Set your chops to 'drool': Alfa Romeo has revived one of its most legendary badges on an uprated version of its 510hp V6 supersaloon. This is the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA, an evolution of the Quadrifoglio, and we already want it very, very much indeed.
What a birthday present...
Built to mark the 110th birthday of Alfa Romeo as a company, there will be two versions of the newcomer - the Giulia GTA and the Giulia GTAm. We'll detail the differences shortly but in essence, the idea behind either example of the GTA is reduced weight, more power, added exclusivity. To that end, the 2.9-litre V6 engine has been uprated to 540hp, while the weight of the GTA is 100kg lighter than the Quadrifoglio upon which it is based; the GTAm is even lighter again.
Both cars have improved, active aerodynamics, taking learnings from the Sauber Engineering team of Formula 1 and its Aerokit. This results in new side skirts, a specific rear spoiler (it's big) and an active front splitter for the Giulias. Handling has been improved at high speeds, thanks to the front and rear tracks being widened by 50mm, while a new set of springs, dampers and bushes for the suspension system aim to cope with the GTA/GTAm's abilities. This focused Alfa also gains an Akrapovič centre-exit exhaust system, which is integrated into the rear diffuser, while the centre-lock, 20-inch alloy wheels are specific to these hottest-of-the-hot models.
Less bulk, more pace
So, to get the weight down, Alfa has fitted the GTA with a carbon-fibre drive shaft, bonnet, roof, front bumper, front wheel arches and the rear wheel-arch inserts, as well as the shell of the sports seats in the GTAm. Aluminium is also used in the engine, doors and suspension systems, with further composites used through the Giulias. The cabin is trimmed in Alcantara for the dashboard, the door panels, the glovebox, the side pillars and the centre panels of the seats, with matte-effect carbon-fibre inserts also to be espied.
Where they differ, and why one of them gains a lower-case 'm', is that you can decide how extreme you want your GTA to be. The 'regular' 540hp version has four seats, but the GTAm loses the back bench and becomes a two-seat machine. It also has a larger front splitter and a rear wing made of carbon fibre, while its stripped-out cabin has more Alcantara where the rear seats once lived... plus a roll-cage, no less. And it also sports no door panels, it is fitted with six-point Sabelt harnesses and the side and rear windows are made of Lexan polycarbonate, rather than glass. Thus equipped, the Giulia GTAm will, with the Launch Control system, hit 100km/h from rest in just 3.6 seconds.
Limited build run
If you want one of these things - and we don't blame you in the slightest if you do - then you'll need to move fast: Alfa will only build 500 examples of both the GTA and the GTAm. As in, not 500 of each, but 500 in total. Both are road legal but obviously the GTAm is more heavily nuanced towards track use and overt performance. As a sweetener on the deal, each buyer of a GTA or GTAm will enjoy a personalised experience package, including 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.