Alfa Romeo 164 3.0 V6
Pininfarina's sharply drawn 164 gave Alfa Romeo a modern European flagship and moved its large saloon from rear-wheel drive to a transverse V6 driving the front wheels.
Arese Museo Storico Alfa Romeo 1987 164 3.jpg · Zairon · CC BY-SA 4.0
More than a set of wheels.
Alfa Romeo unveiled the 164 at the Frankfurt motor show in autumn 1987. It shared a development programme and basic platform concept with Fiat, Lancia and Saab, but Pininfarina gave the Alfa an independent shape. The launch 3.0 V6 used the all-alloy 60-degree engine developed at Arese, mounted transversely and driving the front wheels. Its arrival marked a major break from the rear-drive Alfa 6 while retaining a distinctly Alfa engine, five-speed manual and sporting chassis tune.
Look a little closer.
The launch V6's six polished intake pipes became such a visual signature that the engine looked special even before it was started.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Shared architecture, independent identity
The 164 emerged from the Type Four programme that also supported Fiat, Lancia and Saab flagships, but it was not a rebadged sibling. Pininfarina developed a separate body, and Alfa installed its own twin-cam four-cylinder and Arese V6 engines. Sharing hidden development costs helped the company field a modern large saloon without erasing its mechanical character.
Source: Alfa Romeo · 30 years of the Alfa Romeo 164 ↗A large Alfa changes which wheels pull
Earlier Alfa flagships drove the rear wheels. For the 164, the V6 sat transversely and powered the front axle, shortening the driveline and freeing cabin space. Alfa paired the new layout with MacPherson-strut front suspension, a multi-link rear system, four-wheel discs and ABS rather than treating the platform change as a reason to abandon chassis ambition.
Source: Museo Alfa Romeo · 164 3.0i V6 collection record ↗Where these facts come from
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 1, 2026.