Alfa Romeo 2300

Last updated
Alfa Romeo 2300
Alfa Romeo 2300 Rio Front View.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer FNM (1974–1986)
Also calledAlfa Romeo 2300 Rio (European import markets)
ProductionMarch 1974 November 1986
Assembly
Body and chassis
Class Executive car (E) [1]
Body style 4-door sedan
Layout FR layout
Related Alfa Romeo 1900
Powertrain
Engine 2,310 cc (2.3 L) I4
Transmission 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,730 mm (107 in)
Length4,690–4,719 mm (184.6–185.8 in)
Width1,692 mm (66.6 in)
Height1,362 mm (53.6 in)
Curb weight 1,360–1,412 kg (2,998–3,113 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor FNM 2150
Successor Alfa Romeo 164

The Alfa Romeo 2300 is a Brazilian executive car that was produced by FNM from 1974 to 1978, and FNM owned by Fiat from 1978 to 1986. The general look of the new car was very similar to that of the Italian built Alfetta sedan, designed by Giuseppe Scarnati and first offered in Europe in 1972, although the Brazilian car was actually 41 centimetres (16 in) longer and 7 centimetres (2.8 in) wider than the Alfetta. Under the skin, the 2300 was based technically on the older Alfa Romeo 1900. The gear box of the 2300 was conventionally located adjacent to the engine and not (as with the Alfetta) across the rear axle. Like its Brazilian predecessor, the FNM 2000, the 2300 featured a four-cylinder twin camshaft engine, now of 2,310 cc with a claimed output of 140 hp (100 kW). A maximum speed of 170 km/h (106 mph) was claimed. In the 1985 model year leaflet the 2300 was called as "Alfa Romeo 85". [2] This model was supposedly manufactured until November 1986, although a final 243 Alfa Romeos were built in Brazil in 1987. [3]

Contents

As demand for ethanol-powered cars rose, a stockpile of petrol-powered 2300s built up: as a result, Alfa Romeo foisted the Brazilian Alfa Romeo onto European (Dutch, Swiss, and German) importers in 1981 under the designation Alfa Romeo 2300 Rio. [4] Around 600 of the cars were shipped to The Netherlands. The cars proved nearly unsellable and severe quality issues further deteriorated Alfa Romeo's image in Central and Northern Europe, with the importers eventually being forced to buy back the majority of the cars brought over. [4] In the Netherlands, the bought back cars were sold on to used car dealers after three years in outdoors storage; without warranties the already decaying cars caused severe damage to Alfa Romeo's already crumbling reputation. The only real value of the Rio seems to have been to provide parts for restorers of vintage Alfa Romeo 1900s. [5]

Origin

The Alfa 2300 project was born in Italy as project 102/12. The model was ready in 1971, and was sent to Brazil for tests in 1972. It was engineered entirely in Italy, specifically for the Brazilian market, and launched in March 1974 under the slogan "O importado fabricado no Brasil" ("The imported manufactured in Brazil", in Portuguese). At the time the adoption of 4 and 6-cylinder inline and V6 engines were studied, having some models tested with those engines, but due to the oil crisis in the 1970s and the Brazilian military government, import difficulties forced the factory adopt the 4-cylinder engine from the Alfa 1900, readjusted to 2310 cc and coupled to a five-speed transmission from the 105 series.

Technical data

ModelEngineMax. PowerMax. TorqueFuel systemAcceleration 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph) (s)Top speed
2300 (1975)2,310 cc I4 103 kW (140 hp SAE) at 5700 rpm214 N⋅m (158 lb⋅ft) at 3,500 rpm1 double barrel carburetor11,7170 km/h (106 mph)
2300 ti (1978)2,310 cc I4110 kW (149 SAE-PS) at 5700 rpm235 N⋅m (173 lb⋅ft) at 3,500 rpm2 double barrel carburetors10,8195 km/h (121 mph)
2300 ti4 (1985)2,310 cc I4120 kW (165 PS) at 5700 rpm235 N⋅m (173 lb⋅ft) at 3,500 rpm2 double barrel carburetors12,0195 km/h (121 mph)
Alfa Romeo 2300 Alfa Romeo 2300 Rio Rear View.jpg
Alfa Romeo 2300

