Alfa Romeo 155
Encyclopedia
The Alfa Romeo 155 is a compact executive car
produced under the Italian
Alfa Romeo
marque between 1992 and 1998.
and based on the parent Fiat
Group's Type Three platform
, the 155 was somewhat larger in dimension than the 75
but evolved its styling from that of its predecessor. The 155 was designed by Italian design house I.DE.A Institute
. A exceptional drag coefficient of 0.29 was achieved with the body design. The design of the 155 allowed also big boot space, 525 litres (1,109.5 US pt).
The single most significant technical change from the 75
was the change to a front-wheel drive
layout. This new configuration gave cost and packaging benefits but many Alfa die-hards and the automotive press lamented the passing of the "purer" rear-wheel drive layout on a car from this sporting marque — the 155 was considered not in the tradition of Alfa's sporting saloons.
Also available was the 155 Q4 which had a 2.0 litre turbocharged
engine
and a permanent four-wheel drive
powertrain both derived from the Integrale; it was essentially a Lancia Integrale with a different body.
The new model came in "Sport" and "Super" guises. The Sport had a slightly lowered ride height and more aggressive dampers while the Super had the option of wooden trim and electronically controlled dampers and seat controls.
Reception of the new model was generally luke-warm. The 75 had been conceived prior to Fiat's acquisition of the Alfa brand, so as "the last real Alfa" it cast rather a shadow over the 155; the loss of rear-wheel drive was frequently cited as the main cause of the disappointment. Nevertheless, the 155 was entered in Touring Car racing and was successful in every major championship it entered which gradually improved its image.
Belatedly the factory introduced a wider version in 1995 (the "wide-body") which as well as a wider track and revised steering based on racing experience or requirements, also brought in new 16-valve engines for the 1.8 and 2.0 litre and also some improvements to cabin materials and build quality. The all wheel drive version, the Q4, was discontinued but its V6 engine continued to be offered ont front wheel drive versions.
There were several Sport Packs available, including a race-inspired body kit (spoiler and side skirts) and black or graphite coloured 16" Speedline wheels. The more genteel could opt for the Super which came with wood inserts in the cabin and silver painted alloy wheels.
The 155 was never produced as a Sportwagon (Alfa's term for an estate / station wagon
) but Sbarro
made a proposal for such a vehicle in 1994.
Production of the 155 ceased in 1998 when the 155 was replaced by the 156
which was a further development in terms of quality and refinement and finally moved away from the wedge styling — leaving the 155 as the pinnacle of that particular design stream which dated back to 1977 with the dramatic square styling of the Giulietta Nuova
.
s, the latter two with variable valve timing. The 1.7 L was not sold in the United Kingdom
.
Two four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine
s, of 1.9 L (92 PS) and 2.5 L (125 PS) were available in some markets, but again not the UK.
At the top of the 155 range were the 2.5 L V6, using a (166 PS) engine derived from the 3.0 L V6 used in the larger Alfa Romeo 164
, and the Q4 which used a drivetrain derived from the Lancia Delta
Integrale which meant a 190 PS 2.0 L 16V turbocharged engine and permanent four-wheel drive
. The Q4 also incorporated three differential gears (normal at the front, epicyclic at the centre (including a Ferguson viscous coupling) and torsen self-locking at the rear). Both the 2.5 V6 and Q4 models were also available with electronically adjustable suspension with two damper settings (automatic and sport).
The most notable special edition was the "Silverstone" edition released in the UK which was known as the "Formula" in Europe
: this was released as a homologation exercise to allow Alfa Romeo to compete in the British Touring Car Championship
race series and consequently came with a bolt-on aero-kit consisting of an adjustable rear spoiler and extendible front air splitter.
The Silverstone was a lighter but no more powerful version of the 1.8 L, even though the race car it was homologating had a 2.0 L engine. This anomaly came about because the 1.8 L engine block, with its narrower bore, allowed Alfa to use a longer stroke on the racing car and stay within the 2.0 L capacity limit.
The Silverstone was only available in either Alfa red or Black paintwork with plain, unpainted bumpers.
In 1995 the 155 was given an extensive revamp resulting in wider front and rear tracks with subtle enlargement to the wheel arches to accommodate the changes underneath.
