Alfa Crosswagon Q4

[cоlombо]

Alfa Crosswagon Q4


The model in brief

Style
• Exteriors
• Interiors

Mechanicals
• Four wheel drive
• Suspension
• Power unit: 110 kW (150 bhp) 1.9 JTD 16v M-Jet

Safety
• Braking system and active safety systems

Range
• Equipment, options and colours
• Services
• Bluetooth
• Technical data

Alfa Sportwagon Q4
• Equipment, options and colours
• Technical data

Short history of Alfa Romeo 4x4s

The contribution of Fiat Group companies

The model in brief


In 1992, the Alfa 155 introduced a new Alfa Romeo concept of sportiness that became enshrined in the codename Q4. Now the same glorious name returns on the new Alfa Crosswagon Q4 and Alfa Sportwagon Q4, the models that mark Alfa Romeo’s return to the world of four wheel drive. Both models mark the first outing for a new transmission with 4 permanently engaged drive wheels, three differentials and preferential torque distribution to the rear. Alfa reveals it is still able to stay one step ahead of its time and set new trends: its new Crosswagon and Sportwagon Q4 go one better than the current crop of all-terrain vehicles and take the concept of elegant sportiness to a radically new and unique dimension.


Alfa Crosswagon Q4

The model, designed by the Arese Style Centre, features an unmistakable Alfa Romeo shape with features that shout ‘versatility’. The new car combines the off-road performance of an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) with the driving satisfaction and handling of a compact Alfa Romeo while offering a versatile, functional Station Wagon passenger compartment
Subtlety, well-proportioned lines and compactness: these are the keywords that sum up the style of the Alfa Crosswagon Q4. The new car is 444 cm long, 176 cm wide and 149 cm high with a wheelbase of 259 cm. It is outstanding for its greater versatility (greater ground clearance, improved front and rear incidence angles and special All Seasons tyres), distinctive good looks, great safety and sturdiness and outstanding comfort under all service conditions. These features make the new model perfectly at ease around town or on unsurfaced roads which do not detract from its sporty, stylish, clean-cut line: a trait shared by all Alfa Romeos.
The Crosswagon Q4 owes its all-terrain look in particular to underdoor steel protections, special front and rear bumpers with steel inserts, an original bumper grille, carrier bars and broad wings. Altogether, the Crosswagon Q4 was created to overcome any road situation without ever stooping to compromises. Examples include ride set-up raised by nearly 6.5 cm and 225/55 R17 All Seasons tyres with a special compound and special tread. The tyres are also designed to offer great comfort under normal driving conditions with good grip and a safe drive on snow, unsurfaced or uneven roads, mud or treacherous roads in general.
Inside, the new model also offers an instrument panel of revolutionary design, a compass built into the mirror, special carpets and mats, a stylish new high-tech trim on the facia and a brand new treatment for the central console and steering wheel panels. Options include a top-quality interior with seats, facia and panels trimmed in grosgrain leather. Not to mention the fact that the model offers five true seats that make for an ideal environment on long motorway trips or thrilling short-cuts.
Lastly, the new model also offers a choice of three specifications (Progression, Distinctive and Luxury) and nine body shades of which 4 designed specially for the model by the Arese style centre. All body shades feature a distinctive tone on tone treatment process. But all this is packaging; the truly radical new feature of the Alfa Crosswagon Q4 is its permanent Q4 four wheel drive system with three differentials (the central one is a self-locking Torsen C system) that permanently distributes drive over the front and rear wheels.
This innovative system is designed to offer peak performance in the toughest conditions. The new Alfa Crosswagon Q4 is the natural beneficiary of studies, research and advances in the four wheel drive field that have resulted in a cutting-edge all-terrain vehicle able to satisfy the most demanding customers.
Permanent four wheel drive offers peak performance because transverse grip is maximised due to a reduction in the longitudinal engagement of each tyre. The permanent aspect of the system allows an outstanding balance between understeer and oversteer, worthy of a true sports car, able to offer drivers an easy, satisfying drive together with the greatest active safety: understeer is minimised while oversteer is easy to control because it is contained and gradual.
A mountain road, a stony track, a snowy surface or a bend taken in driving rain: all tough situations and ideal places to test the new car’s agility and strength to the limit. Customers driving an Alfa Crosswagon Q4 can enjoy a dynamic, sporty drive over conventional road and motorway routes while benefiting from the car’s vice-like grip and performance over less conventional routes. With this brief in mind, the engineers and technicians employed at the Arese plant have come up with a car that may be described as an innovative all-rounder. The heart of the design is the Alfa Romeo Q4 four wheel drive system that allows dynamic distribution of traction during acceleration and over-run according to the level of grip on the ground. The Torsen C self-locking differential manages drive torque in the most appropriate way: when accelerating, to avoid excessive understeer, it can direct some 80% of torque to the rear wheels to leave more side grip for the front wheels. Conversely, when oversteering, it can transfer only 40% to ensure improved side grip for the rear wheels.
The new Crosswagon Q4 is thus an agile off-road car that is self-avowedly an Alfa in its uncompromising sense of control and driving satisfaction. Driving comfort and dynamic behaviour have always been specific features of Alfa Romeo cars: on the Crosswagon Q4, they amount to a real strength. Hence the adoption of a suspension layout that is bound to appeal: the revised front suspension features a high double wishbone configuration while the rear is MacPherson type with transverse rods of different lengths. This offers a greater ability to absorb the surface roughness typical of off road routes because the wheel withdraws lengthways without affecting the steering and the antisquat angle has been increased. The steering response also offers the greatest linearity and precision due to the double wishbone configuration. Outstanding roadholding means the car is able to self-align itself superlatively, even under the toughest conditions because the rear wheels steer steadily even when subject to lateral load. The rear end assures the greatest stability during high speed manoeuvres and offers all the agility of a true Alfa Romeo on narrow mixed routes.
The Crosswagon Q4 combines great driving comfort with all the boisterous character of an Alfa sports model. This is because the new model comes with a power unit that allows the car to deal with any on-road situation: the powerful 110 kW (150 bhp) 1.9 JTD 16v M-Jet engine is combined with a sporty 6-speed manual gearbox. The 4 cylinder in line engine with a bore of 82 millimetres and a stroke of 90.4 mm is capable of delivering a power output of 110 kW at 4000 rpm and a torque of 305 Nm (31 kgm) at 2000 rpm.
The new turbodiesel has undergone several engineering changes to increase performance and engine torque at low speeds and to reduce noise and vibration levels. For example, the Common Rail system used on the 1.9 JTD 16v M-Jet includes two new strategies for automatically calibrating and balancing the diesel injected to lower noise and reduce vibration.
On the safety front, the Alfa Crosswagon Q4 is also unrivalled. This is due to a braking system that assures fast, gradual braking and also shorter stopping distances; ventilated front discs with a diameter of 330 millimetres with Brembo fixed aluminium callipers with four pistons (38 and 42 mm) - and an ABS system with four active sensors complete with an EBD electronic brakeforce distributor. Absolute mastery of the road in all conditions, however tough, is also assured by VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control), Alfa Romeo’s version of the ESP (Electronic Stability Program). This sporty feature is not intrusive - as one would expect from a true Alfa - because it allows the driver the full satisfaction of controlling the vehicle as long as the conditions are controllable and does not intervene until immediately before the situation becomes critical. ASR (Anti Slip Regulation), an integral part of the VDC, optimises traction at any speed with the aid of the brakes and engine control. If the car skids, the ASR cuts in automatically to load the traction onto the opposite wheel with good grip to achieve an effect similar to that of a self-locking differential on both front and rear axles. If the driver changes down abruptly in poor grip conditions, the MSR (Motor Schleppmoment Regelung) cuts in to restore torque to the engine and prevent skidding as a result of wheel lock.
The Alfa Crosswagon Q4 is due to go on sale in October in Italy and then later in other countries.


