Performance Review: Alfa-Romeo 146 ti - [1994]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Alfa-Romeo 146 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Alfa-Romeo 146 ti is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1994. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1995 McLaren F1 LM 6.1 V12 and the 1995 Ford GT 90 6.0L V12.This particular Alfa-Romeo 146 has a 1970cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The 146 shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the 146's Front Wheel Drive, Saloon combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1225 kgs (2700 lbs) this makes the Alfa-Romeo 146 ti in the same weight category as the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line or the give or take 50kg.

The Alfa-Romeo 146 shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp)

In terms of power the 1970cc 16V St4 engine produces 150 bhp (111 kW) @ 6200 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp) or the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (148 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated St4 throws out 138 lb-ft (187.1 Nm) @ 4000 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (162 lb-ft) or the 2016 Ford Fiesta ST 200 1.6 Turbo (159 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Alfa-Romeo 146 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 1996 BMW Z3 E36 2.8L Roadster (147.4 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Alfa-Romeo 146.

The Alfa-Romeo 146 has a Power to weight ratio of 122.4 bhp per ton and 112.6 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1994 146 competing with the 1996 BMW Z3 E36 2.8L Roadster (147.4 bhp per ton) or the 2000 Ford Puma 1.7i 16V Ford Racing (147.1 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Alfa-Romeo 146 generating around 112.6 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2015 Mazda MX5 2.0i Roadster Coupe (137.6 lb-ft per ton) or the 1996 BMW 5 Series 530i Saloon E39 (137.6 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 8.00 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 8.3 secs, this made the Alfa-Romeo 146 ti as fast as the 2011 Citroen DS5 1.6 THP 200 (8.00 secs) the 2009 Porsche Cayenne 3.0 V6 Turbo Diesel (8.00 secs) the 2008 Alfa-Romeo Mito 1.4 155 T-Jet Veloce (8.00 secs) the or the 2007 Fiat Bravo 1.9 Sport Multijet (8.00 secs). This Alfa-Romeo 146 ti is also faster than the 2014 Peugeot 308 GT 2.0 Blue HDI 180 (8.10 secs) the 2008 Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 T-Jet 155 Abarth (8.10 secs) the 2006 Volkswagen-VW Golf GT TDi 170 (8.10 secs) the and the 2005 Vauxhall-Opel Astra 2.0 Turbo SRI (8.10 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 146 and the 2001 Saab 9-3 Viggen 2.3L Turbo

When talking about the performance of the Alfa-Romeo 146 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 16.21 secs @ 84.4 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2001 Saab 9-3 Viggen 2.3L Turbo (16.13 secs), the 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 351 4 Speed (16.14 secs), and the 2008 Audi TT Roadster 2.0T FSI 200 (16.15 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1994 version of the Alfa-Romeo 146 ti has a maximum speed of 130mph.

Top Speed of the 1994 146 equals the 2010 Audi A1 A1 1.4 TFSI S-Tronic (141 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1994 Alfa-Romeo 146 ti then how about the 2010 Audi A1 A1 1.4 TFSI S-Tronic (141 mph), the 2009 Renault Clio 2.0 RenaultSport III 200 Cup (141 mph), or the 2006 Seat Leon 1.8 20vt Cupra R 210 (141 mph).

Related Links:

1994 146 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Alfa-Romeo

Car Comparison