Alfa Romeo V6 engine

Alfa Romeo V6 engine
Alfa Romeo 3.0 V6 24V
Overview
Manufacturer	Alfa Romeo
Designer	Giuseppe Busso
Also called	Alfa Romeo V6 Busso
Production	1979–2005
Layout
Configuration	60° V6
Displacement	2.0 L; 121.9 cu in (1,997 cc) 2.5 L; 152.1 cu in (2,492 cc) 2.8 L; 169.9 cu in (2,784 cc) 2.9 L; 179.0 cu in (2,934 cc) 3.0 L; 180.6 cu in (2,959 cc) 3.2 L; 194.0 cu in (3,179 cc)
Cylinder block material	Aluminium
Cylinder head material	Aluminium
Valvetrain	SOHC/DOHC 60° 2/4 valves x cylinder, respectively
Compression ratio	8.00:1 – 10.50:1
Combustion
Turbocharger	Mitsubishi TD 05H (164) Garrett T25 (GTV,166)
Fuel system	6 Dell'Orto carburetors, fuel injection
Management	Bosch L-Jetronic and Motronic
Fuel type	Petrol
Oil system	Wet sump
Cooling system	Water-cooled
Output
Power output	97–184 kW (132–250 PS)
Specific power	66.1 PS (48.6 kW; 65.2 hp)/L-78.6 PS (57.8 kW; 77.5 hp)/L n/a 105.2 PS (77.4 kW; 103.8 hp)/L turbo
Torque output	178–300 N⋅m (131–221 lb⋅ft)
Dimensions
Dry weight	375 lb (170 kg) Alfa Romeo SOHC V6
Chronology
Predecessor	Alfa Romeo straight-6
Successor	JTS engine

2.0L V6 12V Turbo from Alfa Romeo 166

The Alfa Romeo V6 engine (also called the Busso V6) was a 60° a V6 engine made by Alfa Romeo from 1979 to 2005. It was developed in the early 1970s by Giuseppe Busso, and used on the Alfa 6 with a displacement of 2.5 L (2,492 cc) and a SOHC 12-valve cylinder head. Later versions ranged from 1,997 to 3,195 cc (1.997 to 3.195 L) and had DOHC 32-valve valvetrains. The original design had short pushrods for the exhaust valves in a design similar to earlier Lancia Fulvia engines. The first DOHC version was in the 1993 Alfa Romeo 164, with an aluminium alloy engine block and head with sodium filled exhaust valves.

The Alfa Romeo V6 was used in kit cars like the Ultima GTR, Hawk HF Series and DAX. and is also used in the Gillet Vertigo sports car. In August 2011 EVO magazine wrote that "the original Alfa Romeo V6 was the most-glorius sounding six cylinder road engine ever". and the British Classic & Sports Car magazine said it is "the best sounding engine, this side of a Maserati V8".

12V, two valve

2.0

A 2.0 L; 121.9 cu in (1,997 cc) version was introduced in 1983. Both carburetted 132 PS (97 kW; 130 hp) and fuel-injected versions were available from the start.

Applications:

• 1983–1986 Alfa Romeo Alfa 6 2.0 V6
• 1984–1987 Alfa Romeo 90 2.0 V6

2.0 Turbo

A 2.0 L; 121.8 cu in (1,996 cc) turbocharged version, derived from the 3.0 L 12v, first with total digital management, was introduced in 1991 in the Alfa Romeo 164 with 210 PS (154 kW; 207 hp). The engine has a bore and stroke of 80 mm × 66.2 mm (3.15 in × 2.61 in). This engine is the last on which Busso engineer get his hands on.

Applications:

• 1991–1992 Alfa Romeo 164 V6 Turbo
• 1992–1997 Alfa Romeo 164 Super V6 TB
• 1995–1998 Alfa Romeo GTV (916) phase I V6 TB
• 1998–2000 Alfa Romeo GTV (916) phase II V6 TB Lusso, and Spider 2.0 V6 TB
• 1998–2000 Alfa Romeo 166 Super V6 TB

2.5

Longitudinal 2.5L in a GTV6

The original engine displaced 2.492 L; 152.1 cu in (2,492 cc) and produced 158 PS (116 kW; 156 hp). It was a 2-valve-per-cylinder design with a single belt-driven camshaft per cylinder bank and six carburettors. The engine has a bore and stroke of 88 mm × 68.3 mm (3.46 in × 2.69 in).

The Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection was added for the 1983 Alfa 6, which produced the same 158 PS (116 kW; 156 hp). The 2-valve engine ended its life in the Alfa 155, where there were two series for this engine, the 2.5 L; 152.1 cu in (2,492 cc) developing 166 PS (122 kW; 164 hp). Differences between them were small and only on torque and power delivery producing exactly the same horsepower.

Applications:

• 1979–1986 Alfa Romeo Alfa 6
• 1980–1986 Alfa Romeo GTV6 (Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV6 2.5)
• 1984–1987 Alfa Romeo 90
• 1985–1991 Alfa Romeo 75/Milano
• 1992–1997 Alfa Romeo 155
• 1985–1996 Fiat Croma
• 1987–1989 Rayton Fissore Magnum V6

2.8 Gleich

In 1982, the German Alfa Romeo dealer and tuner Gleich offered a 2.8 conversion of the GTV6 2.5 engine. Dieter Gleich was sure that engine displacement enlargement is still the best and, for the life of the engine, the healthiest way of tuning. The engine capacity was increased to nearly 2.8 liters by using new bushings and custom-built forged Mahle pistons while the compression ratio was raised from 9.5 to 10.5:1. The 2.5 liter was rebored to 93 mm (3.66 in). Total displacement was 2,783.7 cc (169.87 cu in). Power produced were 191 PS (140 kW; 188 hp) at 6,300 rpm and torque 24.6 kg⋅m (241 N⋅m; 178 lb⋅ft) at 4200 rpm.

The magazine "Sport driver" tested a 2.8 Gleich powered GTV6 in June 1982:

"After engaging the first gear and a somewhat careless step on the gas pedal you get a touched feel to the epiphany GTV6 shot, accompanied by the typical Alfa Romeo exhaust sound. It was a pleasure. The fact was the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) is not further under the seven-second limited by a tricky-to-be-shifted five-speed gearbox. The really vehement propulsion waned only when the speedometer 230 km/h (143 mph) mark has left behind. Another eye-opening experience awaits when you realize that the lightning speed to 7000 rpm rotating in any gear pinion even in fifth gear still from 1500 rpm is completely smooth."

Applications:

• 1982 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV6 2.8 Gleich

3.0 SA (Autodelta)

The original 2.5 engine as used in the Alfa Sei was bored and stroked by Autodelta, the former Alfa Romeo racing department to match the racing rules for South African and Australian championships. Bore was increased from 88 mm (3.46 in) to 93 mm (3.66 in) and a new crankshaft stroked to 72 mm (2.83 in). The total displacement was 2,939.5 cc (2.9 L) and it's a totally different engine from the later 2,959 cc (3.0 L) that powered the 75/Milano models. It was, too, a 2-valve-per-cylinder design with a single belt-driven camshaft per cylinder bank and six carburettors. Special camshafts and carbs were used giving a power figure of 176.4 PS (130 kW; 174 hp) at 5800 rpm. Torque was 222 N⋅m (164 lb⋅ft) at 4300 rpm, while compression ratio was 9:1.

Only 174 complete GTV6 3.0 SA cars were produced in 1984 plus 68 more in 1985. the last ones were fitted with EFI.

The 3.0 GTV6 was sold in South Africa in 1987, predating the release of the 3.0 L displacement to the rest of the world. This engine was an Autodelta hand made conversion based on Alfa Sei 2.5 carburated engines enlarged to bore and stroke of 93 mm × 72 mm (3.7 in × 2.8 in).

Applications:

• 1984–1985 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV6 3.0 SA

3.0

Pulled by the racing success of the 3.0 SA engine and looking for more power to boost 75/Milano sales in countries like USA, Alfa Romeo introduced a production version of the 3.0 engine. Bore was 93 mm (3.66 in), as the 3.0 SA, but stroke was increased to 72.6 mm (2.86 in). The total displacement was 2,959 cc (3.0 L). As the previous engines, it was a 2-valve-per-cylinder design with a single belt-driven camshaft per cylinder bank. The main difference with the racing 3.0 SA was the use of modern L-Jetronic fuel injection system by Bosch. Power figures vary from 188 PS (138 kW; 185 hp) to 192 PS (141 kW; 189 hp) at 5800 rpm, with compression ratio 9:1.

This engine was modified for transverse placement in the 164 and fitted with a high-performance camshaft and low-restriction exhaust, producing 192 PS (141 kW; 189 hp) in standard form, 184 PS (135 kW; 181 hp) when a catalyzer was added in 1991, with the Cloverleaf version producing 200 PS (147 kW; 197 hp).