Alfa Sportwagon Q4

A car for drivers who want the very most in terms of safety and driving satisfaction, and want it to be known without ostentation. The Alfa Sportwagon Q4, the latest version of the Sportwagon, can offer better pick-up and speed than the Crosswagon Q4. The performance is due to the 150 bhp 1.9 JTD 16v M-Jet combined with a sporty six-speed manual gearbox that propels the car to a top speed of 200 km/h and takes just 10.2 seconds to speed from 0 to 100 km/h.
The Alfa Sportwagon Q4 transmission features 4 permanently engaged drive wheels, three differentials and torque distribution preferentially to the rear. In any case, the Q4 name leaves you in no doubt: this particular Sportwagon has been specifically created for a satisfying drive in complete safety.
Outside, the car displays a few distinctive features that add extra strength to the model’s sporty looks: including a special exhaust tailpipe and 17” x 7 alloy wheels. The red 205/50 R17 Pirelli Pzero low profile tyres assure very sporty qualities and excellent roadholding. The range is also made up of two specifications: Progression and Distinctive.
The Sportwagon Q4 is altogether the ideal car for people who are less interested in an out-and-out off-roader and more interested in the satisfaction of an even sportier drive in total safety. Due to a special sports suspension setting, the adoption of the most sophisticated safety systems and devices currently available and the Alfa Romeo Q4 four wheel drive system, the new Sportswagon Q4 offers true sensation and authentic driving satisfaction with something extra: more performance, more handling, better braking capacity.

Style


Exteriors

The Crosswagon Q4 is immediately recognisable for its unmistakable Alfa shape made up of exactly the right mix of surfaces, style, poise and sportiness. The new vehicle also has its own specific identity and is highly versatile due to its higher ground clearance, four drive wheels and improved front and rear incidence angles. Despite its strong personality, it never strays beyond the boundaries of sporting good taste imposed by Alfa Romeo stylistic canons.
With a length of 444 cm, width of 176 cm and a height of 149 cm, the Alfa Crosswagon Q4 is aggressive and compact, with a shape marked by certain distinctive traits that make it immediately recognisable as an Alfa. The new model has inherited all the winning features of the Sportwagon version, beginning with a strong, spare front end dominated by the unmistakable Alfa trefoil with the shield in the centre. When seen in profile, the car’s line runs in one smooth, unbroken line from front to rear and gives the car a sporty, muscular look. The rear end displays balance and strength and houses a flexible luggage compartment that can adapt its internal space from 360 to 1180 dm3 with the back seat down.
The power and attitude of the Crosswagon Q4 are emphasised by a bigger gap between the wide tyres and wheelarches that is not, however, as exaggerated as on a conventional off road vehicle. The new model also conveys a sense of safety and overall solidity. The bumpers, for example, play a fundamental role in characterising the vehicle. They are designed with lines that confer strength without ever losing sight of style and good taste. They include a metal alloy insert in a central area that acts as a protective shield.
The rail covers also speak the same stylistic language: they are bound to be generously sized to offer side protection but are made slimmer and more dynamic by a longitudinal metal insert. A tone on tone body is used to sophisticated and exclusive effect in line with the vehicle’s style. It offers a functional exterior for unsurfaced country roads and looks stylish around town as well.
Great on-road comfort, maximum control over ground with less grip, the Alfa Crosswagon Q4 is able to promise and deliver due to its 225/55 R 17 tyres made out of a special compound and with tread designed for all seasons and road surfaces.
The 9 body shades (4 brand new) are all based on natural colours: new shades include Montreux Green, Brooklands Green, Castlerock Brown and Moonlight Blue; classic shades include Kyalami Black, Stromboli Grey, Capri Blue, Gonzaga Grey and Lipari Grey.


Interiors

Like the outside, the insert of the Crosswagon Q4 has been modified by large and small changes that alter its appearance and increase its sportiness and style. Admittedly, the passenger compartment still displays the same smooth, unbroken lines of the Sportwagon model and all its original distinctive traits: the attention devoted to the driver’s cockpit and the classic, uncluttered control panel. But the Crosswagon Q4 adds important new features to the details that typify Brand and model. The aim: to increase the sensation of light and elegance while pursuing the close family ties with the latest Alfa Romeo models.
Hence, the facia material has been revised to make it more seductive and pleasing to the touch. The facia and panels are available with 4 choices of interior trim: sporty black, classic black-grey and black-beige and lastly a refined two-tone dark and light grey finish. The existing Progression and Distinctive specifications are joined on the Alfa Crosswagon Q4 by a prestigious Luxury specification that offers facia and panels trimmed in grosgrain leather - ideal for sporty yet sophisticated customers.
The trims vary according to version and specification level and feature specially produced cloth designed for quality and good looks. In particular, the new model now features Alfatex, a new high-tech cloth used to trim seats and door panels. Alfatex is a microfibre that improves transpiration, assures optimum seating comfort and great elegance. It is also available in dark grey, mid-grey and beige shades.
The leather trims come in five colours: black, blue, red, beige and grey. Special care has been taken over the seat and under-facia trim colour matches (black, grey or beige).
The up-to-date design multifunction display in the centre of the facia fulfils the twofold function of informing the customer of the main trip parameters (Trip computer) and also indicating any car faults quickly and accurately together with information on the action required. Certain specifications also offer a compass built into the mirror to add to the sense of adventure and freedom experienced by drivers of the Crosswagon Q4.
In the centre of the facia you will find built-in radio and controls for the automatic dual zone climate control system of sophisticated design. In detail, the radio, complemented by a CD player (depending on specification and market) also offers an outstanding sound system designed and adjusted to the passenger compartment that consists of six speakers and delivers a power output of 4x40 Watts. The radio can be adjusted by controls on the steering wheel (standard on some specifications and in some markets).
The model retains its big upper central diffuser air outlets with horizontal and vertical adjustment modes. Similarly, the steering wheel and central control key panels are in Easy Chrome while the rings round the facia outlets, gear-lever, courtesy light and door handles are also chrome. The outstandingly ergonomic position of the mirrors and foglight controls is also unchanged. The same applies to the central console where the sensation of space has been increased by storage compartments.
A feature-packed passenger compartment with very linear styling in very best Alfa Romeo tradition combined with the soul of a fast, powerful sports car for greater sophistication. Examples include an aluminium pedal unit, grey instrument panel, up-to-date steering wheel range (leather or wood) combined with special gearlever knobs and radio controls. Other exclusive features on this model include special carpets and mats with an aluminium insert (available on certain specifications and in certain markets).
The Alfa Crosswagon Q4 also offers a chrome door sill, an exclusive feature that combines sophisticated styling with practical protection.

