SPORTWAGON - THE ALFA ROMEO STATION WAGON

Imagine a slender, good-looking car as long as a coupé: roof spoiler, excellent Cd, powerful engines and sportscar suspensions. Then add a tailgate hinged far forward on the roof to ensure maximum accessibility, fold-down rear seats - naturally - and a well-equipped, versatile luggage compartment: a flexible space well-suited to people with a dynamic lifestyle who make time for many activities.

The result is a car that is different. The Alfa Sportwagon, or station wagon motoring Alfa Romeo style.

The new Alfa Romeo model is the first exponent of a new car concept, with good performance, Cd (0.30), sportscar-like ability to stay glued to the road and a luggage compartment as big as that of any other prestige station wagon, is still able to offer all the versatility today's lifestyles demand.

It is no mere chance that the Alfa Sportwagon's appeal cuts across traditional car categories and arouses interest amongst car owners who currently drive very disparate models (sportscars, station wagons, sports utilities). In this sense it represents the very latest manifestation of the Alfa spirit because it is good-looking, durable, expressive and up-to-the-minute.

When they created the new model, our designers could have simply stuck an extra box on the original model and called it an Alfa 156 station wagon. But our aim was to come up with something more and something different. Hence the decision to design new doors that add an aerodynamic, aggressive line. The stylists then went on to design a strong, well-proportioned rear with raked pillars that stand sturdily on the wheelarches and a tailgate that fits between the sides to extend the tapering line of the roof.

The appealing, compact body (the car is 4.43 m long), conceals six engine options (four petrol and two common rail turbodiesels) with power outputs ranging from 105 to 190 bhp (77-140 kW); torque output from 14.7 to 31 kgm (144-304 Nm); top speeds from 188 to 230 km/h; acceleration from 0 - 100 km/h in 11 to 7.4 seconds.

These engines include the Twin Sparks (1.6, 1.8 and 2.0, the latter also available with a Selespeed gearbox), the powerful 2.5 V6 24V (available as a version with Q-System gearbox) and the two JTD turbodiesels (1.9 and 2.4). All these power units are combined with a drivetrain designed for maximum dynamic performance. In other words, a double wishbone front suspension that allows maximum lateral grip, great efficiency, precise responses and excellent traction. And a MacPherson rear suspension with asymmetrical arms that makes the car very stable during high speed manoeuvres and very agile over winding routes, as one would expect from a true sportscar.

The Alfa Sportwagon can also be fitted with a sophisticated Boge-Nivomat self-levelling hydropneumatic suspension that helps the car maintain the same excellent performance (roadholding, stability and comfort) under all service conditions. The system automatically adjusts rear suspension flexibility to load in order to restore the car to a preset level.

Out on the open road, the Sportwagon reveals all the character of a great Alfa and responds with natural agility to any manoeuvre or direction change while maintaining enough stability to let the driver know he is in control of the car.

The car offers all this as well as practicality and versatility with a wealth of intelligently functional solutions. Starting with the tailgate which is hinged far forward on the roof to guarantee unusually easy access from both behind and from the side. To release the tailgate you just have to click on the remote-control in the ignition key, and lifting it reveals a luggage compartment that is nothing less than 'designed space'. You find side shelves including a 12-Volt power point and closed compartments that can be used to house the CD-Changer and many other items. And then there is a base which, when turned over, becomes a waterproof tray able to hold ski boots or wet swimming costumes. The compartment also comes with a net that can be fitted in more than 10 positions to divide up available space rationally. Other nets can be used to carry a dog in safety, prevent luggage shifting towards the passengers and secure loads to the floor.

It all adds up to everything you would expect from a true sportscar and more. Because of its ability to adapt available space to current load requirements, things can be stowed properly and the driver can enjoy the dazzling drive for which the car was built.

The Alfa Sportwagon also offers all-round practicality. All the conventional advantages of a station wagon (such as fold-down rear seats) plus the benefits of a saloon at the same time: for example, the car can carry four passengers and accommodate their skis in the luggage compartment: a ski tunnel between the rear seats comes as standard on all versions from the 2.0.

Good-looking, full of character, safe. Safety has been a priority from the outset and the Alfa Sportwagon proudly boasts torsional rigidity of 96.000 daNm/rad and flexural rigidity of 650 daNm/mm.

These two parameters are crucial to car safety and sporting prowess: the results achieved in this case are outstanding for a station wagon. Alfa Romeo engineers overcame the low rigidity intrinsic to this type of car (due to the lack of a bulkhead behind the rear seat squabs) by reinforcing the structure with a beam placed beneath the floor and adding roof reinforcements, pillars and damper attachments (bracing bars) that are sturdier than on the original model.

On the subject of safety, the true strength of the new model lies in its six airbags that protect the passengers in case of impact. The Alfa Sportwagon is the first Fiat Auto product to offer two extra window bags in addition to the four normal bags (front bags for driver and passenger and sidebags). The window bags drop down along the side windows to safeguard occupants' heads at the front and rear.

These features and other safety devices typical of all Alfa models (crumple-zone body, side impact bars in the doors, Fire Prevention System, three-point seatbelts on all seats including the rear central seat (optional), adjustable head-restraints), ensure that the Alfa Sportwagon comfortably passes the most stringent occupant protection standards.

The Alfa Sportwagon is also a very comfortable car. This is borne out by the articulation index, which reassures us that passengers travelling inside the new car will be able to travel in comfort and chat or listen to music without interference (the new car also offers an optional sophisticated hi-fi system with active subwoofer.

Available in 13 body colours and a single opulent trim specification that allows customers a choice between cloth or velour, the Alfa Sportwagon comes with a truly comprehensive standard equipment list in almost all markets. This includes: ABS, two front airbags, sidebags and, in most markets, a climate control system. From the 2.0 Twin Spark version, these features are joined by a remote control central door locking and boot opening, electric rear windows, leather steering wheel and gear knob, foglights, alloy wheels with wide tyres, armrests between front and rear seats and a ski tunnel.

The Alfa Sportwagon will take its place in a market segment that is worth more than three million cars in Europe. Twenty-six percent of these are station wagons. This percentage rises to 43% if we consider only prestige cars. The new model will go on sale in Italy from the end of March and immediately after in other European countries.