The revised car also received a quicker steering rack, with 2.2 turns lock to lock (initially only on the 2.0 , but later followed by the 1.8 L). The 4-cylinder cars retained the twin spark ignition system but received Alfa-designed 16-valve cylinder heads with belt-driven camshafts based on engine blocks of Fiat design. They replaced the elderly but indestructible all-Alfa 8-valve, chain-driven camshaft motors of the earlier models.
The 2.5 L v6 continued in wide body form (but without the steering changes) while the Q4 was discontinued. In Europe the 1.7 L Twin Spark was replaced by a 1.6 L 16-valve Twin Spark. Some 8-valve engines continued in a wide body car in some markets.
The wide-bodied cars also received revised interiors and equipment specifications to keep the cars competitive in the showroom.
The wide body ("Series 2") 155s can be distinguished from their earlier counterparts by their flared front and smooth rear wheel arches (the latter replacing the lip round the wheel arch of the original). They also sported round or oblong indicator side-repeaters and had their model badges moved to below the rear lights rather than having them above.
made two special versions of 155. 1993 was introduced 155 TI.Z and 1995 155 GTAZ. Both models had more muscular looking exterior and more power than regular models, the TI.Z had 170 PS Twin Spark engine
and GTAZ had the 155 Q4's turbocharged two litre engine now producing 215 PS. Both models were built only a limited amount and many of the cars were sent to Japan.
The 155 was very successful in touring car racing
, using the Supertouring
-homologated GTA and the V6 TI for the DTM
. Between 1992 and 1994, the 155 managed to take the Italian Superturismo championship, the German
DTM championship (both with Nicola Larini
at the wheel), the Spanish Touring Car Championship (with Adrián Campos
), and the British Touring Car Championship
(with Gabriele Tarquini
). The 155 remained competitive until it was replaced with the 156, finishing third in the DTM (then known as the International Touring Car Championship, or ITC) in 1996 with Alessandro Nannini
and winning the Spanish championship again in 1997 with Fabrizio Giovanardi
.
In 1993 Larini in an Alfa 155 was vice-champion in FIA World Touring Car Cup behind Paul Radisich in a Ford Mondeo. Afterwards, in 2009, it was known that the Mondeo ran that race with an engine 0f 2,200 cc instead of a regular 2,000 cc. The 156 was to continue the high standard set by the 155, winning the European Touring Car Championship
multiple times.
The Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI is a racing car that Alfa Corse
used starting from 1993 in DTM season
(Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft) racing series. German Schübel Engineering racing team also entered three 1993 spec cars and one 94 spec car on the 1993 season. The 93 spec 155 had Jägermeister
sponsorship
livery.
The 1993 season was dominated by Nicola Larini
winning 11 of 22 races, another driver on that season in Alfa Corse was Alessandro Nannini
.
On the 1995 season the team got new sponsorship livery, Martini Racing
, on the 96 season one of the drivers were Christian Danner
driving Alfa Corse TV Spielfilm team. The 1996 season was the last for Alfa Romeo.
The 1996 version had a 2.5 L 90° V6 engine delivering 490 PS at 11,900 rpm, had a top speed of around 300 kilometre per hour and weighed
1060 kilograms (2,336.9 lb).
The Alfa 155 V6 TI did a record of 38 wins (plus 3 other non championship races). The victories were obtained by seven different drivers: 17 (+1) Nicola Larini
, 13 (+1) Alessandro Nannini
, 2 Stefano Modena
, 2 (+1) Christian Danner
, 2 Michael Bartels
, 1 Kris Nissen
and 1 Gabriele Tarquini
.
Compact executive car
Compact executive car is a car classification term applied to premium cars smaller than executive cars. In European classification, compact executive cars are part of the D-segment. In North American terms, close equivalents are compact premium car, compact luxury car, entry-level luxury car and...
produced under the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
marque between 1992 and 1998.
Design
Built to replace the 75Alfa Romeo 75
The Alfa Romeo 75, sold in North America as the Milano, was a compact sports saloon / compact executive car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo between 1985 and 1992...
and based on the parent Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
Group's Type Three platform
Type Three platform
The Type Three platform was a front wheel drive platform used in the 1980s and 1990s for a range of Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Lancia models and is closely related to the Type Two platform which was used in the Fiat Tipo.-External links:*...