Mechanicals


Four wheel drive

The Q4 logo on the rear of the Crosswagon Q4 pays due homage to the Alfa 155 and 164 Q4 cars that represented the state-of-the-art in terms of advanced sportiness for Alfa Romeo in the Nineties. Like those glorious cars, the transmission on the new model also features 4 permanently engaged drive wheels, three differentials and torque distribution preferentially to the rear.
The Torsen C differential continuously modulates torque distribution between front and rear axles according to grip. This feature makes for a sporty drive that in turn increases active safety.
Mechanical modulation is continuous and progressive. It conveys an optimum driving sensation that is satisfying and easy for the driver. Torque distribution takes place without any time lag. The car’s grip performance adapts gradually in linear fashion to changing road conditions. This mechanical system is complemented by an electronic system for extra performance and safety margins in line with the Alfa Romeo philosophy. The Crosswagon Q4 is absolutely cutting edge in its engineering and offers unexpected benefits.
• The first of these concerns ride comfort. The increased ground clearance and generous tyre size brings a decided improvement when driving over obstacles while the stiffer body helps improve the acoustic and vibrational qualities. Because not all the torque needs be transmitted through the front axle, it has been possible to configure the geometry of the double wishbone front suspension for ride comfort.
• The Q4’s four wheel drive with Torsen C self-locking differential makes it possible to achieve improved roadholding, driving satisfaction and smooth responses. Other engineering configurations with electronically controlled couplings do not confer the optimum balance between oversteer and understeer and smooth performance achieved on the Crosswagon Q4, which translate into great active safety.
• Preferential distribution to the rear axle also adds to driving satisfaction because it makes the car easier to handle while ensuring maximum stability when the car suddenly veers at top speed on the motorway, as can happen during emergency manoeuvres.
• Off-road performance is also better than expected. The driver need no longer fear transmission lag and the combination of electronic and mechanical control makes differential locking effective in extreme conditions. For example, the vehicle can easily overcome tricky obstacles that may cause the car to twist with one wheel completely off the ground.
The Crosswagon Q4 is four wheel drive Alfa Romeo style: an essentially mechanical system complemented by the most advanced electronics to assure maximum driving comfort together with optimum performance and total safety. For these reasons, the Alfa Crosswagon Q4 is unique in the 4x4 scenario.



Suspension

Driving satisfaction is always a strength of Alfa Romeo cars and the Crosswagon Q4 is no exception. The model reprises the layout adopted on the 156 with some adjustment: high double-wishbone suspension that optimises the area of contact between tyre and ground; MacPherson rear suspension with transverse rods of different lengths for unique stability and handling.
The earlier version has been redesigned and optimised due to the car’s higher ground clearance compared to the basic model while also maintaining the steering feel and precision typical of an on-road Alfa 156. The rear suspension has been revised to increase car stability during pull-in, release and braking to adapt to four wheel drive performance.
In detail, the choice of a double wishbone layout for the front suspension meets a specific aim: to achieve maximum lateral hold, a highly effective and precise steering response and excellent traction – and to wed these specifications with an ability to absorb and dampen road surface roughness typical of the most comfortable cars in the segment. The double wishbone layout allows high longitudinal flexibility to be achieved on the wheel side without impairing roadholding on corners and steering dynamics.
The car’s on-road behaviour is aided by a rear suspension that gives the model the greatest stability in high speed manoeuvres and all the agility required of a true sports car over tight mixed routes. Hence the choice of a MacPherson suspension featuring asymmetrical arms and refined elastokinetic properties. On the Crosswagon Q4, the rear suspension is connected to the chassis by a crossmember made out of vacuum cast aluminium. The benefits of the MacPherson strut layout include low weight, great comfort (assured by extensive wheel travels and longitudinal flexibility) and numerous ride control options.
The front and rear suspension layout also allows the various joints, including the steering arm joints, to yield in a calibrated manner without this affecting driving precision. The set of features adopted allowed us to achieve the very best results because we have succeeded in insulating out all noise and absorbing the minor roughness that often causes annoying knocking sounds to reverberate from the body.


Power unit: 110 kW (150 bhp) 1.9 JTD 16v M-Jet

At the end of 2002, Alfa Romeo introduced its 140 bhp 1.9 16v M-Jet, the first of the second generation of Common Rail engines in the world. The engine was adopted on the Alfa 147, 156 and Sportwagon with a sporty six-speed manual gearbox and has now been further developed for the Alfa GT, offering a power output of 150 bhp. And this very engine will also be used on the new Crosswagon Q4: a 4 cylinder in line engine with a bore of 82 millimetres and stroke of 90.4 mm, capable of delivering a power output of 110 kW at 4000 rpm and a torque of 305 Nm (31 kgm) at 2000 rpm.
The new turbodiesel has undergone several engineering changes to increase performance and engine torque at low speeds and to reduce noise and vibration levels. For example, the Common Rail system used on the 1.9 JTD 16v M-Jet includes two new strategies for automatically calibrating and balancing the diesel injected to lower noise and reduce vibration.
It goes without saying that the Alfa Crosswagon Q4 guarantees extremely attractive performance figures: the top speed is 192 km/h and acceleration from 0 - 100 km/h takes place in 10.5 seconds. All this comes with very frugal fuel consumption: The new all-terrain sports coupé offers:
 9.3 l/100 km over an urban cycle.
 5.8 l/100 km over an extraurban cycle.
 7.1 l/100 km over a combined cycle.


The Multijet system, secret of second generation JTD engines.

