgs　Dec.24,2001

Essay Dec.24,2001

Links

Contact BREAK

[Go to this Alfa Romeo 164 page in Japanese]