'Ti' spread thin?

Alfa Romeo's 159 Ti is back on the scene, with wagon and diesel variants added to the model selection. Whether it's entirely appropriate to label diesel and wagon variants of a volume-selling car using a renowned appellation from the history of motor sport is, perhaps, a question for Alfa Romeo buyers to answer for themselves.

Fitted with a lot of creature comforts and exclusive sporting accoutrements, the 159 Ti sedan was a runaway hit with Alfa buyers on its release in August last year (more here). The popularity of the limited edition model caught the importer by surprise, selling out of stock within a matter of weeks. Buyers interested in the car have had to wait this long for a second allocation to reach Australia, according to Ateco Automotive, the importers and distributors of the Italian marque.

Now, along with the petrol sedan models, the importer has also arranged for the new shipment to include wagon and diesel variants equipped to the 159 Ti's specification and trim level.

The decision to sell diesel variants of the 159 Ti came about through the surprising popularity of the diesel engine in the broader 159 range.

"Given the success of the first generation 159 Ti, we have added the Sportwagon to the programme and with turbodiesel engines now accounting for more than half of 159 sales in Australia, the 2.4 JTD Turbo Diesel in Ti form was a must," says General Manager for Alfa Romeo in Australia, Edward Butler.

Both the petrol four-cylinder and diesel variants are equipped with the same additional features over the standard cars, but the V6 models, being already specified to a higher level of trim in standard form, are not as 'enhanced'.

The four-cylinder models (petrol and diesel) gain the following features in the Ti level of trim: 20mm-lowered sports suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels, 235/40 R19 tyres, Brembo brakes with red calipers, a body kit, burnished aluminium finish for the exterior mirror shells, leather-trimmed sports seats, red stitching on seats, gear knob and steering wheel, darkened aluminium alloy dashboard trim, red-ringed instruments, alloy pedals, alloy scuff plates, black headlining, electrically-adjustable front seats with memory function for driver's seat, MP3-compatible audio and Bluetooth connectivity.

V6-powered 159 Ti models are similarly equipped, but the standard car is already fitted with such items as the Brembo brakes (without the red paint for the calipers, however), the electrically-adjustable front seats and driver's memory function, the MP3 audio and Bluetooth.

Prices are:
$54,990 -- 159 Ti 2.2 JTS (petrol) manual
$56,990 -- 159 Ti 2.2 JTS (petrol) Selespeed
$58,990 -- 159 Ti 2.4 JTD (diesel) manual
$61,990 -- 159 Ti 2.4 JTD (diesel) automatic
$76,990 -- 159 Ti 3.2 V6 (petrol) manual
$79,990 -- 159 Ti 3.2 V6 (petrol) automatic

$57,990 -- 159 Ti Sportwagon 2.2 JTS manual
$59,990 -- 159 Ti Sportwagon 2.2 JTS Selespeed
$61,240 -- 159 Ti Sportwagon 2.4 diesel manual
$64,240 -- 159 Ti Sportwagon 2.4 diesel auto
$79,990 -- 159 Ti Sportwagon 3.2 V6 manual
$82,990 -- 159 Ti Sportwagon 3.2 V6 auto

"If the package of equipment that combines to produce the Ti was available separately, it would add approximately $10,000 to the cost of the 159," says Butler.

"But the price difference is just $2000 for the V6 version and $5,000 for 2.2 JTS and 2.4 JTD equipped 159 Ti."

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