Alfa Romeo 145 and 146

Alfa Romeo 145 Alfa Romeo 146
Alfa Romeo 145 Quadrifoglio
Alfa Romeo 146 ti
Overview
Manufacturer	Alfa Romeo
Production	1994–2000 (145) 1995–2000 (146)
Assembly	Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy[1]
Designer	Chris Bangle at Centro Stile Fiat (145)[2] Centro Stile Alfa Romeo under Walter de Silva (146)
Body and chassis
Class	Small family car (C)
Body style	3-door hatchback (145) 5-door hatchback (146)
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Platform	Fiat Type Two platform (Tipo due)[3]
Related	Fiat Tipo Lancia Delta
Powertrain
Engine	1.4 L Boxer H4 (petrol) 1.6 L Boxer H4 (petrol) 1.7 L Boxer H4 (petrol) 1.4 L Twin Spark I4 (petrol) 1.6 L Twin Spark I4 (petrol) 1.8 L Twin Spark I4 (petrol) 2.0 L Twin Spark I4 (petrol) 1.9 L I4 (turbocharged diesel) 1.9 L JTD I4 (turbocharged diesel)
Transmission	5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,540 mm (100.0 in)
Length	1994–99: 4,093 mm (161.1 in) (145) 4,257 mm (167.6 in) (146) 1999–01: 4,061 mm (159.9 in) (145) 4,235 mm (166.7 in) (146)
Width	1,712 mm (67.4 in)
Height	1,426 mm (56.1 in)
Kerb weight	1,140–1,275 kg (2,513–2,811 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Alfa Romeo 33
Successor	Alfa Romeo 147

The Alfa Romeo 145 (Tipo 930A) and the Alfa Romeo 146 (930B) are small family cars produced by Italian automobile manufacturer Alfa Romeo in Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy between 1994 and 2000. The 145 is a three-door hatchback and was launched at the 1994 Turin Motor Show, while the 146 is a five-door hatchback, launched in 1995 to replace the Alfa Romeo 33. The 145 and 146 share design plans and interior components from the B-pillar forwards.^[4][5] 221,037 145s and 233,295 146s were built.

History

Development of Tipo 930, the replacement for the ageing 33 in the competitive family hatchback market, lasted four years.^[6] The first offspring of the project, the 3-door 145, made its début on static display at the April 1994 Turin Motor Show^[7] at then at the Paris Motor Show in July;^[6] a simultaneous European commercial launch was planned for 9 September, but it was delayed until October.^[8] It was only in April 1992 that work had begun on a second car, the 146 or Tipo 930B, derived from and to be sold alongside the 145; with its more traditionally Alfa Romeo style it was aimed at a different clientele, that of the outgoing Alfa Romeo 33.^[9] The 146 premiéred in November 1994 at the Bologna Motor Show^[10] and went on sale in May 1995.^[11]

At launch the engine line-up for both cars comprised a 1.9-litre inline-four turbo diesel and the boxer petrol engines from the 33, in 1.3^{[lower-alpha 1]} 8-valve, 1.6 8-valve and range topping 1.7 16-valve forms.^[11][12] Depending on the market, the engines were available in either or both base and better equipped L (for "Lusso") trim levels; L trim standard equipment was richer on larger engined cars.

Quadrifoglio and ti

Flagship sport models with the two-litre 16-valve Twin Spark inline-four engine from the Alfa Romeo 155 arrived a year after the début: the 145 Quadrifoglio and 146 ti. Each of the two-litre versions had a unique trim level; both included richer standard equipment than L trims, like ABS, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob and available Recaro sport seats.

Rear view of a 146

The 145 Quadrifoglio (145 Cloverleaf in the UK), launched at the September 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show and on sale from October,^[13] had deep body-colour side skirts with "green cloverleaf" badges and 5-hole alloy wheels. The 146 ti^{[lower-alpha 2]} went on sale in February 1996.^[14] It came with painted side skirts, a boot spoiler and 12-hole alloy wheels. Two-litre cars were equipped with stiffer suspension, uprated all-disk braking system, ABS, wider, lower-profile tires and 'quick-rack' direct steering (also seen on the 155, GTV and Spider) which improved responsiveness, but also compromised the turning circle. The sporty suspension set-up was harsher than many others in its category at the time, but this was in line with the Fiat Group's marketing of Alfa Romeo as a sporting brand and it is said to have resulted in class leading handling.

