Info
Alfa Romeo Arna
Overview | |
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Manufacturer | Alfa Romeo Nissan Autoveicoli S.p.A. |
Production | 1983–1987 |
Produced | 53,047 |
Assembly | Pratola Serra, Italy |
Class | Motor car |
Body style | 3-5 door hatchback |
Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel-drive |
Engine | 1.2 L Boxer H4 1.3 L Boxer H4 1.5 L Boxer H4 |
Transmission | 5 speed manual |
Wheelbase | 2,416 mm (95.1 in) |
Length | 4,000 mm (157.5 in) |
Width | 1,621 mm (63.8 in) |
Height | 1,340 mm (52.8 in) |
Curb weight | 850 kg (1,874 lb) |
The Alfa Romeo Arna (Type 920) is a small family car produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo Nissan Autoveicoli S.p.A. between 1983 and 1987.
History
The company was founded on 9 October 1980 as a 50:50 joint venture between the Italian Alfa Romeo S.p.A. and the Japanese Nissan Motor Company.On October 9, 1980, Takashi Ishihara of Nissan and Alfa Romeo President Ettore Massacesi signed a memorandum in Tokyo for increased cooperation between their two firms, and revealed their intent to create a joint production venture called AR.N.A. S.p.A. (Alfa Romeo Nissan Autoveicoli). Italian Prime Minister Francesco Cossiga endorsed the deal, despite political and auto-industry opposition, because he hoped to bolster the fortunes of the state-owned manufacturer, which had a cult following but was losing money.
The immediate priority of Alfa management, including Massacesi and managing director Corrado Innocenti was to field a competitor in the increasingly lucrative family hatchback market sector where the compact Volkswagen Golf and Lancia Delta were proving successful, and they hoped an alliance with Nissan would bring a competitive model to market quicker and cheaper. During that period, European countries were engaging in protectionism to guard their domestic car industries, with France even banning the import of Japanese-made vehicles. Working with Alfa Romeo, who controlled a respectable amount of European auto sales at the time was seen as a good hedge for Nissan and a chance to establish a foothold in the European market.
For the joint venture, a new plant was constructed in Pratola Serra, near Naples. The body panels of the car were constructed in Japan by Nissan, then shipped to Italy for final assembly. carrying capacity: 937 1b, 425 kg,fuel tank: 11 imp gal, 13.2 US gal, 50 1. separate front seats, headrests
heated rear window andfolding rear seats on TI.
OPTIONAL :light alloy wheels with 175/70 SR x 13 tyres,metallic paint,sunroof.
The product of the relationship was launched at the 1983 Frankfurt Motor Show; the car's name was an acronym meaning Alfa Romeo Nissan Autoveicoli. The Arna was essentially a twin of the N12 series Nissan Pulsar / Nissan Cherry (also known as the Nissan Cherry Europe in selected European markets and the Nissan Pulsar Milano in Japan), but featured Alfa Romeo engines carried over from the Alfasud, as well as an Alfa transmission and front suspension. It did however use an independent rear suspension from Nissan. Italian-built cars badged as Nissan Cherry Europe can be readily identified by their rear lighting clusters, which match those of the Arna rather than the Japanese-built Cherry.
While British Leyland and Honda had a limited partnership in the United Kingdom at that time, the Nissan-Alfa Romeo alliance was the first of its kind between a European and Japanese automaker with joint investment into manufacturing and development. It was feared by the European Economic Community and ironically, Alfa's future parent Fiat, that the success of this partnership would be a Trojan horse for Japanese automakers to unfairly compete in Europe and decimate the European automotive manufacturing industry.
However, such fears were quickly allayed upon the Arna's release when it became obvious that the Arna exhibited the worst qualities of each of its parents. The Arna featured tempestuous mechanicals and indifferent build quality courtesy of Alfa Romeo,married to a Nissan body of questionable build and frumpy styling, with insipid handling common to Japanese cars of the time.This mismatch of technical strengths served to kill the sales of the Arna very rapidly. The Arna is listed as number 26 in the Richard Porter book, "Crap Cars".
By 1986, Alfa Romeo's parent company, the Italian-government owned Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale was suffering from heavy losses, and IRI president Romano Prodi put Alfa Romeo up for sale, with Fiat ultimately emerging as the new owner of Alfa. Fiat's first decision was to cease Arna production due to its poor reputation, poor sales and to conclude the unsuccessful Alfa Romeo-Nissan alliance. Production ceased in 1987 with Fiat intending to strengthen the competitiveness of the Alfa Romeo 33 as Alfa's entry in that segment.
Models
The Arna was initially sold as a 3-door L and a 5-door SL and was fitted with the Alfasud 1.2 boxer engine (63 PS). In 1984, a 3-door TI version, with an 86 PS (63 kW; 85 hp) 1.3 litre boxer-four engine, was introduced, which was capable of reaching 170 km/h (110 mph) top speed. In November 1984 (model year 1985) came a more powerful 1.2 engine in the same trim configurations with 68 PS (50 kW; 67 hp), while there were no external differences there were light alterations to the interior.
