For more than 55 years the Ti badge on an Alfa Romeo has designated a variant with a more sporting focus, a greater level of features and equipment and an even more refined level of style.

Until now it has also meant a high price.

But with the launch of the Alfa Romeo 166 Ti in Australia, Alfa Romeo’s flagship gains all the features that make a Ti model special, but without any increase in price.

For the same $84,950 recommended retail price as the now-superseded Alfa Romeo 166, the new Ti is instantly recognisable thanks to its unique Ti 18 inch alloy wheels, which even carry the Ti logo moulded into the aluminium alloy. Inside a new style of black leather is used on the sports seats with the Alfa Romeo logo in silver stitching. Additional equipment includes a fully integrated SatNav system with colour screen, a slide/tilt sunroof, rear parking sensors, Xenon headlights and unique the unique Ti badging that has been fitted to generations of Alfa Romeo cars.

The Alfa Romeo 166 Ti is a blend of classic Alfa Romeo themes and a modern athletic shape that clothes a stylish and spacious interior. It is powered by the 3.0 litre V6 engine that has become a byword for performance, aural pleasure and even stylish good looks with its polished chrome inlet manifold. Delivering 162 kW, this engine is one of the most powerful in its category. It delivers a peak torque of 265 Nm at 5,000 rpm and takes 8.6 seconds to speed from 0 to 100 km/h. This performance is delivered through the Sportronic gearbox which offers the choice of normal automatic mode, performance self-shifting and Tiptronic style manual gear selection.

The Alfa 166, even before the advent of the 166 Ti, is well equiped, with electric windows, power locks and remotely controllable door mirrors, as well as cruise control, auxiliary power points front and rear and power seats in the front with memories and heating. There is, also, a central control system with a large LCD colour screen that controls the extensive CD stacker/cassette audio system, the ventilation system which features climate control, comprehensive trip computer and the GSM phone, as well as a SatNav system which is now included in the Ti package. The locks are not just remotely controlled with the boot can be remotely opened.

"The most recent cars to wear the Ti badge have been the Alfa Romeo 147 and 156, both of which proved very successful in Australia," says David Stone, General Manager for Alfa Romeo in Australia. "The new 166 Ti is a worthy successor to those cars and its predecessors that have carried the Ti badge for more than 55 years. The Ti package provides the 166 with a distinctive new appearance, it links the 166 to Alfa Romeo’s heritage and it provides a new level of luxury and equipment. But, unlike any previous Ti model before it, the 166 Ti does this without any increase in price, making it an outstanding proposition for enthusiastic drivers looking for a car that is stylish, different and uniquely an Alfa Romeo."

Footote: Alfa Romeo models to carry the Ti badge include: