156
European Car of the Year 1998. Walter de Silva's design revived Alfa Romeo's brand identity with hidden rear door handles that gave the sedan a coupe-like profile. The 2.5 V6 Busso engine is widely considered the finest-sounding V6 ever produced.
History
The 156 arrived when Alfa Romeo desperately needed a hit. Walter de Silva delivered one of the most striking sedan designs of the 1990s. The rear door handles were hidden in the C-pillar, creating the illusion of a four-door coupe two decades before the concept became mainstream.
The Busso V6 (named after its creator Giuseppe Busso) was the star. The 2.5-liter produced 192 PS with a sound that no turbocharged engine has ever replicated: mechanical, musical, and unmistakably Italian.
The GTA variant used a 3.2-liter version producing 250 PS, with aggressive bodywork and Brembo brakes. It was one of the fastest front-wheel-drive sedans of its era.
The 156 won European Car of the Year 1998 and sold over 680,000 units, saving Alfa Romeo from potential discontinuation. The Busso V6 remained in production until 2005, the last great naturally aspirated V6 from Italy.
Production & Heritage
Value estimates are editorial assessments based on recent auction results and market trends.
Technical Specifications
Engine Details
Performance
Tags
Designed by Walter de Silva
From the 1990s
