Räikkönen and Giovinazzi test the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA

The Formula 1 drivers, Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi, have taken the wheel of the new 540 CV Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA at the company’s historic Balocco test track in Italy. The pair of drivers was available to give feedback to the engineers regarding the aerodynamic properties and driving setup of the sports saloon.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA is the most powerful road car Alfa Romeo has ever built and, with a starting price of 176,500 euros for the standard version and 181,500 euros for the GTAm variant. The limited-edition 8C Competizione supercar, whose production ended in 2010, was priced lower

The Centro Stile design studio at Alfa Romeo has drawn inspiration from the best-known motorsport victories of the original Alfa Romeo GTA for a range of available colours, including a yellow and red paint scheme that harks back to the car that won the 1971 European Touring Car Championship. The standard colours, including Trophy White, Montreal Green and GTA Red, are also available. Alfa Romeo will build a total of just 500 units of the Giulia GTA and Giulia GTAm, offering a series of mechanical and dynamic upgrades over the current top-of-the-range Quadrifoglio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NdYRXijRM4

The Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA shows its muscle at Balocco

The historic GTA badge, standing for Gran Turismo Alleggerita, or lightweight grand tourer, has been revived to signal the lightweight construction and performance potential of the new car. At the car’s presentation, Alfa Romeo described it as a “landmark return”, meaning a return to building high-performance cars. The GTA draws its power from the same twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 engine as the Quadrifoglio, but recalibrated settings and the addition of a titanium Akrapovic exhaust help raise its output to 540 CV. It is also said to give the car a unique soundtrack.

Performance figures have not yet been confirmed, but the GTA is likely to beat the Quadrifoglio’s 3.9-second 0-100 km/h time and its 307 km/h top speed. In addition to the power increase, the GTA benefits from a 100 kg weight reduction, thanks to a bonnet, roof panel, front bumper, front wheel arches, rear arch inserts and a carbon-fibre driveshaft. Aluminium and composite materials are found in other parts of the car to further reduce kerb weight.

The GTA is also claimed to handle corners better than the Quadrifoglio, thanks to a bespoke suspension setup and a track 50 mm wider at both the front and rear. Visual differences from the Quadrifoglio include an active aerodynamic package inspired by Formula 1, comprising a larger front splitter, a carbon-fibre rear diffuser and a rear spoiler. There are also 20-inch centre-lock wheels and interior panels with Alcantara trim. Like the similarly conceived Jaguar XE SV Project 8, the GTA will also be available in an uncompromising, track-focused style, with the rear seats giving way to a roll cage. Called the GTAm, it remains road legal but swaps its front seats for racing items with carbon-fibre shells and six-point harnesses, gains a much larger spoiler and can complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 3.6 seconds.

The GTA badge first appeared on a racing version of the 1965 Giulia Sprint, which used a fully aluminium body to weigh just 745 kg, giving it an advantage in motorsport and making it one of the most revered sports saloons in the world.

Technical specifications of this car

SedanAlfa Romeo Giulia6 versions · from 49,600 €