The Alfa Romeo Alfetta (Type 116) is a front-engine, five-passenger saloon and fastback coupé manufactured and marketed by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo from 1972 to 1987 with a total of over 400,000 units produced during its production run.
The Alfetta was noted for the rear position of its transaxle (clutch and transmission) and its De Dion tube rear suspension — an arrangement designed to optimize handling by balancing front/rear weight distribution, as well as maintaining a low polar moment of inertia and low center of gravity. The interior of Coupé models featured a then unusual central tachometer placement — by itself, directly in front of the driver.
The Alfetta name, which means "little Alfa" in Italian is derived from the nickname of the Alfa Romeo Alfetta (Tipo 159), a successful Formula One car which in its last iteration introduced in 1951, paired a transaxle layout to De Dion tube rear suspension — like its modern namesake.
Design and dynamics
The Alfetta introduced a new drivetrain layout to the marque. The clutch and transmission were housed at the rear of the car, together with the differential for a more balanced weight distribution, as used on the Alfetta 158/159 Grand Prix cars. The suspension relied on double wishbones and torsion bars at the front and a De Dion tube at the rear. When leaving the factory, all Alfettas were originally fitted with Pirelli Cinturato 165HR14 tyres.
The rear de Dion transaxle found on the Alfetta and derivatives- GTV, 90 and 75- provided these cars with an excellent weight distribution. The handling benefits were noted in contemporary reviews.Cars and Vehicle Magazine, May 1973 The transaxle design, in combination with a Watt's parallelogram linkage, inboard rear brakes and a well-located de Dion rear suspension, resulted in balanced traction and handling. The front suspension design was unusual in that it incorporated independent longitudinal torsion bar springs acting directly onto the lower wishbones and with separate dampers.
Engines Model Engine Volume Power Torque Note1.6I41,570 cc at 5,600 rpm at 4,300 rpm1.8I41,779 cc at 5,500 rpm at 4,400 rpm2.0I41,962 cc at 5,300 rpm at 4,000 rpm2.0I41,962 cc at 5,400 rpm at 4,000 rpm2.0 TurboI41,962 cc at 5,500 rpm at 3,500 rpmGTV 2000 Turbodelta2.5 V6V62,492 cc at 5,600 rpm at 4,000 rpmGTV 63.0 V6V62,934 cc at 6,700 rpm at 4,300 rpmGTV 6 3.0 South Africa homologation model2.5 V6 Twin TurboV62,492 cc at 5,600 rpm at 2,500 rpmGTV 6 Callaway2.6 V8V82,593 cc at 6,500 rpm at 4,750 rpmGTV8, Autodelta limited edition2.0 TurbodieselI41,995 cc at 4,300 rpm at 2,300 rpmsaloon only2.4 TurbodieselI42,393 cc at 4,300 rpm at 2,300 rpmsaloon only
Berlina
History
The Alfetta saloon was launched in 1972, with a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine as a three-box, four-door, five-passenger notchback design ("Berlina" in Italian) penned in-house by Centro Stile Alfa Romeo. The front end was characterised by twin, equal-sized headlamps visually connected to a central narrow Alfa Romeo shield by three chrome bars, while the taillights featured three square elements. At the 1975 Brussels Motor Show Alfa Romeo introduced the , 108 PS (DIN) Alfetta 1.6 base model, distinguished by its single, larger round front headlamps. Meanwhile, the 1.8-litre Alfetta was rebadged Alfetta 1.8 and a few months later mildly restyled, further set apart from the 1.6 by a new grille with a wider central shield and horizontal chrome bars. Engines in both models were Alfa Romeo Twin Cams, with two overhead camshafts, 8-valves and two double-barrel carburettors. Two years later the 1.6 was upgraded to the exterior and interior features of the 1.8 model.
In 1977 a 2.0-litre model was added. Launched at the March Geneva Motor Show, the Alfetta 2000 replaced the outgoing Alfa Romeo 2000. This range-topping Alfetta was longer than other models, owing to a redesigned front end with rectangular headlights and larger bumpers with polyurethane inserts; the rectangular tail light clusters and C-pillar vents were revised, as were the dash, steering wheel and upholstery. Just a year later, in July 1978, the two-litre model was updated becoming the Alfetta 2000 L. Engine output rose from to ; with revised upholstery and simulated wood dash. The Alfetta 2000 was marketed as the Alfa Romeo Sport Sedan in the United States, where "Alfetta" name had less recognition than Europe. The 2000 received fuel injection in 1979.
A turbodiesel version was introduced in late 1979, the Alfetta Turbo D, whose engine was supplied by VM Motori. Apart from a boot lid badge, the Turbo D was equipped and finished like the top-of-the-line 2000 L both outside and inside. Therefore, it received a tachometer, but no standard power steering, despite an additional carried by the front axle. The turbodiesel engine, a first on an Alfa Romeo's passenger car, displaced 2.0 litres and produced . The Alfetta Turbo D was marketed mostly in Italy and in France, as well as a few other continental European markets with a favorable tax structure.
In 1981, Alfa Romeo developed a semi-experimental Alfetta model in collaboration with the University of Genoa, fitted with a modular variable displacement engine and an electronic engine control unit. This model was called the Alfetta CEM (Controllo Elettronico del Motore, or Electronic Engine Management), it was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The 2.0-litre modular engine featured fuel injection and ignition systems governed by an engine control unit, which could shut off two out of four cylinders as needed in order to reduce fuel consumption. An initial batch of ten examples were assigned to taxi drivers in Milan, to verify operation and performance in real-world situations. According to Alfa Romeo, during these tests cylinder deactivation was found to reduce fuel consumption by 12% in comparison to a CEM fuel-injected engine without variable displacement, and almost by 25% in comparison to the regular production carburetted 2.0-litre engines. In 1983 after the first trial, a small series of 1,000 examples was put on sale, offered to selected clients; 991 examples were ultimately produced. Despite this second experimental phase, the project development ended.
