The Alfa Romeo 156, maufactured by Alfa Romeo, was introduced in 1997 as replacement for the Alfa Romeo 155. Its distinctive style made it the best looking car in the BMW 3-Series class.

The 156 engine range started with four-cylinder 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 petrol units as well as a 2.0 turbo-diesel which were refined enough but were hardly exciting. The 2.5 V6 was a better option, with excellent performance and refinement. A clever feature of the car was Selespeed semi-automatic transmission in the style of a racing car on the 2.0 version.

European buyers quickly took to the 156 and it proved to be a strong challenger for the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4, not least because of its refinement and style.

A significant addition to the 156 range was the Sportwagon estate in 2000. It was more of a style statement than a load carrier because it was proven that even a Ford Focus hatchback had more stowage space.

In 2003 the 156 has got a face-lift.

Seven years after its launch the Alfa Romeo 156 is still one of the best compact executive cars in Europe thanks to its style, refinement and quality.

The 156 was voted European Car of the Year for 1998.