Such is the pace of business, that we now live in a time when just about everything is designed to look good only until the next model arrives - which is more or less about two weeks from the time you made your purchase. Mobile phones are probably the clearest examples of this, along with the fact that the movie that's opening next week always seems better than the one you watched last.

Most of today's cars are no different too. Take the previous-generation BMW 7 Series for example. Nothing really wrong with the way it looked or drove, but park it alongside the current model and the two cars look like they're in different segments altogether.

While this might speak volumes about design progress, there's something to be said about cars that seem to retain their coolness long after their sell-by dates. This is essentially what makes classic cars still desirable. Most Citroëns, Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs from the 1970s for example, had plenty of élan (and I'm not talking about the Lotus here). If you showed up in any of these cars today, it would seem that you'd be making a statement and not just driving an old car.

Today, if you want a hefty dose of classic élan in your brand new car, just look to Alfa Romeo, the Italian manufacturer is one of the precious few left who are still building timelessly designed cars. The soon-to-be-replaced 156 can still hold its own among today's compact sedans while anyone who lays eyes on the Alfa GT agrees that this car's looks are poised to outlive its COE.

The 166 is the grand daddy of the current Alfa range in more than one sense. For starters, it's the oldest car in Alfa Romeo's line-up having first made its debut way back in 1998. The 166 is also the largest Alfa in the range, aimed more or less at the segment occupied by the likes of the Lexus ES 300, Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series. That the 166 was never as popular as the latter cars, plays perfectly to those looking for an alternative sedan that stands out in the executive parking lot.

When it was first launched, the 166's styling was something of an acquired taste, mainly because its smallish headlamps gave it a somewhat droopy visage. This time around, the big sedan gets a restyled front end that's distinguished by a new pair of headlamps and the large, shield-shaped front grille that's also found on the rest of today's Alfas.

DRIVING IT

To understand what the 166 is, you need to understand what it isn't. What it isn't, is an Alfa Romeo in the mien of sportier models like the 156, nor is it like any other car in the Alfa range for that matter.

Instead, proceedings in the 166 take on a much more relaxed demeanour. This, of course, is no bad thing if you're looking for a large, comfortable 3.0-litre sedan, which is exactly what the majority of customers in shopping in this segment want anyway.

The 166's refinement mainly comes from a smooth, torquey 3.0-litre V6 that looks too good to be covered by a bonnet. Unfortunately, the exhaust system and a well-insulated cabin conspire to smother the powerplant's sonorous vocals, and you find yourself straining to hear the engine note at the upper reaches of the rev band.

The 166's rivals come with six-speed gearboxes or fancy CVTs, but the Alfa's four-speed self-shifter betrays its age. The gearboxes' ratios are too widely-spaced for the Tiptronic-style manual override function to be of any real use in the real world, too. Still, we'd gladly take this transmission over the semi-automatic Selespeed unit, the latter requiring too focused a driving style to suit the 166's luxury cruiser brief.

The big Alfa's suspension has also been reworked in this facelifted model, and the ride is one of the car's highlights, managing to be comfortable without being overtly soft. Even the 18-inch wheels and lowered ride (part of the TI option pack that our test car came with), did little to upset ride comfort.

INSIDE IT

The quantum leap in quality that newer rivals have achieved since the Alfa was launched makes the 166's cabin feel less special than we remembered it to be. That said, the interior design is still unmistakeably Italian in character with sporty-looking seats, and omnipresent curves.

As anyone would expect of an executive express, the 166 is appropriately well equipped with features like cruise control, xenon headlamps and a 10-speaker sound system as standard.

Dollars and Sense

With a promotional price of $148,800 with COE, the Alfa Romeo 166 represents better value than just about all of its intended rivals. In absolute terms, the car may be flawed and dated even, but you can't argue with the 166's sheer style and road presence. The latter quality certainly caught the eye of many on-lookers during our test drive.

VERDICT

As we've mentioned earlier, there aren't many cars that still manage to look sharp at the end of their life cycles. Consider that the Alfa's timeless styling and impressive ride comfort easily embarrass many of its more expensive rivals, and the 166 starts to make a strange sort of sense. While these factors might still not be enough to convince your typical Lexus or Volvo customer into buying a 166, those looking for genuine exclusivity will be hard pressed to find anything that comes close.

Need To Know

Alfa Romeo 166 3.0 (A)

Engine 2,950cc 24V V6
Max Power 220bhp at 6,300rpm
Max Torque 265Nm at 5,000rpm
Gearbox 4-speed automatic
Top Speed 236 km/h
0-100 km/h 8.6 seconds
Price $148,800 with COE
Warranty 3 years / 60,000km
Contact EuroAutomobile at 6566-2200

Similar cars we have driven

VOLVO S80 2.5T (A) $152,000 with COE
The turbocharged Swedish sedan justifies its premium with slightly better performance but the Alfa's styling will age better. Both are due to be replaced soon.

LEXUS ES300 (A) $150,888 with COE
The ES is the car to go for if it's effortless, totally fuss-free luxury transport that tops your list of priorities. It's near silent, impeccably built and rides superbly. The Alfa does easily shade it in terms of presence, though.