Battery-powered conversions of classic
cars are supposedly the next big thing in the restomod business and Totem
Automobili is about to drop jaws with its Alfa Romeo GTelectric. This is an
all-electric re-imagination of the Italian classic, one that now offers no less
than 518 HP and 940 Nm of torque. Totem claims that the GTelectric
is capable of a 0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, which sounds, to put it
mildly, pretty insane.
The electric motor is fed by a 50.4 kWh
liquid-cooled battery pack, which according to Totem is one of the safest and
lightest of its kind, at 350 kg. The driving range is estimated to be
around 320 km, “at a standard pace”. Quick-charging will be
available of course. The Totem GTelectric starts, as you might expect, with a
classic Alfa Romeo Giulia GT Junior, which is then completely stripped and
disassembled to begin its transformation.
The company actually uses just 10 percent
of the original chassis, which is then fused with a new full-aluminum platform
specifically designed for this car in order to make it capable of dealing with
the new power levels. Additional stiffening measures include a roll bar that
closely follows the lines of the cabin, not affecting the available interior
space, as well as new aluminum bars, which also substitute for the (lack of)
external bumpers in terms of safety.
The redesigned bodywork is completely made
out of carbon fiber to keep the weight down as possible and give the Totem GTe
an almost seamless appearance. The new quad LED headlights to pay homage to the
1750/2000 models of the past while the taillights are beautiful round LED units
instead of the original rectangular ones.
The new chassis features a MacPherson
front suspension while the rear end, which is where the electric motor resides,
is supported by a multilink setup. As standard, Totem’s electric Alfa will come
with two-way adjustable Bilstein suspension but customers will be able to opt
either for an electronically controlled suspension or even an air suspension.
Customers will be able to tailor their
cars to their preferences, with Totem setting up the driving position to the
exact measurements of the driver. The cabin will mix traditional Italian luxury
with high-tech features, meaning hand-stitched Nappa leather with fully digital
dials and a vintage-styled 3.5-inch infotainment system.
Totem was originally going to unveil their
GTelectric at the 2020 Goodwood Festival of Speed in its finished form but with
the event now postponed, we might have to wait a little longer until we see it
in all its completed glory.