The underlying principles of second generation turbodiesel engines remain the same, i.e. high injection pressure and electronic injector control. But one extra feature has been added: during each engine cycle, the number of injections increases over and above the current number of two. In this way, the same amount of diesel is burnt inside the cylinder but in several portions to achieve smoother combustion.
The advantages include lower running noise, reduced emissions and a 6-7% increase in performance. All this comes with a level of engine efficiency that improves car handling still further.
These results are not to be underestimated, particularly because they are obtained with an engine that represents an incredible leap forward from prechamber diesels and even improves on first generation JTD engines.
The secret of the Multijet engine lies in the control unit that governs the electric injector opening and closure system (and also in the injectors themselves). The crucial element is the electronic control unit itself that can perform a set of injections that may be very closely spaced.
Fiat Auto’s researchers developed the part (together with the injectors) especially for this application. It is designed to deliver the multiple injections that assure the designer more accurate control of pressures and temperatures developed inside the combustion chamber and also more efficient use of air taken into the cylinders.
This enables further goals to be achieved: quieter combustion, reduced emissions and increased performance.
The Multijet system is underpinned by long years of research. Our engineers began by resolving the problem of limits imposed by the control units. Then they went on to map the benefits they could achieve by plotting different multiple injection sequences (two secondary injections very close to the main injection; one secondary injection not too close to the main injection plus two closely-spaced secondary injections; one secondary injection and then two main injections close together after a certain period etc.) against different engine service conditions: in the idling region; with low loads and low rpm; with high rpm and moderate load; with low rpm and high load etc.
The study revealed the potential of the system and showed that great benefits are achievable in all cases, though these tend to focus on one field or another according to the type of sequence chosen and the engine service area targeted. In some cases, for example, the priority is to reduce start-up times and fume levels, in other cases it is to increase torque and reduce noise while in others it is to reduce emissions and ensure a quieter drive.
And this hard work has led to the creation of the Multijet engines: another first for the Fiat Group in the diesel engine field. But we had been putting in a lot of hard work behind the scenes since 1986, the date that marked the arrival of the Croma TDI, the first direct injection diesel vehicle in the world.
At that time, this represented a true engineering breakthrough that was later adopted by other manufacturers. Direct diesel injection engines offered better performance and lower fuel consumption but failed to resolve the problem of excessive engine noise at low rpms and while speeding up or slowing down. So work began on a more advanced direct injection system and a few years later this led to the development of the Common Rail principle and the Unijet system.
The idea first came from the Zurich University research laboratories where scientists were working on an injection system that had never before been applied to a vehicle, i.e. the Common Rail system. The idea is simple yet revolutionary. If you continue to push diesel into a tank, the pressure inside will rise and the tank itself will become a hydraulic accumulator (or rail), i.e. a reserve of pressurised fuel ready for use.
Three years later, in 1990, the Unijet system developed by Magneti Marelli, Fiat Research Centre and Elasis on the Common Rail principle entered the pre-production stage. This stage was complete in 1994, when Fiat Auto started to look for a partner with superlative knowledge of diesel engine injection systems. The final stage of the project, i.e. completion of development and industrial production, was eventually entrusted to Robert Bosch.
Now our story has reached 1997 and the launch date of the Alfa 156 JTD with its revolutionary turbodiesel engine. Compared to conventional diesel power units, the JTD guarantees an average improvement in performance of 12% together with a 15% reduction in fuel consumption. These results meant that cars fitted with the engine were an immediate hit.
Now the time is ripe for the second generation of JTD engines, the Multijet and multivalve units: in 2002 with the 1.9 M-Jet 16v (forerunner of this new family of multipoint injection engines) in 2003 with the 1.9 upgraded to 150 bhp for the Alfa GT and the 129 kW (175 bhp) 2.4 JTD Multijet 20v available on Alfa 166, Alfa 156 and Sportwagon models. Now comes the turn of the Crosswagon Q4 to enjoy all the benefits of the 150 bhp 1.9 JTD 16v M-Jet.

Safety


Braking system and active safety systems

The Alfa Crosswagon Q4 braking system is hydraulic, power-assisted and consists of two independent crossover circuits. This particularly effective system offers prompt, smooth braking and short stopping distances. In particular, the GTA-derived front discs are ventilated with a diameter of 330 millimetres and come with Brembo fixed aluminium callipers with four pistons (38 and 42 mm) with a shiny black finish. The rear discs are only slightly smaller at 276 millimetres. In addition to a high-performing brake system, the Crosswagon Q4 also comes with a BOSCH 5.7 ABS, one of the most advanced systems available on the market today. It features four active sensors and a hydraulic control unit with 12 solenoids. The ABS contains an electronic brakeforce distributor (EBD). This device apportions braking action over all four wheels to prevent locking and ensure full control of the car under all conditions. The system also adapts its operation to wheel grip conditions and brake pad efficiency to reduce pad overheating. Lastly, the Crosswagon Q4 assures absolute mastery of the car under all conditions, however tough, due to its VDC and ASR system.


VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control)

The VDC is Alfa Romeo’s version of the ESP (Electronic Stability Program), a system that cuts in under extreme conditions when car stability is at risk and also helps the driver to control the car. As befits a true Alfa, the VDC is a sporting device that offers outstanding roadholding. It allows the driver the full satisfaction of controlling the car as long as conditions are normal but cuts in just before things become critical.
The VDC is permanently engaged.
The MSR (Motor Schleppmoment Regelung) cuts in when the gear is shifted down abruptly in low grip conditions. This device restores torque to the engine to prevent the wheel skidding as a result of lock.
To achieve this result, the VDC continually monitors tyre grip in both longitudinal and lateral directions. If the car skids, it cuts in to restore directionality and ride stability. It uses sensors to detect rotation of the car body about its vertical axis (yaw speed), car lateral acceleration and the steering wheel angle set by the driver (which indicates the chosen direction). It then goes on to compare these data with parameters generated by a computer and establishes – via a complex mathematical model – whether the car is cornering within its grip limits or if the front or rear is about to skid (understeer or oversteer).
To restore the correct trajectory, it then generates a yawing movement in the opposite direction to the movement that gave rise to the instability by braking the appropriate wheel (interior or exterior) individually and reducing engine power (via the throttle). This is the key attribute of the device designed by Alfa Romeo engineers.
It acts in a modulated fashion on the brakes to ensure the action is as smooth as possible (and the drive is not therefore disturbed). The engine power reduction is contained to ensure outstanding performance and great driving satisfaction at all times.
As it carries out its complex task, the VDC stays in constant communication with the brake sensors and engine control unit but also with:
• a Body computer that constantly exchanges information with the ABS, engine management unit and automatic transmission unit;
• an electronic throttle (that communicates with the ABS in turn);
• a control panel (active warning lights);
• the steering wheel and steering column (via the steering sensor);
• a gyroscopic sensor installed on the passenger compartment floor to record car yaw and lateral acceleration.