The same engine was fitted to the SZ and RZ - ES30 Zagato, but even more finely tuned with wilder cams and high compression pistons to a further 210 PS (154 kW; 207 hp).

Applications:

• 1987–1991 Alfa Romeo 75/Milano
• 1989–1991 Alfa Romeo SZ
• 1992–1994 Alfa Romeo RZ
• 1992–1994 Lancia Thema
• 1988–1997 Alfa Romeo 164
• 1993–2000 Alfa Romeo Spider

24V, four valve

2.5 24V

24V 2.5L from an Alfa Romeo 156

A four-valve version was introduced in 1997 with the Alfa Romeo 156. The engine now produced 190 PS (140 kW; 187 hp). In 2001, the V6 was uprated to 192 PS (141 kW; 189 hp). The 166 used a slightly detuned version to make more low rev torque. This engine version was awarded as the International Engine of the Year in 2000. The engine has a 88 mm (3.5 in) bore and a 68.3 mm (2.69 in) stroke, the same as the two-valve.

Applications:

• 1997–2005 Alfa Romeo 156
• 1998–2007 Alfa Romeo 166

3.0 24V

Alfa Romeo 164 24V 3.0L

3.0L V6 24V, newer version with red lettering

Lancia Kappa 3.0L 24V had black intake runners

The engine was upgraded to dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder in 1993. Due to this and other refinements, this engine produced 211 PS (155 kW; 208 hp) for the regular 1993 Alfa Romeo 164, with 230 PS (169 kW; 227 hp) and 276 N⋅m (204 lbf⋅ft) in the 164 QV with its engine producing 232 PS (171 kW; 229 hp) on the Q4 model which in its final production run in 1996, it got reduced to 228 PS (168 kW; 225 hp) but with increased torque. The final run of 3.0 V6 engines in the GTV and 166 range, produced 218–220 PS (160–162 kW; 215–217 hp) in the Euro 3-compliant version. The engine has a bore and stroke of 93 mm × 72.6 mm (3.66 in × 2.86 in), the same as the two-valve.

Applications:

• 1992–1997 Alfa Romeo 164
• 1996–2003 Alfa Romeo GTV
• 2000–2003 Alfa Romeo Spider
• 1998–2007 Alfa Romeo 166
• 1994–2001 Lancia Kappa
• 2001–2002 Lancia Thesis
• 1998–present Gillet Vertigo (Vertigo used also 3.6 L version)

3.2 24V

Alfa Romeo 147 GTA 3.2L

In 2002 Alfa Romeo introduced the 156 GTA with a 3.2 L; 194.0 cu in (3,179 cc) version of the V6 with 250 PS (184 kW; 247 hp) and 300 N⋅m (221 lbf⋅ft) torque. Later this engine was also used in the Alfa Romeo 166, GTV, Spider and Alfa Romeo GT in a slightly detuned form 240 PS (177 kW; 237 hp). The engine has a bore and stroke 93 mm × 78 mm (3.7 in × 3.1 in). In Lancia this engine produced 230 PS (169 kW; 227 hp).

Applications:

• 2002–2005 Alfa Romeo 156 GTA
• 2002–2005 Alfa Romeo 147 GTA
• 2003–2010 Alfa Romeo GT
• 2003–2007 Alfa Romeo 166
• 2003–2004 Alfa Romeo GTV
• 2003–2004 Alfa Romeo Spider
• 2003–2009 Lancia Thesis

Production end

The V6 production ended in 2005 at Alfa Romeo Arese Plant; a stock of five thousand were built, to be used in Lancia Thesis, Alfa 166 and Alfa GT models. The engine was replaced in the 159 and Brera by a new 3.2 L V6 unit combining a General Motors-designed engine block with Alfa Romeo cylinder heads and induction. British automotive engineering company Cosworth was keen to buy assembly lines of the Alfa Romeo V6 engine, but the Italian company did not want to sell it. The last version of 3.2 L engine was Euro4 compliant, so it would have been possible to produce it a couple of years more. The engine's designer Giuseppe Busso died within three days after the last engine was produced in Arese.

Since 2015, Fiat Powertrain manufactures the all-new, Ferrari-derived 90° V6 Biturbo engine for the Giulia Quadrifoglio.

See also

• Alfa Romeo Twin Cam engine
• Alfa Romeo Twin Spark engine

Further reading

• The Alfa Romeo V6 Engine High-Performance Manual, Jim Kartalamakis, Veloce Publishing, ISBN 978-1-84584-021-1.