| The fascinating Alfa Romeo Brera at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show
The 39th edition of the Tokyo Motor Show, running from 21 October to 6 November, is Asia's most important motor industry showcase, with the participation of 239 exhibitors and among them, the world's top car and motorcycle manufacturers. Obviously Alfa Romeo will be one of them, present with a clean-cut stand design in which alternating, stylistically elegant lines and spaces highlight the flowing, aerodynamic design of the many cars on show.
This in a few words is the spirit of the Alfa Romeo stand at the Tokyo Show. A high-impact display area designed to welcome and involve visitors, one where they can get to know and experience what have always been the Italian manufacturer's hallmarks: 'sportiness and elegance' originating from cutting-edge technology and a unique heritage within the world motoring scene.
Ambassadors of this philosophy will be the Alfa GT, Alfa 147 and the latest generation Alfa Romeo cars born out of the 'Alfa 159' project, all equipped with Euro 4 engines. But the real star on the stand will be the fascinating Alfa Brera, a car that will be presented in Italy to the international press at the end of October and be on sale from the end of 2005.
But first, a word about the two new Alfa 159 saloons on show. One will be a Q4 (4-wheel drive) version, equipped with the powerful new 3.2 V6 JTS 24 valve engine that develops 191 kW (260bhp) and also features a 'Ruby red' body colour that admirably expresses Alfa Romeo's concept of 'classic sportiness'. The second saloon– on show in a silver-coloured livery - also has one of the three new JTS engines available in the range: this time the 2.2 JTS unit with a maximum power output of 136 kW (185 bhp) at 6500 rpm and a torque of 230 Nm (23.4 kgm) at 4500 rpm.
One thing both the Alfa 159s have in common is a wealth of standard features, for instance, the facia, seats and panels upholstered in Frau full-gain "pieno fiore" leather in either grey, black or beige. And then the three-zone climate control, aluminium panels, electric seats, Cruise control, 7 airbags, VDC stability control with hill holder, radio map navigator with telephone and voice control, xenon headlights and 18" alloy wheels in a classic sports design (either with perforations or spokes, depending on the version).
At the Japanese show the spotlight will also be on the Alfa GT, the model created together with Bertone. The new car launches an original styling, rich content and superb performance - a brand-new sports concept combined with elegance and comfort. The car on show will be equipped with a 2.0 JTS Selespeed, 165 bhp power unit that can reach a maximum speed of 216 km/h and acceleration from 0 a 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds. In addition to scintillating performance the model also has a wealth of standard features like, 6 airbags, Cruise control, VDC, two-zone climate control, 17" alloy wheels, radio with MP3 reader, Bose hi-fi system, sporty leather seats, ski compartment, leather-trimmed steering wheel fitted with radio controls and dual chromed exhaust outlet. And of course customers can personalise their car thanks to a wealth of options: from xenon headlights to a sports pedal set in aluminium or 18" alloy wheels and Frau "pieno fiore" leather upholstery.
There's also space at the Tokyo Show for the Alfa 147. With its harmonious yet always muscular line this Alfa Romeo compact will be on show with updated styling, several new mechanical features and a sporty 1.9 JTD, 150 bhp engine, plus more advanced systems in the safety field - VDC, ASR, ABS complete with EBD and 6 airbags as standard throughout the range. Two versions will be on show at Tokyo: the first, an Alfa 147 GTA - one of the fastest, most powerful cars in its category (250 bhp - 184 kW) - equipped with a Selespeed sequential gearbox.
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