Fuel injected, US-specification versions of the Alfetta were sold as limited editions in some European countries; one example was the 1981 Alfetta LI America for the Italian market, based on the North American Sport Sedan.
In November 1981, the updated "Alfetta '82" range was launched, comprising 1.6, 1.8, 2.0 and 2.0 Turbo Diesel models. All variants adopted the bodyshell and interior of the 2.0-litre models; standard equipment became richer. All models in this range had black plastic rubbing strips, side sill mouldings, tail light surround and hubcaps; the 2000 sported a satin silver grille and a simulated mahogany steering wheel rim.
July 1982 saw the introduction of the range topping Alfetta Quadrifoglio Oro (meaning Gold Cloverleaf, a trim designation already used on the Alfasud), which took the place of the then discontinued 2000 L. The Quadrifoglio Oro was powered by a (DIN) version of the usual 1,962 cc engine, equipped with the SPICA mechanical fuel injection used on US-spec Alfettas; standard equipment included several digital and power-assisted accessories like a trip computer, check control panel and electrically adjustable seats. Visually the Quadrifoglio Oro was distinguished by twin round headlights, concave alloy wheels, and was only available in metallic grey or brown with brown interior plastics and specific beige velour upholstery.
+ Production numbers by model Version Years ProducedAlfetta1972–74 104,454Alfetta (RHD)1972–78 2,011Alfetta 1.81975–83 67,738Alfetta 1.61975–83 77,103Alfetta 20001976–77 34,733Alfetta 2000 (RHD)1977 1,450Alfetta 2000 L1978–80 60,097Alfetta 2.01981–84 48,750Alfetta 2.0 LI America1978–81 1,000Alfetta 2000 Turbo Diesel1979–84 23,530Alfetta Quadrifoglio Oro1982–84 19,340Alfetta CEM1983 991Alfetta 2.4 Turbo Diesel1983–84 7,220 Total 448,417
In March 1983, the Alfetta received its third and final facelift; the exterior was modernised with newly designed bumpers (integrating a front spoiler and extending to the wheel openings), a new grille, lower body plastic cladding, silver hubcaps and, at the rear, a full-width grey plastic fascia supporting rectangular tail lights with ribbed lenses and the number plate. The C-pillar ventilation outlets were moved to each side of the rear window. Inside there were a redesigned dashboard and instrumentation, new door panels and the check control panel from the Quadrifoglio Oro on all models. Top of the range models adopted an overhead console, which extended for the full length of the roof and housed three reading spot lamps, a central ceiling light, and controls for the electric windows. Alongside the facelift two new models were introduced: the 2.4-litre Turbo Diesel, which in most markets gradually replaced the previous 2.0-litre which was instead installed in the marginally smaller Giulietta. There was also a renewed two-litre Quadrifoglio Oro, equipped with electronic fuel injection. Thanks to the Bosch Motronic integrated electronic fuel injection and ignition the QO had the same output of the carburetted 2.0, while developing more torque and being more fuel efficient.
In April 1984 the successor of the Alfetta debuted, the larger Alfa Romeo 90. At the end of the year the Alfetta Berlina went out of production, after nearly 450,000 had been made over a 12-year production period.
Official use
The Alfa Romeo Alfetta was used as police car by the Carabinieri as well as by Polizia di Stato. It became well known throughout the world since it was Italian former Prime Minister Aldo Moro's official escort car when he was kidnapped by the Red Brigades.
Production and marketing
South African market South African models were first assembled at the Rosslyn manufacturing plant located outside Pretoria. These early 1973 models were manufactured alongside Datsuns. From 1974 South African Alfettas were manufactured at Alfa Romeo's own Brits plant. The 1600 model, with single headlamps as in Europe, arrived to complement the 1800 and 2000 in mid-1976. Beginning in October 1982, the Quadrifoglio Oro model was marketed as the Alfa Romeo 159i, with the fuel injected two-litre engine.
North American market The four-door Alfetta was sold in the United States from 1975 through 1977 under the name "Alfetta Sedan". From 1978 to 1979 a mildly restyled version was sold under the name "Sport Sedan"; this design was also offered in Italy as the "Alfetta 2.0 LI America".
GT
Alfetta GT and GTV The Alfetta saloon was the base for the Alfetta GT, a 2-door, 4-seater fastback coupé designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign. Introduced in 1974, similarly to the saloon it was initially available only with the version of the Alfa Romeo Twin Cam engine. These engines featured a chain driven 8-valve twin overhead cam cylinder head of cross-flow design. In 1976, with the final phasing out of the earlier 105 Series (GT 1300 Junior and GT 1600 Junior and 2000 GTV), the model range of the Alfetta GT was expanded; the 1.8-litre engine was discontinued in favour of the 1.6-litre (1,570 cc) Alfetta GT 1.6 and 2.0-litre (1,962 cc) Alfetta GTV 2.0. At the same time some updates were introduced, such as a new front grille with horizontal slats and two series of vents beneath it. The GTV was distinguished from the 1.6 version by twin chrome whiskers in the grille and GTV scripts carved in the ventilation vents on the C-pillar.