ASR (Anti Slip Regulation)

The ASR (Anti Slip Regulation) system, an integral part of the VDC, optimises traction at any speed with the aid of the brakes and engine control.
The device computes degree of slip on the basis of wheel rpm calculated by the ABS sensors and activates two different control systems to restore grip: when an excessive power demand causes both drive wheels to slip (e.g. in the case of aquaplaning or when accelerating over an unsurfaced, snowy or icy road), it reduces engine torque by reducing the throttle opening angle and thus air flow; if only one wheel slips (e.g. the inside wheel following acceleration or dynamic load changes), this is automatically braked without the driver touching the brake pedal. The resulting effect is similar to that of a self-locking differential.
This allows the Alfa Crosswagon Q4 to acquit itself with ease over ice – only one wheel needs to grip to allow the car to exert traction – and under off-road conditions when the car is twisted and suspended on two diagonally opposed wheels with one of the other wheels hanging in space.
The ASR is activated automatically whenever the engine is started but must be turned off by means of a cut-out switch on the central console. The ASR need be turned off only when snow chains are used because the wheel must be able to slip by tiny amounts to pile up the snow so that force can be transmitted to the ground and the ASR tend to prevent this occurring.

Range


Equipment, options and colours

The Alfa Crosswagon Q4 is available in three specifications (Progression, Distinctive and Luxury), one engine version (150 bhp 1.9 JTD 16v M-Jet), 9 body-colours and four interiors based around shades of grey, beige and black: the interior trim may be in Alfatex, leather or grosgrain leather according to the specification.
Outside, the new model is distinguished by certain exterior features such as a new underbody insert in metal alloy, special front and rear bumpers and 225/55 All Seasons tyres. Both specifications come with a parking sensor, exclusive 17” alloy wheels and a VDC. The Progression version offers Alfatex cloth and radio with CD player (depending on the market). The Distinctive specification features: leather seats, special mats with an aluminium Crosswagon logo, a compass on the rear view mirror and Cruise Control. The Luxury specification adds grosgrain-trimmed facia and panels.
Some of the most impressive standard equipment items relate to safety and include two front and side airbags and window-bags for the greatest protection of front and rear passengers. For comfort, the entire range is fitted as standard with a dual zone climate control system that offers separate temperature settings for driver and passenger – plus front and rear armrests. Options include a luggage cover, a vertical net with reel that extends between backrest and ceiling and a 20 cm high vertical net for practical division of the available space.

Main product features (Italian market)

Progression Distinctive Luxury
2-speed windscreen wiper + 4 intermittent settings + smart washer S S S
Rear wiper with intermittent setting S S S
Electric, heated door mirrors S S S
High ride S S S
Door and boot remote control S S S
17” alloy wheels with All Season 225/55 tyres S S S
Carrier bars S S S
Tone on tone exterior shade S S S
Sideskirts with metal alloy insert S S S
Metal alloy underbody insert S S S
Wide sides S S S
Twin chrome exhaust tailpipe S S S
Parking sensor S S S
Electric sunroof with two opening modes O O O
Metallic paint O O O
Special Q4 instrument panel S S S
Electrically-operated front windows S S S
Electrically-operated rear windows S S S
Front armrest with container S S S
Rear armrest with ski tunnel S S S
Dual zone automatic air conditioner S S S
Glove compartment light S S S
Easy Chrome console treatment S S S
Six-speed gearbox S S S
Fold-down rear seat with 60/40 split S S S
Illuminated courtesy mirrors S S S
Pouches on back of front seat backrests S S S
Leather steering wheel + gear lever knob S S S
Electric controls on the steering wheel O S S
Cruise Control O S S
Rain sensor O S S
Mats with aluminium logo – S S
Electrochrome mirror with compass – S S
Heated seats with lumbar adjustment (driver) O O S
Grosgrain leather facia and panels – – S
Alfatex seats S – –
Leather seat O S –
Heated seats in grosgrain leather O O S
Object retaining nets + 12V power point in boot O O O
Wooden steering wheel + gear lever knob O O O
3rd rear central head-restraint O O O
Retaining net from floor to ceiling O O O
Spare wheel (small) O O O
Isofix child seat O O O
Odour and misting sensors O O O
ABS with EBD S S S
VDC with ASR S S S
Driver and passenger side airbags S S S
Sidebags S S S
Window-bags S S S
Alfa Code S S S
Front seat-belts with pretensioner S S S
Rear seat-belts and 3 reels S S S
Headlight alignment corrector S S S
Foglight S S S
Fire Prevention System S S S
Isofix child seat fastenings S S S
Luggage retaining hooks S S S
Tyre kit (tyre inflation) S S S
Volume-sensing car alarm O O O
Gas discharge headlights (xenon) O O O
Headlight washers O O O
Blaupunkt RDS radio with CD, 6 speakers S S S
Infocenter with outdoor temperature, Trip Computer and check control S S S
Blaupunkt RDS radio with CD and MP3, 6 speakers O O O
Bluetooth handsfree phone O O O
CD-Changer in boot O O O
Bose Hi-Fi with amplifier and subwoofer O O O
Provision for radio phone O O O
Navigation system with radio O O O
Navigation system with GSM phone, radio and provision for Connect services O O O

O = option S = standard – = not available


Colours

Alfatex cloth
Standard on Progression
Leathers
An option on Progression and standard on Distinctive

Black Beige Grey Grey Red Black Blue Grey Grey Beige
Facia colour Single colour
black Two-tone black / beige Two-tone black / grey Tone on tone
grey Single colour black Single colour black Single colour black Two-tone black / grey Tone on tone
grey Two-tone black / beige
Kyalami Black/Grey       –   
Montreux Green/Green   – – –  – – – 
Brooklands Green/Green   – – –  – – – 
Castlerock Brown/Green   – – –  – – – 
Moonlight Blue/Grey          
Stromboli Grey/Grey          
Capri Blue/Grey –         
Gonzaga Grey/Grey          
Lipari Grey/Grey       –   



– not available  available  recommended



Grosgrain leathers
An option on Distinctive and Progression

Facia, panels and seats in grosgrain leather standard on Luxury

Black Beige Grey Grey Black Beige Grey
Facia Colour Single colour black Two-tone black / beige Two-tone black / grey Tone on tone
grey Single colour black Tone on tone
beige Tone on tone
grey
Kyalami Black/Grey       
Montreux Green/Green   – –   –
Brooklands Green/Green   – –   –
Castlerock Brown/Green   – –   –
Moonlight Blue/Grey       
Stromboli Grey/Grey       
Capri Blue/Grey       
Gonzaga Grey/Grey       
Lipari Grey/Grey       



– not available  available  recommended


Services

Cars, and much more: Alfa Romeo offers a set of up-to-date, efficient services with its models that stay with the customer throughout the car’s life cycle. The new Alfa Crosswagon Q4 is no exception, as demonstrated by the Long-Term Leasing, extended warranty and Alfa VOICE products.


