Alfa Romeo 75

http://www.wheelsofitaly.com/v2/us/en/xhtml/downloads/2005show/images/druyte.JPG

The Alfa Romeo 75 (Milano US) was released to the world in May 1985 and is named to celebrate Alfa's 75th year of production. The body is designed in a striking wedge shape, tapering at the front with square headlights and a matching grille. The 75 was released as the Milano in North America.

It featured some highly unusual traits, mainly the fact that it was almost perfectly balanced from front to rear. This was achieved by mounting the standard 5-speed gearbox in the rear connected to the rear differential (RWD). The front suspension was of torsion bar and shock absorber combination and the rear was an expensive de-dion assembly with shock absorbers. The overall effect that these designs had was to allow excellent handling, and combined with the rear wheel drive, it propelled the 75 into many racing stables.

The crankshaft ran the length of the underside from the engine block to the gearbox, and rotated at the speed of the engine. As a result, the shaft had to be balanced with 'doughnuts' to prevent vibration and engine/gearbox damage.

The interior, while now somewhat dated, was a classic Alfa design. It featured what for its time was an advanced dashboard mounted diagnostic computer, capable of monitoring the engine systems and alerting the drivers of potential fault. In the majority of the still operable 75's, this computer is either disabled or in permanent error condition.

Engines as of initial launch

Launched: May 1985.

1.6 with 110 bhp @ 5800 rpm
1.8 with 120 bhp @ 5300 rpm
2.0 with 128 bhp @ 5400 rpm

Engines revised 1986

January 1986:

1.8 L4 Turbo 155 bhp @ 5,800rpm

February 1986:

2.5 V6 with 156 bhp @ 5600 rpm ('Milano' - US markets only).

Engines revised 1987

2.0 TS with 148 bhp @ 5800 rpm
3.0 V6 with 188 bhp @ 5800 rpm

Engines revised 1988

1.6 catalytic with 105 bhp @ 6000 rpm
1.8 catalytic with 155 bhp @ 5800 rpm

Engines revised 1990

1.8 Turbo Quadrifoglio Verde with 165 bhp @ 5800 rpm
2.0 TS with 148 bhp @ 5800 rpm

Engines revised 1992

1.6 catalytic with 107 bhp @ 6000 rpm
2.0 TD with 95 bhp @ 4300 rpm (European markets only).

End of production

1992