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Engine Tech
The Alfa community is reacting with typical shirt-rending and wailing over the news that the latest Alfas will use General-Motors developed engines. I half expect to see a few wandering in sackcloth and ashes soon. Which is ironic, considering this bunch's well deserved reputation as "bottom feeders"* means there would be little if any chance of the noisest complainers buying a new Alfa regardless of what was under the hood.
Regardless, this encyclopedia article makes it seem the Holden bottom end is a pretty well engineered piece of kit. Since all the power is made in the head and the head will be made by Alfa, I don't have a problem with it, especially since they'll be using a 60-degree V6 for a base.
There's penny four thousand eight hundred and one, there's penny four thousand eight hundred two...
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* People who would rather drive a junker for free instead of paying for something nice. Alfa dealers and parts suppliers can regale you with endless tales of old farts unwilling to pay an extra $7 for a genuine Alfa part to finish a job. I'm not one of those guys, but I definitely know some who are.
Well, I have to say I back you on this (it helps that I've got a bias towards GM). If you look at what Caddy has been able to do with them (260hp for 3.6L engine, which boils down to over a horse per cubic inch, which is good) with their technology, that speaks well for the block. Add into that some actual racing technology and you should be able to come up with nice, high-revving, extremely capable and reliable engines. And engines that'll be less expensive than something home-grown. This means that new Alfa's may be a bit more affordable...
Maybe even more affordable than the $47K M-3 I want...
Posted by: ron on February 25, 2005 02:57 PMI don't know. This one will come with full time AWD standard, and all kinds of gee-gaws. However, Alfas generally are ~ 20% cheaper than equivalent bimmers in europe, so who knows.
I am expecting the twin-turbo 400+ hp GTA version to clock in ~ 45-ish.
Posted by: scott on February 25, 2005 03:03 PMsweet - that means (assuming the job situation holds up) you and I will end up with rather stylish and very sporty cars. And probably have to have our wives chauffer us around after we happily lose our licenses...
Posted by: ron on February 25, 2005 07:34 PMSounds like a plan to me. Will see you there.
Well, I'll get there first of course, but I'll wait...
Posted by: scott on February 25, 2005 07:38 PMnot sure about that. 4.6 seconds to sixty, top speed of 155, and superb road handling. that's a bit difficult to beat.
Posted by: ron on February 26, 2005 01:05 PM