24 hours ago, I wrote a post, published just in time for Alfa Romeo's unveiling of their "Momentous Comeback ". You good folk here at Publish0x may have had the chance to read it in time, as my mates at Steemit were reeling from the unexpected downtime, and all the drama surround a hostile takeover...
Anyhow, while news outlets and social media are having a field day rejoicing Alfa Romeo's return to form, I have had a good night's rest, and some time to recollect my thoughts before I got started writing this one.
Credits to: Motor1 (Alfa Romeo GTAm)
Suffice to say, my excitement hasn't calmed down in any sense, as Alfa Romeo revealed not one, but two special variants of their Giulia performance saloon (sedan ). On a much earlier post, my speculations of a new Alfa Romeo hot-hatchback were false, though I wasn't at all saddened by that.
Nonetheless compared to yesterday's post on some of the rumours, the actual car is a tad underwhelming. Though for the most part, they're just as stunning as we've imagined it to be.
The new Giulia GTA, and GTAm are respectively a celebration of Alfa Romeo's legacy throughout 110 years, and of their predecessors from the past - not the front-wheel drive Alfas of the 2000s, but the glory days of the 60s and 70s.
A Momentous Comeback.
First, we have the GTA, a more road-friendly car that can also break your body with g-force. As for the name, "GTA " stands for "Gran Turismo Alleggerita ", or "Grand Touring Lightened ". This makes it rather clear - the focus of the GTA has been removing weight, and it certainly shows, even from its appearance.
Imagine seeing a rather ordinarily-built mate of yours going on a diet of only vegetables, mixed with fasting. The GTA variant had 100kg (221lbs ) removed from the already sporty Quadrifoglio in Alfa's current line-up - now sitting with a kerb weight of 1520kg (3350lbs ). In the automotive world, removing that much weight is quite the achievement.
Credits to: Motor1 (Alfa Romeo GTA)
The recipe to this lightness is through the use of weight-saving materials for much of the car's construction. There's more carbon-fibre being used on the GTA - making up the bonnet (hood ), roof, front fascia, fenders, skirts, boot (trunk ), and also the propshaft. As if that’s not enough, Alfa's engineers even took more weight out from other places, such as replacing the doors, suspension, and engine components with aluminium instead of steel, while sparing some composites elsewhere.
The interior also sees some dieting, with a more sparse environment than the cushy Giulia. Instead of plastics and leather, Alfa opted for the use of Alcantara everywhere, covering much of the surface area - including the dashboard, door panels, glove compartment, side pillars, and the seats.
Credits to: Motor1 (Alfa Romeo GTA)
However, just like the GTAs of old, removing weight isn't enough. The GTA retains the Ferrari-derived, 2.9L twin-turbo V6 as the Quadrifoglio. But now, it's pushing 540hp - and while it's far below the 600+hp mark that was rumoured previously, its still quite the healthy bump from the Quadrifoglio's 505hp.
The combination of more power, and dietary supplements have resulted in a best-in-class power-to-weight ratio of 2.82kg/hp - which in my opinion, is a more important metric than just horsepower alone. No information was released on torque figures, but I expect some improvements over the Quadrifoglio's 443lb-ft. That should send the GTA from 0-60mph in just 3.6 seconds, through a recalibrated 8-speed transmission, and to the rear-wheels exclusively.
Credits to: Motor1 (Alfa Romeo GTA)
Speaking of, more changes have been done underneath the Giulia's skin. The front and rear tracks have been widened by 2.0 inches (50mm ), giving it those wide flares and haunches. This is then mated to a new suspension setup, with revised springs, shock absorbers, and bushings to further improve its cornering abilities.
Aerodynamics was a big focus as well, with the GTA's active front splitter, re-designed rear-spoiler, and a large carbon-fibre rear diffuser to keep all that power grounded. It has a mean, aggressive look that brings a bad attitude to the Giulia's pretty face, and I like that. A neat little detail on the exterior, is the little Autodelta decal placed underneath the four-leaf clover insignia - a tribute to Alfa's racing cars.
Credits to: Motor1 (Alfa Romeo GTA)
Gunning For The Germans.
If you thought the GTA was mean, then you should pay attention to its juvenile sibling, the GTAm. You can learn more about its origins in my last post - but the "M " stands for "Maggiorata ", or "Enlarged ". Simply put it, the GTAm takes everything from the GTA, but makes it even more hardcore.
Where the GTA was tuned for driving on public roads, the GTAm has been optimised for track driving, though it remains road-legal if you're planning for a run to the hills. Performance remains unchanged, with no additional horsepower being granted. Befitting a more track-focused aura, the GTA's rear-spoiler has been replaced with a gigantic wing, made of carbon-fibre.
Credits to: Motor1 (Alfa Romeo GTAm)
However, the GTAm does take dieting to a new level compared to the GTA. For starters, the windows have been replaced with Lexan, which is a form of plastic that's normally used in motorsports. Moreover, the interior is where you'll see most of the weight-cutting, with any excess bits removed.
It has a rear-seat delete, essentially turning this 4-door saloon into a purely 2-seater car. Those front seats are sports bucket seats made from, you guessed it, carbon-fibre. Layered with Alcantara, you also have a 6-point racing harness, which in practice, is a lot harder to put on than regular seat belts.
Credits to: Motor1 (Alfa Romeo GTAm)
If you're wondering about all that cleared out space in the rear, then know that the GTAm has been fitted with roll-bars to increase the car's structural rigidity, a fire extinguisher in case you went a bit too far, and some room to put stuff.
As for that stuff, purchasing either a GTA or GTAm will get you a complementary Bell racing helmet, and a full set of Alpinestars racing suit, with gloves and boots. While you're going to put those in the boot of the GTA, the GTAm has some sculpted storage where the back-seats used to be. A fair trade-off, then.
Credits to: Motor1 (Alfa Romeo GTAm)
Some other things remain shared between siblings. Both will have an Akrapovic titanium exhaust system - tuned to give the Giulias a unique soundtrack, which will no doubt be orgasmic to hear. The wheels both have the same cloverleaf pattern as regular Giulias, but the GTA and GTAm will get centre-locks.
Requiem.
The unveiling of the GTA and GTAm shows how far Alfa Romeo has come in recent times. It displays the learnings that Alfa Romeo has made from their venture into Formula 1 alongside engineering partner, Sauber. In an ever-changing automotive landscape, there's proof that exciting cars will still be around.
Credits to: Autocar (Alfa Romeo GTAm)
There is however, some bad news mixed in all of this. Productions for both the GTA and GTAm will be capped at 500 units globally, crushing hopes that these will fit into their regular line-up. While pricing hasn't been announced, it has been rumoured to carry a starting price of £100,000.
Nevertheless, I'm glad to see these come to light. They're certainly a great birthday present to Alfa Romeo's 110-year history, with its legacy in awe, now more than ever. This could very well be the "momentous comeback " that Alfa needs.
Credits to: Motor1 (Alfa Romeo GTAm)
It marks some bold decisions that could mold the template for Alfa Romeo's next 110 years, with new innovations mixing in with old emotions. In any case, the spirits of the Geneva Motor Show still live on, and there's more car stuff to talk about, of which I'll write more in the coming days.
In the meantime, share your thoughts on what you think of Alfa's newest creations, in the comments. Would you rather pick an M3/M3 Competition over this succulent GTA/GTAm?
