Alfa Romeo 90 (1984-87): Do you know it yet?

(Motorsport-Total.com/Motor1) – In the first half of the 1980s, the state-owned company Alfa Romeo was in crisis. You can also see this in many cars in the model range. An example is the unfortunate Alfa 90. “Novanta” was produced only for three good years.

The Alfa Romeo 90 follows in the footsteps of 40 years ago: from October 1984 it replaces the one that had already been built since March 1972. Alfetta. Like the Alfetta, the Alfa 90 also has transaxle drive and a five-speed gearbox. The body is made by Bertone, contrary to what other sources claim The recently deceased Marcello Gandini there is no part in the design.

Maybe it’s better that way, because 90 turns out to be very conservative. Simple gray plastic grill, banal lines and offset position of the rear license plate, which makes the rear look unbalanced. Certain details such as the higher back are reminiscent Juliet from 1977, but very few observers notice the Alfetta’s massive appearance.

To the public opinion that the 90 was nothing more than a redesigned Alfetta, the company responded more or less convincingly that Bertone had replaced 70 percent of the old sheet metal.

In 1985, the Italian body shop Carrozzeria Marazzi presented a station wagon variant based on the Alfa 90. Series production did not take place. The taillights are from Fiat One.

Let’s look back: In the late 1970s, Alfa Romeo started the 154 and 156 projects (not to be confused with 156 1997 edition!), two new rear-wheel drive cars that were meant to replace the Giulietta and Alfetta respectively. However, the crisis of the Milanese company soon forces it to abandon the project of a new platform.

To overcome development delays, in 1982 Alfa Romeo launched projects 162A and 162B, later models 90 and 75with the aim of reusing as much as possible the technology of the models on the market at the time, namely Alfetta and Giulietta.

The 90, as the successor to the Alfetta, not only takes all the technology from its grandfather, including the engine, but also most of the chassis, exterior panels and door frames. The length of 4.39 meters and wheelbase of 2.51 meters is also in line with the previous model.

The task given to Bertone, to redesign only the exterior and install new lights, is not the easiest: the end result is a sedan with modest and angular lines, rather obscure but not without some elegance. At least 500 liters are suitable for the rear.

In the brochure, Alfa Romeo celebrates: “A balanced combination of impressive performance, high safety capabilities, extraordinary comfort and carefree beauty characterizes the balanced concept of the new Alfa 90.” Note: The more conservative the car, the higher the wording.

Various engines are available: in Italy only (due to the 2.0-litre tax law at the time) 1.8 and 2.0 litres, each with two twin carburettors. Performance: 120 or 128 hp.

Markets like Germany get a 2.0-liter injection engine with 130 hp, a 2.4-liter turbodiesel from VM Motori with 110 hp and, as a top model, a 2.5 Quadrifoglio Oro with a V6 and 150 hp. It is enough for a maximum speed of 205 km / h. Prices in Germany in mid-1985: 29,990 marks for the 2.0-litre, 32,900 marks for the turbodiesel and 34,590 marks for the six-cylinder.

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For comparison: the BMW 520i costs 30,650 marks. Only 1,577 examples of the Alfa 90 with the 2.0-liter V6 and 132 hp were made, the most popular being the four-cylinder injection engine with the same displacement.

The Alfa 90 has a few special features: A speed-dependent front spoiler is intended to improve handling on the road. The ABS braking system was offered as an option for the first time in Alfa Romeo. There is a removable case under the glove compartment. The brochure calls it a “document box”, which of course can be closed.

Also of interest is the “Alfa Control System” for constant monitoring of the nine most important operating parameters, including the superheated coolant. And the top 2.5 liter model has LCD instruments that run at an angle up and continuous power steering that changes speed.

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More from Alfa Romeo history:

60 years of the Alfa Romeo Giulia: an icon of the Italian police film
Alfa Romeo Alfasud (1972-1983): golf pioneer and character killer

The Alfa 90 was also very popular with the Italian police and carabinieri at the time, as Alfa Romeo was a state-owned company at the time. Like and Arna In this way, poor sales are promoted through authority.

After almost three years and a production run of 56,428 cars, Alfa 90 production ended in July 1987. Why the name 90, by the way? Well, according to Alfa, the new model will remain in the range until the 1990s. That won’t happen: After Fiat took over, Alfa Romeo was developed in 1987 in collaboration with Saab, Fiat and Lancia. 164 from here.

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