Alfa Romeo Glossary

Welcome to the Richard Hardie glossary for Alfa Romeo! When shopping for a new car, brands have a lot of terms and abbreviations that they use, which can often be quite confusing. Here are a few Alfa Romeo and general terms that we think will help make buying your next Alfa Romeo that little bit easier. If you have any questions about the terms used in this glossary then give your local Richard Hardie Centre a call.

AEB (Automatic Emergency Braking)

A safety feature that is present in many cars now on the roads and has the potential to prevent a serious accident by assisting the driver in emergency situations. The system can alert the driver to an imminent crash and ensure that the maximum braking capacity is applied. Drivers should be aware that this feature relies on the driver still being in control of the vehicle and just acts as an aid for preventing an accident.

AlfaLink™

AlfaLink™ is a suspension system that allows enhanced responsiveness and more accurate steering. It also provides exceptional grip on road surfaces, especially during high speed cornering situations. AlfaLink™ gives the driver more control in any situation.

Alfa D.N.A

Alfa D.N.A is a series of driving modes that allow optimal manoeuvring and performance for the driver. The modes that combine to create Alfa D.N.A are Dynamic, Natural and All Weather modes.

Dynamic Mode allows the engine and brakes to operate more discreetly and are more reactive in this mode. The mode also offers subtle traction control and allows drivers to be more directly in control behind the wheel. Traction control also prevents the car from slipping on uneven or loose road surfaces, particularly when accelerating.

Natural Mode is great for those that spend a lot of time on the motorway. It works best on neutral services and terrains and also helps reduce fuel consumption on those longer journeys.

Lastly, the All Weather Mode works with Alfa D.N.A to adjust the cars components to best match the road and weather conditions. The mode also enhances the safety features to respond at any earlier stage, giving the driver more time to react to potentially dangerous situations especially in poor weather and low grip conditions.

Alfa TCT (Twin Clutch Transmission)

The Alfa Romeo Twin Clutch Transmission is used on the likes of the Alfa Romeo 4C Coupe and 4C Spider. The TCT allows for more aggressive gear changes in dynamic and race modes and also allows for smooth transitions through bends. The system communicates with the vehicles electronic system to improve road performance. The Alfa TCT is always interacting with Alfa D.N.A as well as the steering and braking system, engine control and vehicle stability control.

Bi-Turbo

A Bi-Turbo engine is a turbocharged engine that contains not one but two turbochargers. Each turbocharger is responsible for a bank of cylinders within the engine. Unlike Twin-Turbo where the turbochargers are of equal size in a Bi-Turbo engine you’ll find one smaller and one larger turbocharger.

Blind Spot Monitoring

This feature comes in very handy when on the motorways as it allows you to detect a vehicle in your blind spot while changing lanes. Drivers can keep their eyes on the road ahead and be alerted to a vehicle in the blind spot, without having to turn their heads and take their eyes off the road.

Forward Collision Warning

Similar to the AEB system, Forward Collision Warning monitors traffic ahead and alerts the driver to a potential accident. This allows the driver to take action and potentially prevent an accident from occurring.

Launch Control

Available on the Alfa Romeo 4C models the Launch Control allows the driver to maximise acceleration. This is done by the use of a small paddle on the steering wheel alongside the braking and acceleration pedals.

UConnect®

The Alfa UConnect® system is an integrated system that brings together radio, music, and navigation features as well as the ability to connect straight to your smartphone for ease of use. The system is designed so you can have everything you need all in one place. Each Alfa Romeo comes with different UConnect® features so speak to your Richard Hardie Centre in Newcastle to find out what’s available on the Alfa Romeo model you’re interested in.

If you have any questions about these terms or you want to book a test drive in a new or used Alfa Romeo contact our Newcastle Centre today.