Long Term Leasing
This first service, designed by Alfa Romeo and Savarent, allows you to lease a car without buying it. This low-cost way of using a car was until recently reserved for companies but is now available also to private individuals and tradesmen. After their first positive experiences with the Alfa 166 and GTV/Spider, Alfa Romeo and Savarent are now offering this innovative product on the new model too. It offers Alfa Crosswagon Q4 customers an all-inclusive plan offering the greatest peace of mind for car owners. The contract includes insurance (third party, fire and theft and fully comprehensive), ordinary and extraordinary maintenance (including oil top-ups), car tax, roadside assistance and loss management. Last but not least, customers using this service need no longer worry about selling their used cars.


Complete peace of mind
Alfa Crosswagon Q4 and Sportwagon Q4 can choose a new all-in service and maintenance contract. The contract, available in Italy from next September (later in the rest of Europe), covers an extended warranty, ordinary maintenance, extraordinary maintenance and roadside assistance for up to 5 years.
The customer can choose the most appropriate mileage option up to a maximum of 5 years and/or 150,000 km according to the way the car is used and its annual mileage. The product, available for private customers and companies, includes roadside rescue for the entire period with all the services this offers: recovery in the case of breakdown or accident and the peace of mind of being able to continue your trip (applicable throughout Europe).
Apart from these financial benefits (certainty of fixed maintenance costs) and psychological benefits (all you have to worry about is filling the tank), the new contract covers all ordinary and extraordinary maintenance costs. Not to mention the fact that, with this package, customers save 20% to 30% on the list price of original Alfa Romeo parts (depending on the selected mileage option) and can always call on the professional assistance of the Alfa Romeo Service Network.
This service complements and reinforces Alfa’s strategy toward companies and their providers. The package helps with back office management and contributes to keeping running costs down while calling on the know-how of the Alfa Romeo Service Network.


Alfa VOICE
The Alfa Crosswagon Q4 and Sportwagon Q4 also offer ‘Alfa VOICE’, a new infomobility service that can be used to call a dedicated freephone number from anywhere in Italy and speak to an operator who is ready to provide traffic information on motorways, ring-roads and main roads throughout Italy and Europe.
Alfa VOICE is like having your own personal assistant who offers you suggestions and advises you on the easiest way to beat the traffic. It helps you search for an address or phone number, book an air ticket, hotel or table at a favourite restaurant. It provides you with the latest news and keeps you up to date on the stock exchange and your favourite football team. It provides weather and snow forecasts and information on shows, films, exhibitions and concerts, fashionable night spots, shopping centres, campsites, rural retreats, museums, hospitals, chemists’ rotas, cashpoints, service outlets and service stations.
Alfa VOICE is free for 12 months and can be consulted at any time and from any fixed or mobile phone, while you are on the move, in your free time or even from home at your convenience.


Bluetooth

To coincide with the launch of the Crosswagon Q4 and Sportwagon Q4, Alfa Romeo is offering a handsfree set with Bluetooth technology that assures maximum driving safety under all conditions. The system, available by the end of the year as an option, allows customers with Bluetooth mobile phones to use their phones even when in their jacket pockets or handbags. This system automatically lowers the radio volume (if turned on) and allows you to hear the person you are speaking to through the stereo speakers.
In detail, the Bluetooth handsfree set designed for the new Alfa Crosswagon Q4 uses an analogue echo-cancellation effect that allows sound quality to be maintained without any deterioration in timbre, thus preventing unpleasant metallic tones. The device control unit and control keys are also fully integral and can be fitted into a panel on the console. This is an excellent position because it is within easy reach. The system also allows you to manage and store up to three mobile phones at the same time so that more than one passenger in the car can make direct use of the handsfree set. The programming may be modified whenever you want.

Technical data

Engine specifications 1.9 JTD 16v M-JET
No. cylinders, arrangement 4 in line, front transverse
Capacity (cc) 1910
Max. EC power output kW (bhp) 110 (150)
at rpm 4000
Peak torque EC Nm (kgm) 305 (31)
at rpm 2000
Fuel system Multijet direct injection with variable geometry turbocharger and intercooler Bosch EDC16 electronic engine control system

Transmission permanent, with 3 differentials
Drive Torsen C self-locking central differential with 4 locking levels, integral with ASR and VDC
Nominal front/rear distribution: 42/58

Wheels
Tyres 225/55 R 17

Steering
Steering box rack and pinion with power steering
Turning circle (m) 11

Suspension
Front independent, with double wishbones and stabiliser bar jointed on rods with ball-joints. New cast aluminium beam
Rear independent, advanced MacPherson layout with transverse levers of different length connected to a tubular steel beam, longitudinal rods with hydraulic bush, offset coil springs and jointed anti-roll bar with ball joints

Brakes D (disc)
Front: dia. (mm) D 330 x 32 (ventilated) with aluminium callipers with 4 pistons
Rear: dia. (mm) D 276 x 10

Body – Dimensions
No. seats / no. doors 5 / 5
Length / width (mm) 4441 / 1765
Unladen height (mm) 1497
Wheelbase (mm) 2595
Front / rear track, unladen (mm) 1529 / 1504
VDA luggage capacity (dm3) 360 / 1180
Front incidence angle 17.6°
Rear incidence angle 24.4°
Ramp breakover angle 17.7°

Capacities – Weights
Fuel tank (l) 50
DIN kerb weight (kg) 1530
Max. towable weight (kg) 1450

Performance
Top speed (km/h) 192
Acceleration (sec) (1 person + 30 kg): - 0 - 100 km/h 10.5

Fuel consumption
Fuel consumption as per EC Directive 1999/100 (l/100 km):
urban cycle
extraurban cycle
combined 9.3
5.8
7.1

