When Alfa Romeo made the station wagon for the model 156, it didn't want to make a roomier vehicle; it aimed at those who needed a longer loading area for skis and snowboards.

Alfa Romeo refreshed the 156 range in September 2001 and gave people one more reason to buy it in the station wagon shape named Sportwagon: the GTA.

Alfa Romeo didn't want to use the station-wagon name for its cars, which were considered too sporty to bear a sort of utility-vehicle name. So, the Sportwagon name was selected.