The characteristic Alfa grille, for example, is a powerful presence, the core from which the entire car seems to expand, leading first to the two classic Alfa 'whiskers' and four small air vents, then to the single panes of glass covering the lighting clusters with their four recessed circular headlights, and then upwards to the big V of the bonnet.

From these elements the Alfa 156 is takes shape. The broad 'shoulders' and wings complete the front section, the wheels are flush with the body and the generous radiator grille is carved into the bumper, with its foglights and air intake, so that has become almost an integral part of the bodywork.

The Alfa 156 is equally distinctive in side view. Key features include the housing of the rear door handle in the quarter light frame and a line that bulges over the wheels but flattens at the centre to create a clean surface where the front door handle can take centre stage as the visual link between the line of the two wheel arches. Glazing has been used with deliberate restraint so that the high, protective sides can make their powerful statement to complete the picture.

The tail end is equally attractive and distinctive: compact, tapered with a slight downward slope. The rear window is teardrop-shaped; the small lighting clusters are recessed into the body and the Alfa logo is set high up on the distinctively shaped boot lid.

As befits a saloon with a distinctly sporty character, the interior is built around the driver's seat. Facing the driver is the classic sports car array of two round instrument dials: speedometer and rev counter. The gear lever is positioned high, close to the steering wheel, to be in easy reach. At the centre of the wrapround facia a console holds three smaller dials, also circular and orientated towards the driver; the standard radio CD unit, the air conditioning and climate control commands and ashtray are positioned lower down.

The Alfa 156 cabin has been designed with careful attention to ergonomics, acoustics and climate control. The steering wheel is adjustable for rake and reach and the driver's seat boasts a 40 mm height adjustment. Meanwhile the seat back is equipped with self-adaptive position adjustment.

Acoustic comfort has been maximised by combating engine noise at source and minimising wind noise. The ventilation is particularly efficient, fine-tuned to create a climate rather than a fan effect.

The new Alfa Romeo model blends a forcefully expressive style with performance and driving pleasure to create a car that is lovely to look at, delightful to drive, yet safe and reliable in all situations.

Big-hearted engines power the Alfa 156, all offering some of the best specific power outputs in their respective classes. One of the petrol engines is a Twin Spark and it belongs to the recent family of modular engines produced in the Pratola Serra plant.

The 2.0 Twin Spark is equipped with electrohydraulic variable valve timing, variable geometry intake manifolds to guarantee optimal power output (90% of its maximum power is already available at around 3000 rpm and two counter-rotating balancer shafts in order to achieve the silent running and lack of vibration normally associated with a six cylinder engine.

Top of the range is the 2.5 litre six cylinder 24-valve unit, Alfa Romeo's first petrol engine to adopt electronic throttle control. This ensures that full power can be delivered without hesitation at all speeds. This engine is mated to an all-new four speed Sportronic automatic transmission.

With the 2.0 litre Twin Spark engine, the Alfa 156 has a top speed of 216 kmh and it covers the dash from zero to 100 kmh in just 8.6 seconds. With the V6 power unit, the 156 can top 230 kmh and accelerates to 100 kmh in just 7.3 seconds.

An extraordinary car for roadholding, handling and driveability, the Alfa 156 owes its excellent road manners to its advanced suspension layout. The double wishbone arrangement at the front combines the superlative stability of front wheel drive with exceptionally precise steering. This configuration maximises tyre contact with the road surface, independent of any bodyshell or suspension movement, for optimum grip on bends, in acceleration and braking.

The independent rear suspension is an updated version of the MacPherson strut layout with a wheel mechanism that adapts harmoniously to front suspension behaviour to ensure stability at high speed, and agility and prompt responses on mixed routes. It also incorporates an innovative high-tech aluminium cross-member.

The flexible setting and damping of the Alfa 156 suspension allows the car to make an excellent job of absorbing bumps in the road. These results are due in part to its exceptional torsional rigidity of 110,000 kgm/rad, worthy of a true sports car.

The braking system is servo-assisted hydraulic on all versions, complete with active sensor ABS and an EBD electronic braking distributor. The front ventilated discs measure 284 mm, those at the rear 251 mm. It all makes for optimum efficiency. Indeed the Alfa 156 will brake to a stop in 39 metres from 100 km/h.

The steering is ultra-precise at high speeds for a really sporty feel but also light enough at low speeds to make for easy parking and effortless manoeuvring around town. This was made possible by a very direct ratio: just a little more than two turns of the wheel for complete lock. The power steering system is particularly efficient, and specific measures were taken to ensure that vibration transmitted to the steering is almost nil.

As the most advanced expression of Alfa Romeo's new sports car philosophy, the Alfa 156 is thus a genuinely gutsy performer that is always easily managed and offers the utmost in driving pleasure.

This is also a very safe car.

A noiseless, comfortable cabin, superior climate control and optimised siting of all the controls enhance preventive safety. Active safety is derived from precision steering, exceptional roadholding and a braking system that incorporates ABS and EBD (Electronic Brake Distributor). Passive safety is the combined affect of several elements: crumple zone front structure, collapsible longitudinals and steering column on one hand, combined with a very rigid passenger compartment on the other. Plus of course, impact beams in the doors and Alfa's FPS (Fire Prevention System).

Twin front airbags are standard on all versions and the front passenger airbag is equipped with a sensor that deactivates the system if the seat is unoccupied. The system can also be deactivated to fit an infant seat. Even the seat-belts with their pretensioners are doubly anchored to the seat, to provide the correct amount of tension no matter what size or shape the occupant is. Thanks to these systems, the Alfa 156 easily passed all the safety tests imposed by the latest EU regulations.

Quality means guaranteed reliability and quality is what the Alfa 156 was designed for with the aid of the latest defect analysis and prevention techniques (FMEA - Failure Mode and Effect Analysis). Prototypes were fatigue and durability tested over 6,000,000 kilometres at all latitudes and in the most extreme climate conditions.

Suppliers are required to guarantee the quality of components employed in production. The quality of every assembly operation is certified either by the person who performs the operation (by a personal stamp), or by a machine that prints a certificate of conformity. The results of all checks are noted on the test form that accompanies each car as it progresses along the line.

In addition to approval of individual operations, overall conformity of the finished product is certified at the end of the line in each operating unit (Pressing, Panelling, Painting and Assembly).

The dynamic reliability of each Alfa 156 produced is tested on the track by Pomigliano test drivers, and some cars undergo even more severe testing, lasting up to 180 kilometres on out-of-town roads and motorways. But that is not all.

From objective quality to perceived quality. Before leaving the plant, the Alfa 156 undergoes two more types of verification, to simulate the impression that the car has upon the customer who sees or drives it for the first time. The first is an aesthetic and functional check similar to that performed by a possible purchaser in a showroom: door closing, glove box opening, and the look of the paintwork. The second is a road test performed by employees who put themselves in the shoes of a customer undertaking a test drive.

The car is built on systems employing the world's most advanced quality monitoring systems by trained workers (a minimum of 80 to a maximum of 320 hours training for every assembly line employee).