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Alfa Romeo 166 2.5 V6 24V Sportronic '98 (GT6)

While Alfa Romeo was establishing itself as one of the premier sporty-car makers of Europe, the company was also quietly perfecting its take on the sedan. This fact was evidenced in 1998 by the introduction of the 166, the successor to the 164. Penned by Walter de Silva, the 166's svelte lines were to become the cornerstone for the look of future Alfa Romeo cars. The face resembled that of the popular 156, highlighted by the trademark triangular grille adorned with the Alfa Romeo logo. Despite being categorized in the highly-competitive E segment, which included the likes of the luxurious Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series, the 166 stayed true to its sporting nature.

Under the sleek hood of the 166 were the choice of five gasoline engines and one diesel. The base versions came with a 2.0-liter inline-4 and a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4. The most popular models were the 2.5-liter V6 that produced 187 HP and 163.4 lb-ft of torque and a 3.0-liter V6 that turned out 216 HP and 195.2 lb-ft of torque. They came mated to a 4-speed and 5-speed automatic or a 5-speed or 6-speed manual.

When combined with the responsive chassis, the 166 was among the most nimble cars in its class, taking corners with a distinctive Italian flair. In 2003, a facelift gave the 166 even more presence on the road.

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