5 Things You Didn't Know About The Alfa 90

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You could be forgiven for not knowing the #AlfaRomeo #Alfa90 ever existed, given it's been in production for just four years, between 1984 and 1987. Over that short period, less than 60.000 examples left the #Arese production line, the vast majority of which remained within Italy's borders.
Although well-appointed and engineered, the Alfa 90 proved uncompetitive against its closest competitors and disappeared quickly, so I guess you didn't know these five facts about it...
1. Active aero
The front bumper of the Alfa 90 incorporated an active spoiler that extended automatically once the car reached 80 Km/h.
2. Pioneering Electronics
Known under the CEM acronym, which stood for "Controllo Elettronico Motore," Alfa Romeo's own proprietary electronic engine management system was fitted to around 1500 Alfa 90 saloons.
3. Anti-lock brakes
In 1985, the Alfa 90 became the first Alfa Romeo model available with anti-lock brakes.
4. Campione
The Alfa 90 "Campione" was a limited-edition model offered by Alfa Romeo's German importer.
5. Station Wagon
In 1985, the Italian magazine Auto Capital bought an Alfa 90 saloon and had the Marazzi coachbuilding workshop transforming it into a station wagon.
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[@peterkleinveld9705]

I've owned for many years a 90 2.5v6 with digital dashboard and the famous briefcase. I loved it, great handling and famous Busso sound!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Nowadays it’s near-impossible to find a 90 with its briefcase still on it: it seems people kept it when they sold the car off! 😆

[@peterkleinveld9705]

@@Matteo_Licata Indeed....the briefcase seems more desirable then the car itself -:)

[@Liban46227]

I have owned 2 Alfa 90 V6. One with tall gearing and 1 with short Lovely cars

[@simonhodgetts6530]

I’ve always liked the 90 - it’s a bit of an odd-ball car, but it did a good job of filling a gap in the range before the excellent 164 launched. There were some novel technical features too - although I’ve never been too sure about the briefcase built into the dashboard, or the roof mounted control binnacle!

[@gaetanoflorio6277]

I remember the launch in Italy I move with the family in late 84. I remember vividly how the front lower spoiler worked with high speed wind variant changes and of course the pull out briefcase from the dash. When I returned back to Australia, after owning a couple of Alfettas and Giulietta, I ventured to a bigger sedan opting for a 2.5 V6 in the early 90's and loved it. I then upgraded to the 2.5 V6 75. Great car to own, especially with the digital dash but alas no briefcase. Thank you Matteo for another informative video. When will we see the "Mostro" showcased?

[@Matteo_Licata]

That’s great to hear, I love these anedoctes from people who actually owned these cars. The SZ is indeed long overdue a video, but I’ll see if I can film one soon enough :)

[@joshuaagassi2874]

The thing that caught my eye was the wagon prototype had the rear lights of the fiat uno but just upside down. Very good video 👏👏

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you. Yes, those are Uno taillights indeed :)

[@olepetter866]

I have owned an 1985MY Alfa Romeo 90 2,5 Quadrifoglio Oro in Alfa red. A great car

[@Matteo_Licata]

That was cool. Never ever seen a 90 in such a nice spec here in Italy

[@paulqueripel3493]

Someone I know posted a picture of an abandoned 90 in an Italian car park recently. Worth rescuing, quite rare now.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Rare but not valuable… So a rescue operation must be a labor of love, over all else: the finished car is unlikely to ever recoup the expenses

[@hanswieringa9911]

Thank you Matteo for a new and interesting video about this model. Personally, I think that the funniest thing about this car is, that they are equipped with a special sleeve in the dasboard to accommodate a bussiness suitcase. Never seen that on any other car!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Yep! I didn’t include it in the list because I thought it was a pretty well-known fact. Funnily enough, people seemed to hold on to those suitcases, and nowadays is hard to find a 90 complete with it.

[@joseantonioarandagarcia9966]

Nice video Matteo. Always liked the functional industrial design of the 90. So tidy and almos Bauhaus! Specially like the bizarre solution for the rear plate on top of the taillights and the clever front spoiler.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Couldn't agree more!

[@minopino3]

The rear lights of the wagon, looks like the rear lights from the fiat uno. But a great model this is, you can see that they combine the 33 and the 90, and they made the 75. I think the best looking alfa's ever.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Yes, they indeed were Fiat Uno lights clusters, well spotted!

[@sainta2667]

Always loved the Alfa 90

[@Falcone-en4wl]

I knew about the passive spoiler, the CEM and even the ABS: Three out of five it's not too bad! 😊 Great job as usual Matteo!

