New car news

22 June 2007 - 12:00

Alfa goes northern

"Tea? Aye..." It's a phrase much-uttered in the Yorkshire Dales, and now the northern interpretation of 'Yes, I'd very much like a cuppa' has been adopted by Alfa for its new top-of-the-range 159. 

The 159 TI (see what we did there? No?) is a special edition of Alfa's 3-Series rival, available in saloon and sportswagon form.

The TI actually stands for 'Turismo Internazionale', meaning you get a lowered ride, new body kit, a flash set of 19-inch alloys and some fat red Brembo brake callipers.

Naturally there's several cows' worth of leather on the inside, and you've got the choice of 2.2 and 3.2 V6 petrol engines or Alfa's 2.4-litre turbodiesel to provide the power.

Priced at £750 more than then equivalent Lusso version, the 159 TI is available in just three colours: black, red and grey.

Rumours of a special edition "Ee by gum" Brera and "Chuffin' 'eck" Spider remain unconfirmed.