, the 155 was somewhat larger in dimension than the 75
Alfa Romeo 75
The Alfa Romeo 75, sold in North America as the Milano, was a compact sports saloon / compact executive car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo between 1985 and 1992...
but evolved its styling from that of its predecessor. The 155 was designed by Italian design house I.DE.A Institute
I.DE.A Institute
I.DE.A Institute is an automobile design and engineering company in Turin, Italy, founded in 1978...
. A exceptional drag coefficient of 0.29 was achieved with the body design. The design of the 155 allowed also big boot space, 525 litres (1,109.5 US pt).
The single most significant technical change from the 75
Alfa Romeo 75
The Alfa Romeo 75, sold in North America as the Milano, was a compact sports saloon / compact executive car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo between 1985 and 1992...
was the change to a front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...
layout. This new configuration gave cost and packaging benefits but many Alfa die-hards and the automotive press lamented the passing of the "purer" rear-wheel drive layout on a car from this sporting marque — the 155 was considered not in the tradition of Alfa's sporting saloons.
Also available was the 155 Q4 which had a 2.0 litre turbocharged
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
and a permanent four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
powertrain both derived from the Integrale; it was essentially a Lancia Integrale with a different body.
The new model came in "Sport" and "Super" guises. The Sport had a slightly lowered ride height and more aggressive dampers while the Super had the option of wooden trim and electronically controlled dampers and seat controls.
Reception of the new model was generally luke-warm. The 75 had been conceived prior to Fiat's acquisition of the Alfa brand, so as "the last real Alfa" it cast rather a shadow over the 155; the loss of rear-wheel drive was frequently cited as the main cause of the disappointment. Nevertheless, the 155 was entered in Touring Car racing and was successful in every major championship it entered which gradually improved its image.
Belatedly the factory introduced a wider version in 1995 (the "wide-body") which as well as a wider track and revised steering based on racing experience or requirements, also brought in new 16-valve engines for the 1.8 and 2.0 litre and also some improvements to cabin materials and build quality. The all wheel drive version, the Q4, was discontinued but its V6 engine continued to be offered ont front wheel drive versions.
There were several Sport Packs available, including a race-inspired body kit (spoiler and side skirts) and black or graphite coloured 16" Speedline wheels. The more genteel could opt for the Super which came with wood inserts in the cabin and silver painted alloy wheels.
The 155 was never produced as a Sportwagon (Alfa's term for an estate / station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
) but Sbarro
Sbarro (automobile)
Sbarro is a small Swiss high-performance replica and sports car company founded by Franco Sbarro in 1971.-Models:thumb|Sbarro Espera ESP 9The first Sbarro offered was a replica of the Lola T70, powered by a 5.4-liter Chevrolet V8...
made a proposal for such a vehicle in 1994.
Production of the 155 ceased in 1998 when the 155 was replaced by the 156
Alfa Romeo 156
The Alfa Romeo 156 is a compact executive car introduced by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show as the replacement for the Alfa Romeo 155...
which was a further development in terms of quality and refinement and finally moved away from the wedge styling — leaving the 155 as the pinnacle of that particular design stream which dated back to 1977 with the dramatic square styling of the Giulietta Nuova
Alfa Romeo Giulietta (nuova)
The Alfa Romeo Giulietta is an automobile manufactured by the Italian car maker Alfa Romeo. The car was introduced in November 1977 and while it took its name from the original Giulietta of 1954 to 1965, it was a new design based on the Alfa Romeo Alfetta chassis .-History:At the beginning, two...
.
Timeline
- 1992: 155 launched
- 1993: Grill changed from flushed to recessed
- 1994: 155 Silverstone introduced to the BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
market, 155 Q4 and turbodiesels to some markets - 1995: New "widebody" series 2 155 launched with wider track, initially only with 2.0 16v engine. Quickrack fitted
- 1996: Widebody with 1.8 16v engine introduced
- 1998: Production ends
Features
The 155 was initially released with 1.7 L Twin Spark, 1.8 L Twin Spark, and 2.0 L Twin Spark petrol enginePetrol engine
A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels....
s, the latter two with variable valve timing. The 1.7 L was not sold in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Two four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
s, of 1.9 L (92 PS) and 2.5 L (125 PS) were available in some markets, but again not the UK.
