Alfa Romeo 145

The Alfa Romeo 145 and Alfa Romeo 146 were two compact cars produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo between 1994 and 2001. The 145 and 146 both share common design plans and interior components from the B-pillar forwards; the 145 is a 3-door hatchback, whereas the 146 is a 5-door.

To replace its ageing 33 model, Alfa Romeo launched these two cars in 1994 (the 145) and 1995 (the 146) to compete in the extremely competitive mid-size hatchback market. A spacious and uniquely Italian interior was presented to the press at the launch, and by all accounts it was well received; its oddly shaped cut-away dashboard attracted much attention, but in fact the design was for safety rather than aesthetic purposes.

Based on the Fiat Tipo chassis, the cars were widely praised for their handling, particularly the sharp, responsive steering. The 1.8l and 2.0l engine cars were equipped with a 'quick-rack' which improved steering responsiveness, but as a result the turning circle was compromised. The sporty suspension set-up was harsher than most others in its category at the time, but this was likely an intentional decision in line with the Fiat Group's marketing of Alfa Romeo as a sporting brand.

In terms of styling, the styling cues introduced in the Alfa Romeo 164 were continued, and the lighting clusters of the 146 gave definite hints about the forthcoming Alfa Romeo 166.

While the volume of 145s and 146s sold was moderately low, parts availability is good in most respects. Owners clubs can often advise on multiple sources of parts or workarounds.

145s and 146s are particularly prized by owners of older Alfa Romeo Sprints, as their more advanced twin-spark engines can be freely transplanted into the older cars, by virtue of the earliest vehicles inheriting the older 1.7 L Boxer engines which are backwards compatible with the older 33s and Sprints. In consequence, mounting and transmission interfaces are retained, allowing a Sprint to receive a 1.8 litre Twin Spark into its engine bay with minimal modification of the engine or the Sprint itself.