Alfa Romeo 159 History

Introduced in production form at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show, the 159 (designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign) replaced the 156 as Alfa Romeo's compact executive saloon. It shared the GM/Fiat Premium platform with the Brera coupé and the 159 Spider (marketed separately as the Spider in some markets).

Although praised for its handsome styling and interior quality improvement, the 159 was heavier than its predecessor, which blunted its driving dynamics. Production ran from 2005 to 2011, when the model was discontinued without a direct successor in its class — Alfa's compact executive slot then went unfilled until the 2016 Giulia.