At the top of the 155 range were the 2.5 L V6, using a (166 PS) engine derived from the 3.0 L V6 used in the larger Alfa Romeo 164
Alfa Romeo 164
The Alfa Romeo 164 is an executive car with saloon body, produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo from 1987 to 1998.The 164 was re-badged as the 168 for the Hong Kong and Malaysian markets, as the number "164" had a very negative connotation , and "168" has quite the opposite The Alfa Romeo 164...
, and the Q4 which used a drivetrain derived from the Lancia Delta
Lancia Delta
The Lancia Delta is a small family car produced by Italian automaker Lancia with the first generation being produced between 1979 and 1994, the second generation running from 1993 until 1999, and the third generation Delta entering production in 2008. It was first shown inFrankfurt Motor Show in 1979...
Integrale which meant a 190 PS 2.0 L 16V turbocharged engine and permanent four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
. The Q4 also incorporated three differential gears (normal at the front, epicyclic at the centre (including a Ferguson viscous coupling) and torsen self-locking at the rear). Both the 2.5 V6 and Q4 models were also available with electronically adjustable suspension with two damper settings (automatic and sport).
The most notable special edition was the "Silverstone" edition released in the UK which was known as the "Formula" in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
: this was released as a homologation exercise to allow Alfa Romeo to compete in the British Touring Car Championship
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
race series and consequently came with a bolt-on aero-kit consisting of an adjustable rear spoiler and extendible front air splitter.
The Silverstone was a lighter but no more powerful version of the 1.8 L, even though the race car it was homologating had a 2.0 L engine. This anomaly came about because the 1.8 L engine block, with its narrower bore, allowed Alfa to use a longer stroke on the racing car and stay within the 2.0 L capacity limit.
The Silverstone was only available in either Alfa red or Black paintwork with plain, unpainted bumpers.
1995 facelift
The revised car also received a quicker steering rack, with 2.2 turns lock to lock (initially only on the 2.0 , but later followed by the 1.8 L). The 4-cylinder cars retained the twin spark ignition system but received Alfa-designed 16-valve cylinder heads with belt-driven camshafts based on engine blocks of Fiat design. They replaced the elderly but indestructible all-Alfa 8-valve, chain-driven camshaft motors of the earlier models.
The 2.5 L v6 continued in wide body form (but without the steering changes) while the Q4 was discontinued. In Europe the 1.7 L Twin Spark was replaced by a 1.6 L 16-valve Twin Spark. Some 8-valve engines continued in a wide body car in some markets.
The wide-bodied cars also received revised interiors and equipment specifications to keep the cars competitive in the showroom.
The wide body ("Series 2") 155s can be distinguished from their earlier counterparts by their flared front and smooth rear wheel arches (the latter replacing the lip round the wheel arch of the original). They also sported round or oblong indicator side-repeaters and had their model badges moved to below the rear lights rather than having them above.