[@Matteo_Licata]

You’re an expert, that’s for sure 👍 Thank you!

[@gr182]

Hi Matteo, thanks for the video! Always liked this quirky Alfa model. I saw the Station wagon one off in Italy many years ago. There is also a model you didn't mention. I know of an Alfa 90 converted when almost new by the famous Alfa tuner and dealer Brohl in Rastatt to Alfa 75 Turbo specification. Optically it was based on the Campione model. A very cool car indeed. Keep up the good work!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thanks for the info! I didn't know about that!

[@VietnamEli]

Saw these in Italy, but never knew much about them, so thanks for the video. I always thought they were Alfasud-based FWD cars but knowing they Alfetta-based makes me want one! 🤣🤣

[@paulwlynch]

Another fantastic video on a fabulous manufacturer...

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you!

[@anthonypetty9288]

From memory, the NZ dealers donated an Alfa 90 to act as a prize during the NZ cricket season. I think Sir Richard Hadlee (famous fast bowler) won it. Unfortunately I don't know if it is still in use. There were never very many here in NZ.

[@Matteo_Licata]

That’s something I didn’t know, thank you!

[@MS940]

90 remains interesting model despite very short production period. It had still that traditional rear wheel drive train. If only they had bit more resources.. ABS brakes were for sure thinking forward at that time. Thank you again !

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it

[@gearhead9828]

Very interesting! Active aero now has a revival on the Giulia Quadrifoglio. Thanks for this interesting video, ciao 🙋‍♂️

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you for watching! 👍

[@marchutchings8834]

Another wonderful video. Please keep up this fascinating work.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you! Will do! :)

[@bertone83]

I have always loved the Alfa 90 and think about buying one of the V6 versions.

[@raufsahin334]

Its a Beautiful Car .. A very Rare Masterpiece ..Thanks Again for the Video Matteo ...

[@jaimegonzalez661]

Another great video about one of the most peculiar Alfa's ever built.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you!

[@giannicolonello3240]

always enjoyable and curious stuff from matteo 😃

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you! 😊

[@Pat_RickX]

Fine! Another underrated AR. Thanks Matteo 👍🏻

[@martinclapton2724]

I always thought the marketing of the 90 was strange as it almost competed with Alfas other cars still in current manufacture at the time , still based on the same. Alfetta platform. The Alfa Six was still production , as was the tail end of the Alfetta. The styling features by Bertone, my favourite Italian car designer, I thought were lovely , considered quirky by some by I liked them all the same . You can see how many interior design elements were inherited from the outgoing Alfetta and then followed on in the 75 . The downfall of Alfas of the early 1980’s is that they stepped up the gear ratios where 5th was an overdrive type ratio , to aid fuel consumption at cruising speeds , rather than a direct gear which still offered more sparkling acceleration. In “real world “ motoring in meant owners would change down to 4th anyway for overtaking so it seemed counterproductive. This also happened to some Fiat models , notably the later 132 2000 models , and Mirafiori 131 1600 tc of later 1970s early 1980’s . ( The earlier OHV 1600 S Mirafiori was quicker than the later 1600 TC in the gears as a result) . Once again, very informative video,Matteo

[@155andRising]

I was just about to say I recognised the Fiat Uno tail lights on the wagon but someone beat me to it 😂

[@anonimalombardafabbricaaut7824]

The Alfa 90 is my daily driver! I love it!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Cool! Which version?

[@anonimalombardafabbricaaut7824]

@@Matteo_Licata It's the 2000 4 cilinders but with the neat features of the cloverleaf, same electric operated seats, air conditioning and the "Valextra" briefcase. Probably the only Alfa 90 daily driver in the world! ;)

[@gr182]

Fantastic! Great to hear of one being cherished and used 👍

[@grantalexandergiliomee2777]

You should mention the amazing zf engine mounted gearbox. Meaning a more responsive drive than the gtv6 ( I owned 2 GTV6 since 1986.) I'm busy mating a 262 5speed CR getrag gearbox to the 2.5 sedan flywheel/pressure plate with my bellhousing. I swapped the zf for a getrag because the gearshift is better positioned than the 90 zf box. I believe the 90 could have been sport upgraded hugely with widened wheel arches, 3-piece split rims etc and become much more popular in the right hands. Just like the later gtv 24v with those stupid headlight holes. I wish someone here would make a mould off one of the latest alfa and create a sexy integrated bonnet/ f/bumper in carbon fibre for a 24v cabriolet gtv 3L. The way mini did. 4 holes in the bonnet....Yuck!

