ALFA ROMEO Alfasud Ti Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

The 1980 Alfasud TI was the final upgrade for the front-wheel-drive sporty Alfa Romeo. It was the only hatchback that could handle better than the already famed VW Golf GTI.

Alfa Romeo's most successful story was close to an end. Its TI version was improved and received a new design, a reworked engine, and, they said, better anti-rust treatment. The latter was much needed since it was the Achille's heel for the sporty, three-door hatchback.

The chromed metallic bumper trend was already gone since the late '70s, but Alfa didn't care too much. Even though it revamped the car in 1978, it didn't change them until the 1980 refresh. Then, it applied the wrapped-around plastic bumpers both front and rear. For the 1.5-liter version, the carmaker installed a small wing on the tailgate.

Inside, plastic and rubber were clearly arranged to create an ergonomic cockpit. Its tachometer featured a yellow and a red-zone so the driver could know when to change the gears for maximum effect, and that's was between 5500 and 6500 rpm. In the back, the folding seatback was good to expand the trunk area.

Under the hood, Alfa Romeo used the same 1.3- and 1.5-liter engines from its predecessor, but the base version was enhanced, and it produced more power than before. Unfortunately, the 1.5-liter unit was outpowered by the Golf GTI by almost 20 hp, and that made the Italian hatchback slower by more than 1.5 seconds than the German hot-hatch. Its only advantage was the lower center of gravity due to the flat-four engine, and that made the TI better on cornering.

The Alfa Romeo AlfaSud TI was one of the most successful stories for the Italian carmakers. It was introduced in 1972 and heavily improved in 1978.

In its attempt to stop the migration of the workforce from the South part of Italy to the North, the Italian Government pushed companies to build a new plant on the lower side of the peninsula. Alfa Romeo already had a factory in the North, and it said, "why not?". Soon, a small vehicle with front-wheel drive appeared from the fresh factory: the AlfaSud (Alfa from the South). It was featherweight, nimble, and fuel-efficient. Several production problems appeared and, after four years, the Italian carmaker brought an improved version.

It was hard to update the Giugiaro design of the AlfaSud and not ruin it. Somehow, the Alfa Romeo designers were able to do that. They changed the oval, horizontal headlights with four round lamps. A black, plastic grille was extended between them. The previously used chromed bumper was axed, and a new one, with a wrap-around design, was installed. In the back, on the trunk lid, the engineers insisted on placing a small spoiler to balance the car at high speeds.

Inside, there was a slight redesign for the dashboard. The carmaker considered that smoking was a bad habit, and it shouldn't be encouraged. It moved the ashtray at a lower position and moved the ventilation controls upper on the center stack. That was the biggest modification of the interior.

The Italians kept the same 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter engines with flat-four configuration, but they were upgraded with new carburetors. Both versions were paired to a 5-speed manual.

Alfa Romeo introduced a sporty, two-door version for the Alfasud in 1973 and received the TI letters behind the name from Turismo Internationale.

With an increased demand for sporty vehicles, Alfa Romeo decided to offer a new version of its four-door Alfasud. It used the same platform from the successful front-wheel-drive compact hatchback and developed the TI version.

While Giorgetto Giugiaro designed the Alfasud, the Alfasud Coupe was penned by the Austrian Rudolf Hruska. He followed the same lines as the four-door version. A raked windshield followed the flat hood and four rounded headlights and, above the rear seats, the roof descended into a sloped tailgate ended in a flat, vertical panel. The car was a 3-door vehicle, but it was still considered a coupe. Its chromed bumpers featured a rubber strip in the middle.

Despite its compact size, the Alfasud TI was able to fit four passengers onboard but with minimal room for the rear passengers. The basic trim level offered only a ventilation system with sliders and four vents. The instrument cluster featured five gauges for speed, revs, oil pressure, coolant temperature, and fuel level in front of the driver.

Under the hood, Alfa Romeo installed a choice of two engines paired to a four or five-speed manual. It was assembled at the company's Pomigliano d'Arco plant in southern Italy.