1.9 JTD 16v M-JET
Peak torque: 305 Nm at 2000 rpm
Max. power output: 110 kW at 4000 rpm


Alfa Sportwagon Q4


The sportier Alfa Sportwagon Q4 is outstanding for its safe performance under all road conditions and also offers even better pick-up and top speed than the Alfa Crosswagon Q4. A car for drivers who want the very best driving satisfaction in total safety, and want it to be known without ostentation. This description encapsulates the spirit of the Alfa Sportwagon Q4 and explains why it was decided not to try and improve on the much-loved shape of the basic model.
The new version does not display the features of the Crosswagon Q4 but limits the exterior changes to a few tweaks that strengthen the model’s sporty looks: including a special exhaust tailpipe and 17” x 7 alloy wheels. The red 205/50 R17 Pirelli Pzero low profile tyres assure very sporty qualities and excellent roadholding.
The car is therefore still recognisable from the outside. The new Alfa Sportwagon Q4 transmission features 4 permanently engaged drive wheels, three differentials and torque distribution preferentially to the rear. In any case, the Q4 name leaves you in no doubt: due to its Torsen C central differential, this particular Sportwagon is specifically designed for a satisfying drive in complete safety.
The Alfa Sportwagon Q4 is altogether the ideal car for people who are less interested in the looks of an out-and-out off-roader and more interested in the safety and driving satisfaction of a true sports version. They are offered maximum driver and passenger protection through the application of the most sophisticated devices currently on the market plus a more powerful braking system. The Sportwagon Q4 offers all this plus, for active safety, a VDC, for full control of dynamic stability under all conditions and an ASR (Anti Slip Regulation) that optimises traction at any speed with the aid of the brakes and engine control. These systems are never invasive, because the driver is free to enjoy his or her individual driving style while also ensuring outstanding safety during car dynamic control.
A tried and tested power unit has also been chosen for the Alfa Crosswagon Q4: the spirited 1.9 M-Jet combined with a six-speed manual gearbox of sporty configuration. The engine develops a power output of 150 bhp at 4000 rpm with a maximum torque of 305 Nm (31 kgm) at 2000 rpm. Everything you need for a thrilling performance: top speed is 200 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes place in 10.2 seconds.
The designers who developed the Alfa Sportwagon Q4 took as their starting point the great sporting temperament of the 156 model and then added the extraordinary attributes of the Torsen C four wheel drive system, active and passive safety equipment and a sporty suspension layout.
The suspension layout on the Alfa Sportwagon Q4 consists of a formidable high double wishbone set-up at the front and a MacPherson with transverse rods of different length at the rear. This technical choice, already so successful on the Alfa 156 and 147, has been adapted to the different features of the new car to assure the Alfa Sportwagon Q4 outstanding dynamic performance combined with superlative comfort. This has been achieved, above all, by special settings designed to improve handling: for the customer, this means the traction effect is similar to that of a rear wheel drive but the car benefits from the stability of its permanently engaged Alfa Romeo four wheel drive.
The suspension is the outcome of a long and thorough process of refining carried out on the basic layout to achieve the highest level of handling and agility. The revised system assures the car the best dynamic performance to help the driver master this spirited sports performer. In detail, the following items have been changed in relation to the 4x2 and Crosswagon Q4 models: suspension geometry, antiroll bar, spring setting (now stiffer), shock absorbers (handling) and the front and the rear suspension blocks.
The final result is a car for everyday use that could, under the right circumstances, ensure customers the performance, behaviour and driving sensations of a car built for the race track. Alfa Romeo is world-renowned for its ability to produce good-looking, sporty cars that combine a glittering racing pedigree with the cream of contemporary engineering. Cars that enhance everyday driving experiences with a true racing feel and authentic driving satisfaction.
The Alfa Sportwagon Q4 offers all this and more: more performance, more handling, better braking capacity. Despite its pronounced sporty personality, the Alfa Sportwagon Q4 is quite at home on cobbled city centre streets and ultra-stable during high speed motorway trips and rapid lane changes. The thoroughbred racing Alfa, on the other hand, will give you the sort of sensations you could only expect from a true sports car on mixed routes or the track, where speed and transverse acceleration are much more controllable.
The Alfa Sportwagon Q4 is made up of two specifications: Progression and Distinctive.

Main product features (Italian market)

Progression Distinctive
2-speed windscreen wiper + 4 intermittent settings + smart washer S S
Rear wiper with intermittent setting S S
Door and boot remote control S S
Electric, heated door mirrors S S
17” alloy wheels with All Season 205/50 tyres S S
Metallic paint O O
Iridescent paint O O
Parking sensor O O
Electric sunroof with two opening modes O O
Carrier bars O O
Glove compartment light S S
Special Q4 instrument panel S S
Front armrest with container S S
Rear armrest with ski tunnel S S
Illuminated courtesy mirrors S S
Electrically-operated front windows S S
Electrically-operated rear windows S S
Dual zone automatic air conditioner S S
Six-speed gearbox S S
Leather steering wheel + gear lever knob S S
Pouches on back of front seat backrests S S
Fold-down rear seat with 60/40 split S S
Alfatex seats S –
Leather seats O S
Electric controls on the steering wheel O S
Cruise Control O S
Isofix child seat O O
Wooden steering wheel + gear lever knob O O
3rd rear central head-restraint O O
Misting sensors, rain sensor and odour sensor O O
Retaining net from floor to ceiling O O
Object retaining nets + 12V power point in boot O O
Sports seats O O
Heated seats with lumbar adjustment (driver) O O
ABS with EBD S S
VDC with ASR S S
Front seat-belts with pretensioner S S
Rear seat-belts and 3 reels S S
Isofix child seat fastenings S S
Fire Prevention System S S
Headlight alignment corrector S S
Alfa Code S S
Driver and passenger side airbags S S
Window-bags S S
Sidebags S S
Tyre kit (tyre inflation) S S
Luggage retaining hooks S S
Foglight S S
Headlight washers O O
Volume-sensing car alarm O O
Gas discharge headlights (xenon) O O
Infocenter with outdoor temperature, Trip Computer and check control S S
Blaupunkt RDS ratio with CD, 6 speakers S S
GSM phone with radio and provision for Connect services O O
Navigation system with radio O O
Blaupunkt RDS radio with CD and MP3, 6 speakers O O
Bluetooth handsfree phone O O
CD-Changer in boot O O
Bose Hi-Fi with amplifier and subwoofer O O
Provision for radio phone O O
Navigation system with GSM phone, radio and provision for Connect services O O

O = option S = standard – = not available


Colours

Alfatex as standard on Progression

Leather as standard on Distinctive, an option on Progression Sports seat, an option on Progression and Distinctive
Black Beige Grey Grey Red Black Blue Grey Grey Beige Sports
seat
Instrument background Black Grey Grey Grey Black Black Black Grey Grey Grey Black
Facia colour
Water buffalo Single colour black Two-tone black / beige Two-tone black / grey Tone on tone
grey Single colour black Single colour black Single colour black Two-tone black / grey Tone on tone
grey Two-tone black / beige Single colour black
Alfa Red     –  –    
Carrara White  – – –    – –  
Kyalami Black       –    
Siena Red     –  –    
Brookland Green   – – –  – – –  
Light of Amalfi Grey   – – –  – – –  
Moonlight Blue           
Capri Blue           
Daytona Blue   –    – – –  
Le Castellet Blue   – –    – –  
Gonzaga Grey           
Stromboli Grey           
Lipari Grey       –    
Jarama Black       –    
Nuvola Blue           
Nuvola White           

– Match not available  Recommended match  Available match



Technical data

Engine specifications 1.9 JTD 16v M-JET
No. cylinders, arrangement 4 in line, front transverse
Capacity (cc) 1910
Max. EC power output kW (bhp) 110 (150)
at rpm 4000
Peak torque EC Nm (kgm) 305 (31)
at rpm 2000
Fuel system Multijet direct injection with variable geometry turbocharger and intercooler Bosch EDC16 electronic engine control system

