Desperate times call for desperate measures. The crisis has forced several manufacturers to make tough choices. FGA will, once Sergio Marchionne’s mission is successfully accomplished, dispose of several gorgeous products which will be sold all across the globe. During the development of the Alfa Romeo 166 facelift (2003), a team of engineers were working on an ultimate flagship model on top of the 3.2 V6.
The Alfa Romeo 166 GTA Q4 was supposed to be the sportiest model of the 166 line-up. It would make use of four-wheel drive technique like its predecessor, the 164 Q4. The main problem was the engine; the Alfa Romeo Busso 3.2 V6 delivered a maximum power output of around 250 hp and would already serve duty in the regular facelift of the Alfa Romeo 166. They first tried to fit the legendary Busso V6 with a turbo, but quickly realized this would cause reliability problems. Eventually the by-Ferrari-developed M138 4.2 V8 engine producing 390 hp was chosen. This engine was also to be used in the new Maserati 4200 GT and Quattroporte. But the project turned out to be too expensive as a lot of changes needed to be made to the 166 and Alfa Romeo would only be able to produce a limited amount of them. Another reason for why this sporty 166 didn’t make it is that Luca Cordero di Montezemolo thought the 166 Q4 would become a major competitor for the new Maserati Quattroporte.
http://www.autoedizione.com/recent-sporty-alfas-never/