Notes

  1. "Alfa Romeo (Brazil) 2300 specifications: versions & types". www.automobile-catalog.com.
  2. "Alfa Romeo Rio". 4 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  3. Büschi, Hans-Ulrich, ed. (9 March 1989). Automobil Revue 1989 (in German and French). Vol. 84. Berne, Switzerland: Hallwag AG. p. 615. ISBN   3-444-00482-6.
  4. 1 2 "fnm - alfa romeo's Brazilian connection 1950-1986". italiaspeed. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  5. Hendriks, Ben (1991). "De Alfa Romeo 2300 "Rio"". Het Klaverblaadje (in Dutch) (54). The Netherlands: Stichting Club Alfa Romeo Bezitters (SCARB): 25–26.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo</span> Italian automotive manufacturer

Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian luxury car manufacturer and a subsidiary of Stellantis Europe. It was founded on 24 June 1910 in Milan, Italy, as A.L.F.A., an acronym for Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili. The brand is known for sport-oriented vehicles and has been involved in car racing since 1911. As of 2023 it is a subsidiary of the multinational automotive manufacturing corporation Stellantis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiat Tipo (Type 160)</span> Motor vehicle

The Fiat Tipo is a compact car, designed by the I.DE.A Institute design house, and produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat between 1988 and 1995.

Innocenti was an Italian machinery works, originally established by Ferdinando Innocenti in 1920. Over the years, they produced Lambretta scooters as well as a range of automobiles, mainly of British Leyland origins. The brand was retired in 1996, six years after being acquired by Fiat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiat Tempra</span> Small family car produced by the Italian automaker Fiat from 1990 to 1996

The Fiat Tempra is a small family car produced by the Italian automaker Fiat from 1990 to 1996 in Italy. The Tempra was intended as a replacement for the Fiat Regata. The original project was called Tipo 3, being a mid-size car between the Fiat Tipo and the bigger Fiat Croma. The Tempra shares its Type Three platform with the Lancia Dedra and Alfa Romeo 155.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo 33</span> Small family car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo

The Alfa Romeo 33 is a small family car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo between 1983 and 1995. From a mechanical standpoint it was essentially an evolution of its predecessor, the Alfasud, whose floorpan, chassis and drivetrain were carried over — albeit with simplifications to the suspension and braking system, eschewing the Alfasud's inboard front brakes for instance. The Nissan-based Alfa Romeo Arna was launched shortly thereafter, offering a similarly sized but lower priced car.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo 8C</span> Motor vehicle

The Alfa Romeo 8C was a range of Alfa Romeo road, race and sports cars of the 1930s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo 2000</span> Motor vehicle

The Alfa Romeo 2000 is a luxury car produced by Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo between 1958 and 1962, as a successor to the 1900 Super. It was replaced in 1962 by the Alfa Romeo 2600.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo 90</span> Executive car produced by Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo

The Alfa Romeo 90 is an executive car produced by Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo between 1984 and 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo GTA</span> Motor vehicle

The Alfa Romeo GTA is a coupé automobile manufactured by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo from 1965 to 1971. It was made for racing (Corsa) and road use (Stradale).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo Alfetta</span> Sedan and fastback coupé

The Alfa Romeo Alfetta is a front-engine, five-passenger sedan and fastback coupé manufactured and marketed by Alfa Romeo from 1972 to 1987 with a production total over 400,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo Twin Cam engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The Alfa Romeo Twin Cam engine is an all-alloy inline-four engine series produced by Alfa Romeo from 1954 to 1994. In Italian it is known as the "bialbero" ("twin-shaft"), and has also been nicknamed the "Nord" (North) engine in reference to its being built in Portello, Milan, in the North of Italy and to distinguish it from the Alfa Romeo Boxer engine built in the South (Sud) for the Alfasud.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo 1750 Berlina</span> Motor vehicle

