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New JTS Direct-Injection engine from Alfa
2002-05-15 - By Philip Byrne
From the moment of its launch late in 1997 the Alfa 156 created an enormous impact. The car’s dramatic and original styling promised much in the way of personality, enjoyment and excitement.
 It was obvious that if the driving experience were as good as the design this newcomer would be a huge success. In fact the car was everything the design promised and so Alfa 156 won the 1998 European Car of the Year award and 35 other major awards, over 460,000 models were bought and it has helped to push Alfa Romeo’s share of the European market from 0.9% to 1.4%.
The Alfa 156 was the first car in the world to be equipped with Common Rail Turbo Diesel technology. Both the saloon and the more recently launched Sportwagon offered a 2.4 litre JTD engine, a real eye-opener for anyone who thought of diesel engines as sluggish, unresponsive and unexciting. Then Selespeed sequential gear-changing system appeared on a 2.0 Alfa 156. This is the system used on Ferrari’s Formula1 cars where gear changing is by way of paddles located on the steering column; in the Alfa 156 it may also be by way of a floor-mounted gear lever. All this emphasised how advanced but practical technology was reinvigorating the famous brand, restoring Alfa Romeo to a leading place in the automotive world.
The blend of classically elegant design and brilliant innovative engineering had brought the Alfa 156 to its leading position in the market in the late 90s; something very dramatic was needed to keep it there, ahead of competitors. Now the new Model Year 2002 Alfa 156 range makes its debut. While the external styling is virtually unchanged the comfort and equipment levels have been enhanced and there are innovations and improvements to all areas of suspension and braking. The real excitement is in the arrival of new versions and the development of existing versions of both saloons and Sportwagons. These include
- a revolutionary new 2.0 litre direct-injection petrol engine making its world debut;
- introducing a more powerful 2.4 litre JTD engine;
- reintroducing the famous GTA designation on high performance 3.2 litre V6. Versions.
New 2.0 JTS- a break-through in engine technology.
The Alfa 156 was the first car in the world fitted with a Common Rail Turbo Diesel engine, an engine now regarded as the benchmark to which all others aspire. It is therefore appropriate that the Model Year 2002 Alfa 156 should offer another world fist.
Direct injection of petrol into the combustion chamber has been an ideal for engineers since 1877 when Nicholas Otto took out a patent. The system has been used to increase performance (in racing cars during the 1960s) and more recently to improve fuel consumption. The new 2.0 JTS unit in the Alfa 156 is the first direct-injection engine in the world to produce power greater than 82bhp per litre (60kW/l) and a specific torque of more than 100Newtonmetres per litre. This makes the JTS an ultra-high performance engine still offering exceptional fuel consumption, it meets the very stringent Euro4 emission limits and most significantly does not need low-sulphur petrol. For all these reasons this JTS engine is the forerunner of a new direct injection petrol power unit family that will equip Alfa Romeo models from now on.
JTS -the acronym for Jet Thrust Stoichiometric- blends the latest advances in lean-burn technology and produces a brilliant new way of overcoming some very long-standing problems. Compared to the current 2.0 litre petrol engine the new JTS unit offers lower fuel consumption, 10% more bhp (up from 150bhp to165bhp) and an even more dramatic increase in available torque, up by 13% from 181 Nm (18.5kg.) to 206 Nm (21kgm). The benefit for the driver is improved engine response, smoother acceleration from low speed and no fuel penalties.
More powerful 2.4 JTD Turbo Diesel engines.
There may still be some people who find it hard to reconcile Alfa Romeo’s image (summed up in the slogan‘ Cuore Sportivo’-The Sporting Heart’) with a diesel engine. However everyone who has driven the 2.4litre 140bhp Alfa 156 JTD will know that this lively and responsive Common Rail unit made all other diesel technology redundant. For the first time ever spots-loving drivers could have really outstanding performance from a diesel engine of less than 3 litres and instead of diesel clatter they got a true Alfa sound from the engine.
Alfa Romeo once again takes a lead and the new Model Year 2002 range will come with an even more powerful 2.4 litre unit. The 5-cylinder engine now has different engine control unit mapping, to boost output from 14obhp to 150bhp. That increases top speed to 212km/h (+130mph) with no increase in fuel consumption. In fact overall fuel consumption figures have been improved- in the test for fuel used over the combined cycle the new engine needed only 6.6 litres to cover 100km. compared to 6.7 litres for the old engine.
