Alfa Romeo goes auto at Melbourne

ALFA Romeo unveiled its first fully automatic gearbox in the 159 sedan and Sportswagon, Brera coupe and Spider convertible at the Melbourne International Motor Show on Friday.

The first of its kind – if one disregards the ultra-low-volume 166 luxury sedan – since the early 1970s 2000A Berlina - Alfa's new self-shifter is an Aisin-supplied six-speed automatic gearbox with a Tiptronic-style manual-shift function.

The 159 range receives it in new 110kW 1.9-litre JTD four-cylinder turbo-diesel (also found in the new Saab 9-3 TiD and Astra CDTi manual), 147kW 2.4 JTD five-cylinder turbo-diesel and (Holden-made) 191kW 3.2-litre JTS V6 petrol guises, which is also the powerplant the gearbox is mated to in the Brera and Spider.

All V6s are all-wheel drive. The Selespeed clutchless manual has not been banished, still appearing with the 136kW 2.2-litre twin-cam four-cylinder unit in the 159 JTS 2.2 and upcoming Spider and Brera models.