Is it capable of reaching its factory top speed at all?
Six-cylinder engines are gradually but surely disappearing from compact cars. Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that even the next-generation C63 will be converted to an electrified 4-pot. It is likely that all six-cylinder engines within that segment will soon be discontinued. However, V6 and I6 engines were available on almost every D-segment car in Europe just ten or fifteen years ago.
Alfa Romeo is one example. Although the Giulia might still have an optional V6 engine, its predecessor was powered by a naturally aspirated V6 with a larger displacement. The 159 3.2 V6 had 256 horsepower (191 Kilowatts) as well as 237 pound-feet (322 Newton meters) of torque.
These numbers are acceptable for a D-segment model that is not performance-oriented, even by current standards. The 159 Ti could accelerate off-the-line at 62 miles an hour (100 km per hour) in just 7.1 seconds. This is again a respectable result.
Top speed? The front-wheel-drive 3.2 V6 version should reach speeds of 155 mph (250 km/h). The AutoTopNL YouTube channel has released a new video that will show whether or not the wagon can hit its factory top speed.
Although we don’t know exactly what conditions were used to record the video, it appears that this car performed poorly. The maximum speed recorded was a mere 138 mph (222 km/h), which is far below the electronically controlled top speed of the 159 Ti.
Another Alfa Romeo model was seen running at top speed in January. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifoglio did a better job. However, that’s to be expected considering its lighter engine and heavier weight.