Engines
| Model | Engine | Volume | Power | Torque | 0–100 km/h, s 0-62 mph, s |
Top speed | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.7 8V | I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
1749 cc | 84 kW (115 PS) @6000 rpm | 146 newton metre @3500 rpm | 10.6 | 191 km/h (118.7 mph) | |
| 1.8 8V | I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
1773 cc | 98 kW (129 PS) @6000 rpm | 165 newton metre @5000 rpm | 10.3 | 200 km/h (124.3 mph) | |
| 2.0 8V | I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
1995 cc | 104 kW (143 PS) @6000 rpm | 187 newton metre @5000 rpm | 9.3 | 205 km/h (127.4 mph) | |
| 2.5 V6 | V6 | 2492 cc | 120 kW (166 PS) @5800 rpm | 216 newton metre @4500 rpm | 8.4 | 215 km/h (133.6 mph) | |
| Q4 | I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
1995 cc | 137 kW (190 PS) @6000 rpm | 291 newton metre @2500 rpm | 7.0 | 225 km/h (139.8 mph) | |
| 1.6 16V | I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
1598 cc | 88 kW (120 PS) @6300 rpm | 144 newton metre @4500 rpm | 11.4 | 195 km/h (121.2 mph) | since 1995 |
| 1.8 16V | I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
1747 cc | 103 kW (140 PS) @6300 rpm | 165 newton metre @4000 rpm | 10.0 | 205 km/h (127.4 mph) | since 1995 |
| 2.0 16V | I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
1970 cc | 110 kW (150 PS) @6200 rpm | 187 newton metre @4000 rpm | 9.0 | 210 km/h (130.5 mph) | since 1995 |
| 2.0 TD | I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
1929 cc | 66 kW (90 PS) @4100 rpm | 186 newton metre @2500 rpm | 13.5 | 180 km/h (111.8 mph) | |
| 2.5 TD | I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
|2500 cc | 92 kW (125 PS) @4200 rpm | 294 newton metre @2000 rpm | 10.4 | 195 km/h (121.2 mph) |
155 TI.Z and GTAZ
ZagatoZagato
Zagato is a design consultancy and engineering services company situated just outside Milan, Italy.The company's premises occupy an area of , of which are covered....
made two special versions of 155. 1993 was introduced 155 TI.Z and 1995 155 GTAZ. Both models had more muscular looking exterior and more power than regular models, the TI.Z had 170 PS Twin Spark engine
Alfa Romeo Twin Spark engine
Alfa Romeo Twin Spark technology was used first time in Alfa Romeo Grand Prix car in 1914. In the early 1960s it was used in their race cars to enable it to achieve a higher power output from its engines...
and GTAZ had the 155 Q4's turbocharged two litre engine now producing 215 PS. Both models were built only a limited amount and many of the cars were sent to Japan.
155 in motorsport
Touring car racing
Touring car racing is a general term for a number of distinct auto racing competitions in heavily-modified street cars. It is notably popular in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Scandinavia and Britain.-Characteristics of a touring car:...
, using the Supertouring
Supertouring
Super Touring, Class 2 or Class II was a motor racing Touring Cars category defined by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile for national touring car racing in 1993. It was based on the "2 litre Touring Car Formula" created for the British Touring Car Championship in 1990...
-homologated GTA and the V6 TI for the DTM
Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft
The Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft was a touring car racing series held from 1984 to 1996. Originally based in Germany, it held additional rounds elsewhere in Europe and later worldwide....
. Between 1992 and 1994, the 155 managed to take the Italian Superturismo championship, the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
DTM championship (both with Nicola Larini
Nicola Larini
Nicola Larini is a racing driver from Italy. He participated in 75 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on September 6, 1987. He finished second in the tragic 1994 San Marino Grand Prix on a substitute outing for Ferrari, but only scored points once more in his career...
at the wheel), the Spanish Touring Car Championship (with Adrián Campos
Adrián Campos
Adrián Campos Suñer is a retired Formula One driver from Spain. He participated in 21 Grands Prix, debuting on April 12, 1987, without scoring a championship point. He later moved into team management, with more success...
), and the British Touring Car Championship
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
(with Gabriele Tarquini
Gabriele Tarquini
Gabriele Tarquini is a racing driver from Italy. He participated in 78 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on May 3, 1987. He scored 1 championship point, and holds the record for the most failed attempts to qualify...
). The 155 remained competitive until it was replaced with the 156, finishing third in the DTM (then known as the International Touring Car Championship, or ITC) in 1996 with Alessandro Nannini
Alessandro Nannini
Alessandro "Sandro" Nannini is a former racing driver from Italy. He is the younger brother of rock-singer Gianna Nannini.-Biography:...
and winning the Spanish championship again in 1997 with Fabrizio Giovanardi
Fabrizio Giovanardi
Fabrizio Giovanardi is an Italian racing driver. During his career he has won eight touring car titles, including European and British crowns...
.
