ALFA ROMEO 146Timing chain or Belt?

The Alfa Romeo 146 is a compact car in the C-segment produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo. It is the 5-door version of the Alfa Romeo 145 and went on sale in 1995. Both models were later replaced by the Alfa Romeo 147.

The first and only generation of the Alfa Romeo 146 was unveiled at the Bologna Motor Show in November 1994 and went on sale in May 1995. Initially, the engine lineup included a 1.9-liter turbocharged diesel engine and 1.3-, 1.6-, and 1.7-liter boxer gasoline engines. In 1996, the high-end 146 ti sport models were introduced, featuring a 2.0-liter, 16-valve Twin Spark four-cylinder gasoline engine. These sport models came with stiffer suspension, an upgraded disc brake system, and more direct steering.

In January 1997, the boxer engines were phased out in favor of the 1.4-, 1.6-, and 1.8-liter versions of the 16-valve Twin Spark inline-four engine. In 1999, before production ceased, the model underwent a facelift that included new bumpers, round fog lights, and a wider range of paint colors. The new turbocharged direct-injection diesel engine—the famous 1.9 JTD—was also introduced.

Among the alternatives to the Alfa Romeo 146, we can highlight vehicles such as the Ford Focus, the Volkswagen Golf, or even the BMW 3 Series E36 Compact.