As if the 510 PS Giulia Quadrifoglio
wasn’t bonkers enough, Alfa Romeo has a big surprise for fans of its sports
sedans. As a matter of fact, it has two big surprises as the Giulia is getting
not only one but two limited edition, higher-performance variants of the
Quadrifoglio series. They’re called GTA and GTAm and they look absolutely
sensational.
The iconic GTA (Gran Turismo Alleggerita)
moniker returns in style on the Giulia GTA and Giulia GTAm sports sedans on
steroids. Technically and conceptually inspired by the Giulia GTA of 1965
developed by Autodelta, the 2021 Alfa Romeo GTA is based on the Giulia
Quadrifoglio and comes in two stages of commitment: the standard Giulia GTA and
the hardcore Giulia GTAm. Both are powered by an uprated version of Alfa
Romeo’s 2.9-liter V6 Bi-Turbo engine which now makes 540 PS – 30 PS more than the Giulia Quadrifoglio.
Alfa Romeo engineers’ focus when
developing the Giulia GTAs was to improve aerodynamics and handling but above
all to reduce weight. The active aerodynamics were specifically upgraded to
increase the downforce using Formula 1 know-how. The side skirts, the specific
rear spoiler and the active front splitter have all been assigned the same
mission.
The Giulia GTAm takes things further
courtesy of a larger front splitter and a real carbon rear wing which Alfa
Romeo says ensure “a perfectly balanced load at high speeds”. Handling-wise,
Alfa Romeo has widened the front and rear wheel tracks by 50 mm and
developed a new set of springs, shock absorbers and bushings for the
suspension. These upgrades are said to improve high-speed maneuverability.
And so we arrive at the weight-saving
measures, which on the outside include carbon fiber hood, roof, front bumper,
front wheel arches, and rear wheel arch inserts, titanium Akrapovic central
exhaust system integrated in the new carbon fiber rear diffuser, and 20-inch
center lock wheels – a first on an Alfa Romeo sedan.
The weight diet continues inside with
Alcantara trim on the dashboard, door panels, glove compartment, side pillars
and seats. The Giulia GTAm uses Alcantara even more extensively as well as
matte carbon inserts, but the real savings come from the ditching of the rear
bench. This leaves room for a fully upholstered area used to hold helmets and a
fire extinguisher.
Other components hinting at the radical
nature of the Giulia GTAm include the roll bar, lack of door panels, and belts
instead of door handles. Weight-saving measures that are harder to spot include
the use of carbon fiber for the drive shaft and the shell of the GTAm’s sports
seats, as well as lightweight aluminum used in the engine, doors and suspension
systems. Various other composite materials are used throughout, such as Lexan,
a unique polycarbonate resin used in motor sports that was used for the side
and rear window frames.
Only 500 Giulia GTA and GTAm super sedans
will be made and you’re really lucky to get one All in all, these measures
contribute to shaving 100 kg off the standard Giulia Quadrifoglio’s
weight, bringing down the Giulia GTA and GTAm’s curb weight to around 1,520 kg. Combined with the power increase, the weight-to-power ratio reaches 2.8 kg /PS. Unsurprisingly, performance sees a boost as the 0-100 km/h sprint takes 3.6 seconds in both models.
There’s a lot to like about the Giulia
GTAs so far but the production run will likely be very disappointing as Alfa
Romeo will only build a total of 500 GTA and GTAm vehicles. All will be
numbered and certified, bound to take their place among the most sought-after
Alfas ever made.
Alfa Romeo has already opened advanced
bookings and will close them as soon as the 500th unit has been reserved –
which will probably take only hours. Along with their Giulia GTA, owners will
get a personalized experience package kit, including a Bell helmet in special
GTA livery, a full racing set by Alpinestars (race suit, gloves and shoes) and
a personalized Goodwool car cover. Also included will be a driving course
devised by the Alfa Romeo Driving Academy.