Alfa Romeo boasts a unique history and, on 24 June, it will have been in business for 110 years, during which its engineers and designers have relentlessly pursued innovation. Over the years, this combination has created some of the most iconic vehicles ever built, and to mark its 110th birthday, Alfa Romeo will pay tribute to one of its most emblematic vehicles: Giulia GTA.
Available in two versions, the Giulia GTA with four seats and the Giulia GTAm with two race seats, roll-bar and six-point harness, they will both feature the 2.9-litre V6 Bi-Turbo petrol engine producing 540hp along with a raft of weight saving solutions to remain true to the ethos of the original 1965 model.
Click here for video.
Specific technical features and functional style
On the Giulia GTA, the Alfa Romeo engineers have worked to improve the aerodynamics and handling but above all to reduce the weight. The active aerodynamics were specifically studied to increase the downforce. These solutions contain technical know-how that comes directly from Formula 1, thanks to the synergy with Sauber Engineering and the use of the Sauber Aerokit. The same task is assigned to the side skirts, the specific rear spoiler and the active front splitter.
The titanium Akrapovič central exhaust system, integrated in the carbon fibre rear diffuser, is also new, as are the 20-inch centre lock wheels. Handling at high speeds has been improved by widening the front and rear wheel tracks by 50mm and developing a new set of springs, shock absorbers and bushings for the suspension systems.
On the GTAm, the aerodynamic front has been optimised by adding a larger front splitter and a real carbon-fibre rear wing, which ensure a perfectly balanced load at high speeds. In terms of performance, the Alfa Romeo 2.9-litre V6 Bi-Turbo engine, made entirely of aluminium and capable of unleashing no less than 510hp in the standard configuration, reaches an output of 540hp in the Giulia GTA thanks to the meticulous development and calibration work of the Alfa Romeo engineers. A new Akrapovič central exhaust system, in titanium and gives the car an unmistakable sound.
An Alcantara® trimmed dashboard, door panels, glove compartment, side pillars and the central trim on the seats, characterise the interior. Alcantara® is used even more extensively in the GTAm version, where the rear bench has been removed, leaving room for a fully upholstered ‘basin’, with specific mouldings designed to hold helmets and a fire extinguisher. The new matt carbon-fibre inserts give the interior a distinctive technical and aesthetic elegance. In the new GTAm, the interior is unique in that it features a roll-bar, no door panels or rear seats and the door is opened with a belt in place of the handle, another touch inspired by the racing world.
An excellent power-to-weight ratio
Power on its own is not enough to ensure extraordinary performance. The work done to reduce the vehicle weight has been meticulous, with the total weight reduction amounting to 100kg. To achieve this the GTA uses lightweight materials such as carbon fibre for the drive shaft, bonnet, roof, front bumper, front wheel arches and rear wheel arch inserts and the shell of the sports seats with six-point Sabelt seat belts in the GTAm. Aluminium has been used in the engine, doors and suspension systems and various other composite materials have been used throughout.
In the GTAm, Lexan – a unique polycarbonate resin which comes straight from the world of motorsport – has been used in the side and rear window frames, further contributing to the weight reduction. The result is a weight of around 1,520kg which, combined with the increase in output to 540hp, brings the power-to-weight ratio to 2.82 kg/hp, making the Giulia GTAm capable of delivering extraordinary performance. Its acceleration from zero to 62mph, with the Launch Control system, is just 3.6 seconds. The Giulia GTAm is a two-seater configuration that is road legal, with front splitter and larger visible rear wing in carbon.
In the GTA trim, with the same output, the Giulia offers four seats, no rear roll-bar, a spoiler and splitter optimised for daily use and the same door panels, seats and windows as those of the Giulia Quadrifoglio. The result is a veritable supercar for everyday use.
A privilege for 500 lucky customers
The Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA and its extreme version, the Giulia GTAm, will be built in a limited edition of only 500 units in total, all numbered and certified and ready to take up their place alongside their 1965 forerunner as one of the most sought-after collector’s items. They are not only magnificent to look at, they are also ready to unleash their impressive power on the road, usable thanks to a series of sophisticated technical solutions.
An exclusive dedicated customer experience, designed to treat the 500 lucky owners to a unique experience that is 100% Alfa Romeo will come as standard. The owners will receive a personalised experience package, which includes a Bell helmet in special GTA livery, a full racing set by Alpinestars (race suit, gloves and shoes) and a personalised Goodwool car cover for protecting their GTA or GTAm. Customers can also take part in a specific driving course devised by the Alfa Romeo Driving Academy.
A set of initials with a legendary feel: GTA
The acronym GTA stands for ‘Gran Turismo Alleggerita’ (alleggerita being the Italian term for “lightened”), and it originated in 1965 with the Giulia Sprint GTA, a specific version derived from the Sprint GT. The body of the Giulia Sprint GT was replaced with an identical version in aluminium, giving a total weight of 745kg compared to the 950kg of the road version.
A second variation concerned the 1,570cm3 twin-cam engine which, in the road configuration, reached an impressive output of 115hp and in the GTA it developed a maximum output of 170hp thanks to the Autodelta technicians from the Alfa Romeo race team. The model’s success in competitions was then immediate: three consecutive ‘Challenge Europeo Marche’, tens of national championships and hundreds of individual races in every part of the world. The Giulia Sprint GTA expressed the claim “A victory a day in your everyday car” to perfection. From then on, the GTA made a name for itself as the undisputed icon of Alfa Romeo sportiness.