[@paulmeester5401]

Fiat uno tail lights on the one off station wagon?

[@paulnoone4351]

I thought the same!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Yes indeed. Well spotted 👍

[@jimmyj1969]

The SW prototype's tailights are from Fiat Uno (just like the ones on Alfetta SW prototype)!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Yes, that’s true! 👍

[@RicardoDiLago]

i hope you will write another book on the 90. That would be great!

[@Matteo_Licata]

You know what? I’m getting around to the idea… Been thinking a lot about it lately, and I may well make the Alfa 90 my next book project, once I’ll be done with the current one, the Lancia Gamma.

[@Maggiolino45cv]

Auto discreta!

[@studiocalder818]

Come on guys: so few views !? It's a Bertone Alfa! Go and see the contemporary, if they save a few, some German and French, a Saab, STOP

[@ElChasco_official]

And not forget the suitcase glovebox

[@thomash2806]

Fiat Uno rear lights on the 90 SW?

[@Matteo_Licata]

Yes. Well spotted!

[@ofirs5830]

Did the 75 use the same chassis?

[@Matteo_Licata]

Yes. The 75's body structure derived from the Giulietta which, in turn, was based on the Alfetta floorpan. So yes, a lot of commonalities between the 75 and 90

[@nsidor1234]

Unlike the flowing lines of the past, this one resembles an 80s VW...

[@larsen1974]

oddio, i fari della uno sull'alfa... questa non l'avevo mai vista in effetti... e' un peccato, perche' la 90 rappresenta di fatto la fine dell'alfa storica, una sorta di ultimo chiodo nella bara, prima dell'avvento delle alfiat...

[@Mario-bv6hd]

Grazie per questo servizio veramente interessante. A me piaceve l`alfa 90.. ma purtroppo non puoi vendere una Macchina nel 84, con la tecnica dell 68 (Alfetta)

[@Matteo_Licata]

Grazie a te! Eh si, i problemi erano le dimensioni interne e le proporzioni, che tradivano l’etá del progetto e rendevano il posizionamento come vettura di lusso insostenibile. La 75 invece funzionò, perché meno cara e piú sportiveggiante, rivolta al cliente tradizionale Alfa Romeo.

[@Mario-bv6hd]

@@Matteo_Licata non so che dirti... Le finiture non erano all`altezza di una BMW 5xx o Mercedes E, Poi la tecnica era piu o meno dell`Alfetta. (anno 68) A me comunqe piaceva... e stavo per comprami la Turbodiesel... (di 2. mano) Ma fù avvisato, che il motore VM non era affidabile... Ho avuto 2 Spider 2000 (80 /77) un Alfetta (80) e in garage abbiamo un GT Junior(71) tutto da rifare.... :-)

[@Matteo_Licata]

Le finiture decisamente non erano mai state un cavallo di battaglia dell’Alfa Romeo :) Ricordo come praticamente ogni prova di Quattroruote le citasse fra i difetti eheh. Bella la Spider, prima o poi me ne prenderó una anche io

[@paulkazzer]

We got the 90 in Australia to top the range. Rust was not its friend.

[@BennysBenz]

I feel like the station wagon never took off in Italy.

[@Matteo_Licata]

You mean as a bodystyle in general? Nothing further from the truth: Italians bought a lot of wagons and still do, albeit less than before. Alfa itself sold most 159s as wagons

[@BanjoLuke1]

Such a strange machine..... It is from a time when it was hard to identify Alfa models at over 100 metres..... Is is a Six? Is it a 90? Is it an Alfetta? In the UK this model really had almost no impact. It was lovely, but it had no impact and was rarely seen. But these were strange years for Alfa.... The "cool" Alfas were long in the tooth and the identity was slightly blurrred. It was probably different on the domestic market.... But in the UK these were Alfa's "lost years".

[@Matteo_Licata]

The numbers prove that Alfa Romeo in those days underperformed on export markets, that’s true. By 1985 Italian sales were good enough, but elsewhere they stayed well below expectations.

[@cancracker]

Probably the briefcase doubles the price of the car 😆

[@Matteo_Licata]

It is indeed hard to find a 90 that still has its briefcase. It seems people kept them when they sold the car!

[@ETV-xt1kq]

I see some resemblance to Fiat Regata as well.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Well, the Alfa 90 looks similar to many other 1980s saloons, I’d say. There was nothing especially outstanding about it, just some intriguing minor details

[@ANDREWSAMY562]

Looks like a fancy fiat Argenta?

[@nrs6956]

Viva Alfa Romeo!