In 1993 Larini in an Alfa 155 was vice-champion in FIA World Touring Car Cup behind Paul Radisich in a Ford Mondeo. Afterwards, in 2009, it was known that the Mondeo ran that race with an engine 0f 2,200 cc instead of a regular 2,000 cc. The 156 was to continue the high standard set by the 155, winning the European Touring Car Championship
European Touring Car Championship
The European Touring Car Championship was an international touring car racing series organised by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second between 2000 and 2004...
multiple times.
155 V6 TI
Alfa Corse
Alfa Corse is the name of Alfa Romeo's factory racing team. Throughout the years, Alfa Corse has competed in various forms of motorsport, from Grand Prix motor racing to touring car racing....
used starting from 1993 in DTM season
Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft
The Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft was a touring car racing series held from 1984 to 1996. Originally based in Germany, it held additional rounds elsewhere in Europe and later worldwide....
(Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft) racing series. German Schübel Engineering racing team also entered three 1993 spec cars and one 94 spec car on the 1993 season. The 93 spec 155 had Jägermeister
Jägermeister
Jägermeister is a German 70-proof digestif made with 56 different herbs and spices. It is the flagship product of Mast-Jägermeister SE, headquartered in Wolfenbüttel, south of Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, Germany.- History :...
sponsorship
livery.
The 1993 season was dominated by Nicola Larini
Nicola Larini
Nicola Larini is a racing driver from Italy. He participated in 75 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on September 6, 1987. He finished second in the tragic 1994 San Marino Grand Prix on a substitute outing for Ferrari, but only scored points once more in his career...
winning 11 of 22 races, another driver on that season in Alfa Corse was Alessandro Nannini
Alessandro Nannini
Alessandro "Sandro" Nannini is a former racing driver from Italy. He is the younger brother of rock-singer Gianna Nannini.-Biography:...
.
On the 1995 season the team got new sponsorship livery, Martini Racing
Martini Racing
Martini Racing is the name under which various motor racing teams raced when sponsored by the Martini & Rossi distillery that produces Martini vermouth. Martini's sponsorship program began in 1968...
, on the 96 season one of the drivers were Christian Danner
Christian Danner
Christian Danner is a former race car driver from Germany.The son of well-known car safety expert Max Danner, Christian started motor-racing in the Renault 5 cup...
driving Alfa Corse TV Spielfilm team. The 1996 season was the last for Alfa Romeo.
The 1996 version had a 2.5 L 90° V6 engine delivering 490 PS at 11,900 rpm, had a top speed of around 300 kilometre per hour and weighed
1060 kilograms (2,336.9 lb).
The Alfa 155 V6 TI did a record of 38 wins (plus 3 other non championship races). The victories were obtained by seven different drivers: 17 (+1) Nicola Larini
Nicola Larini
Nicola Larini is a racing driver from Italy. He participated in 75 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on September 6, 1987. He finished second in the tragic 1994 San Marino Grand Prix on a substitute outing for Ferrari, but only scored points once more in his career...
, 13 (+1) Alessandro Nannini
Alessandro Nannini
Alessandro "Sandro" Nannini is a former racing driver from Italy. He is the younger brother of rock-singer Gianna Nannini.-Biography:...
, 2 Stefano Modena
Stefano Modena
Stefano Modena is a former racing driver from Italy. He participated in 81 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on November 15, 1987. He achieved 2 podiums, and scored a total of 17 championship points....
, 2 (+1) Christian Danner
Christian Danner
Christian Danner is a former race car driver from Germany.The son of well-known car safety expert Max Danner, Christian started motor-racing in the Renault 5 cup...
, 2 Michael Bartels
Michael Bartels
Michael Bartels is a professional racing driver. He is a multiple FIA GT champion and former Grand Prix driver who failed to qualify for 4 Formula One races with Lotus.-Career:...
, 1 Kris Nissen
Kris Nissen
Nils-Kristian "Kris" Nissen is a retired Danish auto racing driver. He is Volkswagen's motorsport director.-Single seater and sports car racing racing:...
and 1 Gabriele Tarquini
Gabriele Tarquini
Gabriele Tarquini is a racing driver from Italy. He participated in 78 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on May 3, 1987. He scored 1 championship point, and holds the record for the most failed attempts to qualify...
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Gallery
External links
- http://www.synthesisdesign.it/gt_a.html Synthesis design / Carlo Gaino designer of 155 GTA