The Alfa Romeo 1750 Berlina and Alfa Romeo 2000 Berlina were executive cars produced by Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo from 1968 to 1977. Berlina is the Italian term for a saloon car. Both cars had Alfa Romeo twin cam inline-four engines; the 1.8-litre 1750 Berlina was made between 1968 and 1971, when it was phased out in favour of the improved 2.0-litre 2000 Berlina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo V6 engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The Alfa Romeo V6 engine is a 60° V6 engine made by Alfa Romeo from 1979 to 2005. It was developed in the early 1970s by Giuseppe Busso, and first used on the Alfa 6 with a displacement of 2.5 L (2,492 cc) and a SOHC 12-valve cylinder head. Later versions ranged from 1,996 to 3,179 cc and had DOHC 24-valve valvetrains. The original design had short pushrods for the exhaust valves in a design similar to earlier Lancia Fulvia engines. The first DOHC version was in the 1993 Alfa Romeo 164, with an aluminium alloy engine block and head with sodium filled exhaust valves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo Giulietta (1977)</span> Small executive saloon car

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta is a small executive saloon car manufactured by Italian car maker Alfa Romeo from 1977 to 1985. The car was introduced in November 1977 and while it took its name from the original Giulietta of 1954 to 1965, it was a new design based on the Alfa Romeo Alfetta chassis. The Giulietta went through two facelifts, the first in 1981 and the second one in 1983. All Giuliettas used 5-speed manual transmissions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo 158/159 Alfetta</span> Racing automobile

The Alfa Romeo 158/159, also known as the Alfetta, is a Grand Prix racing car produced by Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo. It is one of the most successful racing cars ever; the 158 and its derivative, the 159, took 47 wins from 54 Grands Prix entered. It was originally developed for the pre-World War II voiturette formula (1937) and has a 1.5-litre straight-8 supercharged engine. Following World War II, the car was eligible for the new Formula One introduced in 1947. In the hands of drivers such as Nino Farina, Juan Manuel Fangio and Luigi Fagioli, it dominated the first two seasons of the World Championship of Drivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfa Romeo 6C</span> Motor vehicle

The Alfa Romeo 6C name was used on road, race, and sports cars produced between 1927 and 1954 by Alfa Romeo; the "6C" name refers to the six cylinders of the car's straight-six engine. Bodies for these cars were made by coachbuilders such as James Young, Zagato, Touring Superleggera, Castagna, and Pinin Farina. Beginning in 1933 there was also a 6C version with an Alfa factory body, built in Portello. In the early 1920s Vittorio Jano received a commission to create a lightweight, high performance vehicle to replace the Giuseppe Merosi designed RL and RM models. The car was introduced in April 1925 at the Salone dell' Automobile di Milano as the 6C 1500. It was based on Alfa's P2 Grand Prix car, using a single overhead cam 1,487 cc in-line six-cylinder engine, producing 44 horsepower. In 1928 the 1500 Sport was presented, which was the first Alfa Romeo road car with double overhead camshafts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fábrica Nacional de Motores</span>

Fábrica Nacional de Motores (FNM) was a Brazilian manufacturer of engines and motor vehicles based in the Xerém district of Duque de Caxias near Rio de Janeiro that operated between 1942 and 1988. In 2018, the manufacturer was refounded, changing its name to Fábrica Nacional de Mobilidades based in Rio de Janeiro and producing electric trucks at the Agrale factory in Rio Grande do Sul.

The Alfa Romeo Mille is an eight-ton forward control lorry produced by Alfa Romeo between 1958 and 1964. It was the last Alfa Romeo heavy commercial vehicle.

The Alfa Romeo Eagle is a concept car built by Pininfarina. The car debuted at the Turin Auto Show in 1975.

References