Alfa Romeo’s parent company FCA
Group revealed a few snippets of information, including an estimated power
output and teaser image. So let’s take an illustrated closer look at the
Italian automaker’s newest cloverleaf offering.
If you think the Giulia sedan is impressive, wait
until you feast your eyes on the GTV. Think of it as expressive visual emotion,
with sultry proportions and an impressive axle to dash ratio. Its sculptured body
hugs the road with powerful rear haunches and short overhangs. Compared to the
Giulia, it also features tri-daylight running LED headlamps, larger front
intakes, a longer hood, deeper side scallops and a smooth, almost
Hofmeister-kink-styled C-pillar.
Since it’s based on Alfa Romeo’s sports sedan, we
expect the GTV to share the same basic interior, albeit in a strictly four-seat
layout. That’s not to say there won’t be changes, because by the time the coupe
comes to the limelight, the Giulia will have received its first major facelift. Either way, they will have to improve some lower quality
materials and switch gear found in both the Giulia and the Stelvio SUV if they
want to win buyers over Audi and BMW.
As with its sedan sibling and competing coupes, the
GTV will offer buyers a selection of powertrains. Lower end models are expected
to share the Giulia’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline lump with
at least 280 horsepower and rear- and all-wheel drive configurations. It
remains to be seen if diesels will make the cut by the time it enters
production, while Alfa is likely to introduce a powertrain to close the gap
between the base and Quadrifoglio models.
As part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles five-year
strategy, a major push is on electrifying all models under the corporation’s
umbrella. For the GTV, this means hybrid power combined with a turbocharged V6
that will place it well above the current Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio in
regards to performance, as the duo uses a 505 hp 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6.
A Ferrari-inspired E-boost system aims to offer zero
turbo lag, enabling quicker access to all 600 horses. Power will be channeled
to the tarmac via a ZF-sourced eight-speed auto and a torque vectoring
all-wheel drive system. In Quadrifolgio trim, the Gran Turismo Veloce will
battle against some seriously competitive powerhouses; one of them is the
German trio, which includes BMW’s M4, Audi RS5 and Mercedes-Benz C63 Coupe.
As per FCA’s five-year schedule, we’d expect a
launch date closer to 2021, with sales starting soon after.
