Historic GTA nameplate revived for lightweight Giulia
The historic Giulia GTA and Giulia GTAm nameplates have been revived for the most powerful road car Alfa Romeo has ever built, with a portfolio of mechanical and aerodynamic upgrades over the current Quadrifoglio model.
The GTA name, which stands for Gran Turismo Alleggerita, has been revitalized to indicate the new Giulia’s lightweight and performance, said by Alfa Romeo to be “a momentous comeback”.
The Giulia GTA has the same 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 as the Quadrifoglio range topper, but the addition of a titanium Akrapovic exhaust, which is said to give the GTA a new soundtrack and other tweaks take the power from 503bhp to 540bhp. Performance figures have yet to be confirmed, but expect 0-60 time a couple of tenths quicker than the 3.8 seconds for the Quadrifoglio, and top speed around 191mph.
The GTA also weighs in at 100kg lighter, thanks to the bonnet, roof panel, front bumper, front wheel arches, rear arch inserts and a driveshaft all made from carbon fibre. Aluminium and composite materials are also used elsewhere on the car to cut the weight. The GTA also performs better in corners thanks to a bespoke suspension set-up and a 50mm-wider track at the front and rear.
Aero upgrades from the Quadrifoglio comprise of a Sauber engineering designed active aero package, including a larger front splitter, a carbon fibre rear diffuser with a centre exhaust and a rear wing. There are also 20in centre-lock wheels and Alcantara interior panels.
The Giulia GTA is also available as a hardcore GTAm road legal track racer, with a rear seat delete replaced by a roll bar, front seats with a six-point race harnesses, and profits from a much larger spoiler.
Alfa Romeo will only build 500 GTA and GTAm Giulia’s, and you can expect the price to start from just above £100,000, much like the similar Jaguar XE SV Project 8.