First revisions

From January 1997 all the boxers were phased out in favour of 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 versions of the Twin Spark 16-valve engine.^[15][16] 1.8-litre cars adopted the sport chassis, steering and brakes of the Quadrifoglio/ti, and also offered some of their optional equipment such as the sport seats.

At the same time the interior was updated: a new air conditioning system, a redesigned dashboard an upholstered insert were fitted. ^[17] Outside changes were minor: new wheel covers and alloy wheels and a wider choice of paint colours. In late 1997 Alfa Romeo introduced the Junior, a trim level targeted at young buyers that combined the sport styling and chassis setup of the range topping models with the affordable entry-level 1.4 powertrain,^[18] later with 1.6 engine too. Based on the 1.4 L, Junior cars were distinguished by the Quadrifoglio's side skirts with "Junior" badges, specific 15 inch alloy wheels, and by the stainless steel exhaust tip (as well as, on the 146, the boot spoiler) from the ti.

A year later 1.8 and 2.0 Twin Spark engines received the updates first introduced on the Alfa Romeo 156; thanks to variable length intake manifolds the two powertrains gained 4-5 PS and reached peak torque at engine speeds some 500 rpm lower.^[19]

1999 restyling

Sport pack-equipped 145 facelift

At the Geneva Motor Show in March 1999 Alfa Romeo introduced the restyled '99 line-up for both models.^[20] The new common rail direct injection 1.9 JTD turbo diesel replaced the 1.9 TD. The main changes outside were new, body-colour bumpers with round fog lights and narrow protection strips; the interior got new upholstery and detail trim changes such as chrome vent surrounds. Optional side airbags complemented the already available passenger and standard driver airbags. The Junior trim level was discontinued, in favour of "pack sport" option package that included side skirts, rear spoiler, alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and sport seats, all standard features on the two-litre models. A second "pack lusso" package offered leather steering wheel, velour upholstery and mahogany wood trim.

In September of the next year, at the Paris Motor Show the all-new Alfa Romeo 147.^[21] Eventually, in 2000, the cars were superseded by the all-new 147, which was a far bigger commercial success, with its acclaimed styling front end and improved quality. Still, many enthusiasts feel that it lost a little of the special feel and Alfa Romeo that the 145 had.

Specifications

Based, as they were, on the Fiat Group's Tipo Due (Type Two) platform, the 145 and 146 had a unibody structure, front MacPherson strut and rear trailing arm suspensions. A peculiarity of these cars is that they were designed to be fitted with both longitudinal engines (the older Boxers) and with transverse engines (the diesels and the Twin Spark). The former were mounted in the same configuration as on the 33 or Alfasud, that is longitudinally overhanging the front axle with the gearbox towards the cabin; the latter in the conventional transverse position with the gearbox to the left side. All engines were coupled to 5-speed manual transmissions. Steering was rack and pinion, with standard hydraulic power assistance.

Engines

Performance

Reception and legacy

Alfa Romeo 145 Quadrifoglio Verde

Styling themes introduced in the Alfa Romeo 164 were continued on these two models. A spacious and uniquely Italian interior was presented to the press at the 1994 launch, and by all accounts well received. The oddly shaped, cut-away dashboard attracted much attention, but in fact the design was for safety and practicality rather than aesthetics. The cars were widely praised for their handling, particularly their sharp, responsive steering.

The more conservatively styled 146 proved a bigger sales success than the edgy design of the 145, which in retrospect appears too avant-garde for mainstream sales success. The 145 has a strong following, particularly in top specification Cloverleaf guise; it is seen, along with the 146 as not only the last old school hot hatch built by Alfa but, arguably, by any car company. While the volume of 145s and 146s sold was moderately low, parts availability remains good, in most cases direct from Alfa Romeo. Owners clubs can often advise on multiple sources of parts or workarounds.

The 145 and 146 are prized by performance minded Alfisti as a source of performance upgrades for the earlier Sprint. As these cars were initially designed for use with the Alfasud boxer engines, and later updates with Twinspark units, it is technically feasible to take a late 16v boxer engine from these cars and directly transplant it into a Sprint, giving the car a tremendous performance upgrade in the process.

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alfa Romeo 145.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alfa Romeo 146.

• Alfa Romeo 145 / 146 Technical Centre

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