The legend lives- GTA returns!
The first GTA was created in 1965 when an Alfa Giulia Sprint was ‘lightened’ –(‘Allegerita’) and adapted to compete in many of the major motor races of the time. These GTAs won so many events in Europe and the USA that Alfa Romeo could advertise their road car with the theme ‘ The car you drive to work is a champion ’.
The brief to the designers of the new Alfa 156 GTA reflects the direct simplicity of those earlier successes-‘ create a car for everyday use that could under the right circumstances give drivers the performance, behaviour and driving sensations of a car built for racing’.
The new GTA, saloons and Sportwagons, come with 3.2 litre V6 24 valve engines producing 250 bhp. and 300Nm torque (30.6kgm). Obviously the GTA lacks nothing for power, it is how that power is released and made available to drivers to create a truly memorable motoring experience in the great Alfa Romeo tradition that makes these newcomers so remarkable. The engine will take the car from a standing start to 100km/h (62mph) in just 6.3 secs and it takes a further 14.4 seconds to cover 1 km.
That extra power required many changes to braking and suspension systems. These include reinforcing parts of the suspension, new shock absorber spring settings and a bigger diameter anti-roll bar. Ventilated front disc brakes (305 X 28mm) with twin-plunger Brembo calipers, 276 X 10mm rear discs, ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distributor and Anti Slip Regulation are all standard items for these cars. Steering is more direct, with a revised ratio to give pinpoint precision.
Only on the GTA are there noticeable styling changes from the original Alfa 156 of 1997. These are not radical changes but ones that enhance the functional appearance; 17” wheels and 225/45 tyres, side-skirts and a revised air-intake below the front bumper make the GTA looks ‘beefier’ and lower to the ground.
The new Alfa 156 range-improved equipment levels.
While the exteriors of both the saloon and Sportwagon are unchanged (except for those few tweaks to the GTAs), the interiors have been extensively revised and the list of standard equipment items is appreciably longer. All versions now come with Bizone Automatic Climate Control System (most others in the segment might have only normal Air Conditioning), window bags for front/rear seat passengers, electric front and rear windows, CD player, leather steering wheel and alarm system.
Additionally all versions are fitted with Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and Emergency Brake Assist. VDC allows the driver complete control of the car under all conditions as it cuts in only under extreme circumstances when the car’s stability is at risk. VDC is permanently engaged and it works with the MSR system which in turn prevents loss of control and skidding as a result of wheel lock if engine torque is suddenly lost.
The new interiors feature a revised fascia, new central console, new seat trims and materials throughout. Slave radio controls are located in the steering wheel for added safety
The engines-heart and soul of every Alfa Romeo.
The Alfa 156 Model Year 2002 range will come to Ireland from late May with a choice of five engines, from 1.6 16v. to 3.3 24v.The power outputs and basic performance indicators are as follows
| | 1.6 16vTS. | 1.8 16v TS | 2.0 JTS. | 2.4 JTD. | 2.5 V6 24v | 3.2 V6 24v. | | Engine cc. | 1598. | 1747 | 1970 | 2387 | 2492 | 3179 | | Max Power. | 120bhp | 140bhp | 165bhp | 150bhp | 192bhp | 250bhp | | 0-100km/k. | 11.0secs | 9.7secs | 8.2secs | 9.4secs | 7.3sec | 6.3secs |
The New Alfa 156 range in Ireland.
The new Alfa 166 range in Ireland, saloons and Sportwagons, will include a total of 16 versions
Saloon.
1.6 T. Spark, Lusso & Sportivo.
1.8 T. Spark, Lusso & Sportivo.
2.0 JTS. Lusso & Sportivo.
2.0 JTS. Selespeed Sportivo.
2.4 JTD Sportivo.
2.5 V6 24v 6speed Sportivo
2.5 V6 24v Q-System Sportivo
GTA 3.2 V6 24v.
GTA 3.2 V6 24v Selespeed.
Sportwagon.
1.6 T. Spark Sportivo.
1.8 T. Spark Sportivo
2.0 JTS. Sportivo
2.0 JTS Selespeed Sportivo.
2.4 JTD. Sportivo.
GTA 3.2 V6 24v.
GTA 3.2 V6 24v.
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