PERFORMANCE Arna Ti 1.2l
max power (DIN): 68 hp (50 kW) at 6,000 rpm
max torque (DIN): 67 1b ft, 9.2 kg m (90 Nm) at 3,200 rpm
max engine rpm: 6,000; 57.3 hp/l (42.2 kW/l)
max speeds: (I) 27 mph, 43 km/h; (II) 48 mph, 77 km/h; (III) 71 mph, 115 km/h; (IV) and (V) over 96 mph, 155 km/h
power-weight ratio: 27.6 lb/hp (37.5 lb/kW), 12.5 kg/hp (17 kg/kW)
acceleration: standing 1/4 mile 19.1 sec; speed in top at 1,000 rpm: 20 mph, 32.2 km/h
consumption: 35.8 m/imp gal, 29.8 m/US gal, 7.9 Ix 100 km at 75 mph, 120 km/h.
PERFORMANCE Arna Ti 1.4l
max speeds: (l) 29 mph, 46 km/h; (Il) 52 mph, 84 km/h; (Ill) 77 mph, 124 km/h; (IV) and (V) 106 mph, 170 km/h
power-weight ratio: 21.8 lb/hp (29.7 lb/kW), 9.9 kg hp (13.5 kg/kW)
acceleration: standing quater4 mile 17.5 sec.
max power (DIN): 86 hp (63 kW) at 5,800 rpm
max torque (DIN): 88 1b ft, 12.1 kg m (119 Nm) at 4,000 rpm; 63.7 .(46.7 kW/l)
Later, there were also some TI trim cars built with 1.5 litre engines, sold also as the Nissan Cherry Europe GTI. The more powerful 1.5 TI/Cherry GTI had a top speed of 175 km/h (109 mph). The TI version was discontinued halfway through 1986.
Technical
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ALFA ROMEO Arna Technical details and specifications (1983-1987)
Engines
Engine Type Displacement Power 1.2 flat-4 1,186 cc (72.4 cu in) 63 PS (46 kW; 62 hp) or 68 PS (50 kW; 67 hp) at 6,000 rpm 1.4 flat-4 1,350 cc (82 cu in) 71 PS (52 kW; 70 hp) or 86 PS (63 kW; 85 hp) at 5,800 rpm 1.5 flat-4 1,490 cc (91 cu in) 95 PS (70 kW; 94 hp) ENGINE Ti 1.2l
front, 4 stroke
4 cylinders, horizontally opposed
72.4 cu in, 1,186 cc (3.15 x 2.32 in, 80 x 59 mm)
compression ratio: 8.8:1
Cast iron block, light alloy head
3 crankshaft bearings
valves: overhead, in line, thimble tappets, new Alfa Romeo patent valve adjustment
camshafts: 2, 1 per bank, overhead, cogged belt
lubrication: gear pump, full flow filter (cartridge), 8.1 imp pt, 9.7 US pt
1 Weber 32 DIR 81/250 downdraught twin barrel carburettor;
air cleaner: dry, thimble type thermostatic intake
fuel feed: mechanical pump
water-cooled. expansion tank, 12.8 imp pt, 15.4 US pt
electric thermostatic fan.Arna Ti 1.4l
ENGINE 83.4 cu in, 1,350 cc (3.15 x 2.65 in, 80 x 67.2 mm)
compression ratio: 9.7:1
2 Dell'Orto ORLA 360 downdraught twin barrel carburettors.TRANSMISSION
driving wheels: front
clutch: single dry plate (diaphragm), hydraulically controlled
gearbox: mechanical gears: 5, fully synchronized
gearbox ratios: 1 3.750, II 2.050, III 1.387, IV 1.027, V 0.825, rev 3.091
lever: central; final drive: hypoid bevel
axle ratio: 3.889
width of rims: 5"; tyres: 165/70 SR x 13.CHASSIS
integral; front suspension: independent, by McPherson, coil springs/telescopic damper struts, lower trailing links,
anti-roll bar
rear: independent, lower wishbones, coil springs, telescopic dampers.STEERING
rack-and-pinion, adjustable height of steering wheel; turns lock to lock: 3.70.BRAKES
front disc (diameter 9.41 in, 23.9 cm), rear drum, front compensator, dual circuit, servoELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
12 V: 45 Ah battery
600 W alternator
contactless transistorized ignitionDIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
wheel base: 95.12 in, 242 cm
tracks: 54.80 in. 139 cm front. 55.20 in, 140 cm rear
length: 157.48 in, 400 cm
width: 63.78 in. 162 cm
height: 52.76 in, 134 cm
weight: 1,874 1b, 850 kg
turning circle: 35.6 ft, 10.8 m© Motor car History
Service
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ALFA ROMEO Arna Service instructions (1983-1987)
fuel: 97 oct petrol
oil: engine 8.1 imp pt, 9.7 US pt, 4.6 1, SAE 20W-50, change every 6,200 miles, 10,000 km
gearbox and final drive 4.6 imp pt, 5.5 US pt, 2.6 1, SAE 90, change every 24,900 miles, 40,000 km
greasing: none
spark plugs: Lodge 25 HL
tappet clearances: inlet 0.014-0.016 in, 0.35-0.40 mm, exhaust 0.018-0.020 in, 0.45-0.50 mm
valve timing: 44° 80° 63° 25°;
tyre pressure: front 26 psi, 1.8 atm, rear 23 psi, 1.6 atm.© Motor car History
Maintenance
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