In the shadow of the legendary Alfetta and 75, the Alfa Romeo 90 never got the recognition it deserved. Yet, released in 1984, this elegant, streamlined sedan hid beneath its discreet looks an innovation that few people are aware of: a retractable front spoiler, automatically controlled according to speed. Long before Lancia Thema 8.32, Alfa Romeo had already paved the way for active aerodynamics.
An Italian sedan born in a period of transition
The early 1980s were a pivotal time for Alfa Romeo. Between the sporting heritage of the 1970s and the arrival of new standards of comfort, the brand was seeking to reinvent itself. The 90, unveiled in November 1984 at the Turin Motor Show and designed by Bertone, was based on the Alfetta's transaxle architecture (engine at the front, gearbox and axle at the rear). The more sober bodywork marks a shift towards a more middle-class clientele, without denying Italian elegance.
Inside, the 90 is a surprise: digital instrumentation on V6 versions, electrically adjustable seats, window controls... on the ceiling! The top-of-the-range Quadrifoglio Oro even features a removable case in place of a glove compartment.
The automatic front spoiler: a brilliant idea that went unnoticed
Under its front bumper, the Alfa 90 hides a unique feature for its time: a retractable spoiler that automatically lowers above around 80 km/h and raises below 40 km/h. The system, mechanical and controlled by gas springs, improves high-speed stability, air penetration and engine cooling. A principle of adaptive aerodynamics ahead of its time, totally unprecedented on a mass-produced sedan.
This feature makes the 90 one of the first production cars to incorporate a mobile aerodynamic element, long before the technology was popularized on more prestigious models. An engineering detail now reminiscent of the active spoiler on the latest Giulia Quadrifoglio, proof that some Alfa ideas were simply ahead of their time.
Noble engines in the Alfa Romeo tradition
Under the hood, the Alfa 90 uses the proven powertrains of the Alfetta and Alfa 6. The four-cylinder engines range from 1.8 to 2.0 liters (128 to 130 hp), while the higher versions receive the noble 2.0 and 2.5-liter V6 Busso, developing up to 156 hp. A respectable amount of power for its time, matched by typically Alfa behavior: rear-wheel drive, good weight balance and a bewitching sound.
On the road, the 90 is surefooted and consistent, more suited to highway driving than sporty driving. The original damping is a little soft and the gearbox is long-staggered, which smoothes out its temperament; many owners who have firmed it up (adaptive/firmer dampers) describe a car that's much better behaved. In short: fair to good handling, but less playful than a 75.
Why didn't the 90 work commercially?
Despite its innovations and comfort features, the 90 was never a success. There were several reasons for this failure:
- Unclear positioning: sandwiched between the Alfetta it replaced and the new 75 (more dynamic and less expensive), the 90 had no clear promise.
- Styling too conservative: Bertone's cubic lines lacked Alfa's "coup de folie"; the rear end was divisive.
- A product of compromise: lots of Alfetta elements in the cabin, decent space but not at the level of rivals, and confusing ergonomics (overhead controls, LED instrumentation on some).
- Weakened reliability image: minor electrical/electronic glitches, especially on versions with digital dashboard.
- Civilized gearbox and chassis: the pleasure of a grand tourer, but little "purist" feeling in series production, as our test drives underlined against German rivals... and the internal 75.
- Industrial context: Alfa in financial difficulty before takeover by Fiat (1986), limited marketing and product updating.
As a result, only 56,328 units of the 90 were produced between 1984 and 1987, before being replaced by the more modern Fiat 164.
An innovative, discreet and forgotten car
Yet the 90 also boasts a number of unique features: active front spoiler, integrated attaché case, digital instrumentation on certain trim levels, and above all the V6 Busso that makes it so memorable. Forty years on, it's an Alfa Romeo in a class of its own: a great tourer with a subdued character, unjustly overshadowed by the 75. It's a car to be rediscovered.
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Mouais the 90 was the example not to make especially! In the kind of vehicle, whatever its active spoiler, that was already 10 years late when it came out (except for the v6 engine). Not at all reliable for a top-of-the-range car.
I didn't know that!
Thank you!