Alfa Romeo 156

After years of decline, the 156 marked a turning point for Alfa Romeo's fortunes. I or decades, the Italian marque had suffered at the hands of poor product placement, below average reliability and terrible build quality - yet suddenly here was a car that could take on the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and put up a good light. Launched in 1998, the 156 was instantly referred to as a modern classic thanks to its beautiful, pure Italian styling. It was a fine drive, too, with exceptional handling and a first-rate line up of Alfa's Twin Spark four-cylinder and silky smooth V6 engines. The 156 took the Car of the Year award in the UK, beating its rival Mercedes A-class. A neat estate model appeared in 1999 to further strengthen the Alfa's cause, and already immaculate examples are being sought out and preserved by Alfa enthusiasts.

Alfa Romeo 156 Specifications