Transmission permanent, with 3 differentials
Drive Torsen C self-locking central differential with 4 locking levels, integral with ASR and VDC
Nominal front/rear distribution: 42/58

Wheels
Tyres 205/50 R17

Steering
Steering box rack and pinion with power steering
Turning circle (m) 11

Suspension
Front independent, with double wishbones and stabiliser bar jointed on rods with ball-joints. New cast aluminium beam
Rear independent, advanced MacPherson layout with transverse levers of different length connected to a tubular steel beam, longitudinal rods with hydraulic bush, offset coil springs and jointed anti-roll bar with ball joints

Brakes D (disc)
Front: dia. (mm) D 330 x 32 (ventilated) with aluminium callipers with 4 pistons
Rear: dia. (mm) D 276 x 10

Body – Dimensions
No. seats / no. doors 5 / 5
Length / width (mm) 4441 / 1743
Unladen height (mm) 1458
Wheelbase (mm) 2595
Front / rear track, unladen (mm) 1519 / 1487
VDA luggage capacity (dm3) 360 / 1180

Capacities – Weights
Fuel tank (l) 50
DIN kerb weight (kg) 1510
Max. towable weight (kg) 1450

Performance
Top speed (km/h) 200
Acceleration (sec) (1 person + 30 kg): - 0 - 100 km/h 10.2

Fuel consumption
Fuel consumption as per EC Directive 1999/100 (l/100 km):
urban cycle
extraurban cycle
combined 8.9
5.6
6.8

1.9 JTD 16v M-JET
Peak torque: 305 Nm at 2000 rpm
Max. power output: 110 kW at 4000 rpm


Short history of Alfa Romeo 4x4s


The first four wheel drive system in Alfa Romeo’s history made its debut in 1951 on the AR51 - 1900, an off-road car with state-of-the-art engineering features designed for military use. The ‘Matta’ (or crazy car - as it was affectionately dubbed by those who appreciated its exceptional off-road properties) is now a real cult item appreciated far beyond the restricted circle of Alfa Romeo collectors.
The 33 4x4 made its debut in 1983. The layout adopted for this compact saloon meant that the rear wheel drive had to be engaged by means of a lever in the passenger compartment. A central differential prevented any slippage between both axles. Because it offered higher ground clearance than front wheel drive cars, the 33 4x4 acquitted itself well in many critical situations and could pass easily from snowy surfaces to unsurfaced roads. Altogether a multi-facetted car that allowed great flexibility of use.
In 1991, the Alfa 33 (again) was fitted with a sportier interpretation of the four wheel drive concept. The transmission layout of the new Permanent 4 (this was the name of the version) was more complex than its predecessor: a set of sensors managed the action of a viscous coupling that transferred movement to the rear wheels (generally free) when it detected significant differences between wheel rotating speeds across both axles. These features assured the 33 outstanding dynamic performance, an up-to-date blend of high performance, sports handling and top level active safety.
The following year saw the arrival of the 155 Q4. The new Q4 name sums up the spirit of this car, which sets out to represent the state of the art achieved by Alfa Rome in terms of technology geared to driving satisfaction. One specific feature of the 155 Q4 was the presence of a permanent four wheel drive system with three differentials: a conventional unit at the front; a central epicyclic unit that engaged directly with the gearbox layshaft incorporating an integral Ferguson viscous coupling - and a Torsen unit at the rear.
Under normal conditions, the central distribution distributed drive torque with a slight preference to the rear wheels. If one of the two axles lost grip excessively compared to the other, the Ferguson coupling cut in to transfer drive torque (up to 100%) gradually to the wheels with more grip.
The efficacy of the system was further increased by a Torsen rear differential that acted as a self-locking unit and allowed the wheels to turn at different speeds.
This transmission configuration was combined with a particularly advanced ABS. This technical configuration ensured that the 155 Q4 remained glued to the ground and was easy and entertaining to drive while remaining safe in every situation. The same attributes were displayed by the versions raced in the German Speed Touring championship: in 1993, the 155 V6 TI saw off the competition to triumph in the DTM with Larini at the wheel.
Alfa Romeo brought the incredible technical experience it had built up over the years to bear when it produced a four wheel drive version of its range leader, the 164. In December 1993, customers were able to buy a 164 Q4 powered by the legendary 231 bhp V6 engine.
In this case, the four wheel drive layout had been further developed to ensure maximum performance and peak driving comfort. The heart of the system was the central Viscomatic viscous coupling developed exclusively by Alfa Romeo in conjunction with Steyr-Puch.
The Viscomatic was managed by an on-board electronic system that communicated in real time with the engine control unit and ABS control unit. Moment by moment, the system detected and processed information on four different parameters: total drive torque requested, speed, steering angle and slip difference between front and rear axles. It was able to adjust drive torque distribution between the axles with incredible speed on the basis of vehicle speed, cornering radius, engine rpm, throttle opening and closure and ABS parameters. This guaranteed improved torque distribution at any moment and in any situation.
In this case too, the Q4 drive system was based on a Torsen self-locking rear differential. This rear differential was responsible for the important task of redistributing the torque allocated to the rear end (in real time) between the wheels on the rear axle: this benefited traction and also car handling over mixed routes.
An epicyclic unit was also fitted between the coupling and rear differential to amplify speed differences between coupling input and output. This made it faster and more sensitive while reducing the level of torque managed by the coupling.
Today this great Alfa Romeo tradition brings us the Alfa Crosswagon Q4 and Alfa Sportwagon Q4, a new approach to the 4x4 world that adds a whole new meaning to versatility and sportiness.

The contribution of Fiat Group companies


A sports coupé of decided personality and flair, yet also a cutting-edge car in terms of equipment, power units and mechanicals. This was the brief given to the Alfa Romeo engineers and technicians. To achieve its goal, Fiat deployed its best resources and ensured that maximum quality and reliability standards were applied throughout the product development and construction process. It also developed a profitable co-operative relationship with its outside suppliers and some Group Companies including Magneti Marelli, Comau, Elasis and the Fiat Research Centre. Out of this cooperative venture came the many innovative solutions that make the Alfa Crosswagon Q4 and Alfa Sportwagon Q4 the new benchmark in their category.



Magneti Marelli

Magneti Marelli’s contribution is mainly in the fields of design, comfort and safety.
Firstly, Magneti Marelli’s Automotive Lighting engineers developed the design and technology of the front light clusters. The penetrating, wraparound shape of the headlights complements the car’s powerful, aggressive front end while confirming its family relationship with other new Alfa Romeo cars. The tail-lights add extra poise to the rear end.
The control panel, infocenter and check control are also built by Magneti Marelli and fit remarkably well into the on-board facia to allow easy consult

[Vit155]

[Dimcev]

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