ALFA ROMEO 156Timing chain or Belt?

The Alfa Romeo 156 is a D-segment sedan from the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo. It was produced between 1997 and 2005. The model replaced the Alfa Romeo 155 and was succeeded by the Alfa Romeo 159.

The 156 was primarily sold as a sedan, but it also had a station wagon (Sportwagon) and an SUV (Crosswagon) variant. The Alfa Romeo 156 was designed to address some of the criticism the brand had faced following the launch of its predecessor. The Alfa Romeo 155 had been accused of losing its sportiness. While the 156 did not return to rear-wheel drive, it modified several components to make it a lighter and more dynamic car.

The Alfa Romeo 156 used the group’s Tipo II Rev 3 platform. The car fulfilled its purpose and was named 1998 Car of the Year. It had only one generation, though it did go through three distinct phases.

In 2001, the Alfa Romeo 156 underwent its first facelift (Series II), featuring aesthetic changes, new engines, and updates to the equipment. However, the real leap forward came in 2003 with the Series III. Giorgetto Giugiaro significantly altered the vehicle’s exterior design, offering a glimpse of what its successor would look like a few years later, with a much sportier finish.

Near the end of its production run, in 2004, the Crosswagon version of the 156 was introduced—a crossover with all-wheel drive. Also in 2004, the most radical version of the Alfa Romeo 156 was introduced: the Alfa Romeo 156 GTA AM, manufactured by Autodelta Maggiorata and equipped with a 3.7-liter V6 engine. The sedan version was offered exclusively with front-wheel drive and a transversely mounted engine.