Alfa Romeo closed its Pomigliano d'Arco plant near Naples for a month to streamline its systems and improve quality. While this was going on, the 159 has had a bit of fine-tuning.

It now weighs around 20kg less, thanks to some new panels thinner in the middle than at the edges, and will come with a version of the Torque Transfer Control revealed on the new Lancia Delta and planned for the Mi.To supermini. It won't include the little nudges at the steering wheel designed to help you correct a skid, because that's not possible with a hydraulic (as opposed to electric) power steering system.