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The Ultimate Exotic Alfa Saloon
When the BMW M3 Competition-beating standard Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio simply isn’t enough to satisfy the soul, 500 extremely lucky and wealthy owners were able to acquire the very limited special edition GTA and GTAm (in a 50-50 even production split) variants to quench that that thirst. This Trofeo White colored Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA seen here (the two other colors: Montreal Green and Etna Red, are meant to evoke the colors of the Italian flag) and driven in the Philippines is # 180/500. What makes this particular unit even more unique is that it is a fusion of the two variants.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm essentially is the more extreme variant that weighs a full 220 pounds (100 kg) less than the standard Giulia Quadrifoglio and differentiates from the GTA by losing its rear seats but gains a rollcage and an Alcantara® upholstered basin, no rear safety belts, the front doors are opened with “pull loops” instead of a handle, the more aggressive front racing seats use 6-point SABELT seat belts, thinner windshield glass, and the glass side windows and rear windshield use Lexan polycarbonate while attaining the more aggressive carbon fiber accouterments that includes the 4-position 155 DTM-inspired rear wing and a front splitter that can extend by as much as 40 mm.
The lone Philippine-spec GTA (the initials stands for “Gran Turismo Alleggerita” or “Gran Turismo Lite”, invented in 1965) here weighs 132 pounds (60 kg) more than the GTAm but it does not compromise the super sedan’s enhanced abilities, in fact, the bespoke packaging is even more desirable as it shares all the great bits of the stripped car, which I will expound on in a few moments, but retains the comfort and practicality of a proper rear seat with matching green seat belts with the front carbon fiber sport bucket seats, functioning rear glass windows, a proper rear glass window, proper front door panels, and it has the full GTAm aerodynamic measures. A regular GTA would have a much smaller rear trunk lip spoiler and a less aggressive front spoiler yet it would have still produced 100 % more downforce than a standard 505 bhp Giulia Quadrifoglio. With the GTAm aero, this GTA produces three times the downforce of the standard Quadrifoglio and twice more than if it had the standard setup.
You will notice that the new carbon fiber aero side wings have Sauber Engineering written on it. That is because the Swiss firm with 27 years of experience in Formula 1, armed with their very own wind tunnel, played an active role in the design, prototyping and manufacturing of the aerodynamic components of the Giulia GTA/m.
The GTA and GTAm also benefit from a special new air extractor capable of increasing the car’s ground effect, thus guaranteeing excellent road holding at high speeds. Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN Formula 1 drivers Antonio Giovinazzi and Kimi Räikkönen had active roles on the Balocco Proving Grounds in Italy with the aerodynamic component developments as well as Teodoro Zeccoli and Andrea de Adamich. The results are the extensive use of carbon fiber on the new front bumper, side skirts, fenders, hood, boot, roof, diffuser, fully faired underbody, new air extractors capable of increasing the car’s ground effects, wheel arches, rear arch inserts and spoilers for truly incredible precision, agility, and stability. The four doors are made of aluminum. The carbon fiber driveshaft from the Giulia Quadrifoglio is carried over, while the interior also gets generous carbon fiber components from the steering wheel, to the front seats, trim, and much more.
Aiding the decrease of weight and improved aerodynamics are increased front wheel tracks by 25 mm and the rear by 50 mm, riding on glorious F1-inspired single center-lock mixed clover-designed alloys wrapped with extremely tenacious Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires managed by appropriately massive carbon ceramic brake discs with Brembo® calipers.
The last dynamic improvements are: the sensational titanium Akrapovič central exhaust system, ECU tuning, improved polished piston cooling flow, redesigned reinforced connecting rods, increased engine and transmission circuit cooling, retuned adaptive dampers, new bushings, new springs, retuned ESP (traction and stability controls), larger turbo compressor wheel for extra boost rpm, bespoke valve springs and tricked-out oil cooling. The result of the engine upgrades on the Ferrari-developed twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 increased peak horsepower from 505 bhp to 532 bhp while torque remains the same at 442 lb-ft (600 Nm). With the weight loss and power gain combined with the enhanced aerodynamics, superior brakes, and retuned suspension, the GTA is super saloon to keep, share and enjoy for a lifetime.
The Race Mode setting on the DNA (Drive Mode Selector) disables traction and stability control while activating the overboost function. When set on the less aggressive modes, the GTA is actually quite docile. It is definitely tauter than the standard Giulia Quadrifoglio and I did wish that it came with the rocking 900-watt 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio managed by the 8.8-inch infotainment system so you can also enjoy the brilliant and intoxicating Italian thoroughbred when you are not driving aggressively. It never felt crashy and too compromising like many supercars and hypercars.
The owner of GTA # 180 also gets a special Bell helmet in unique GTA livery, a tailor-made Goodwool car cover with his name and Philippine flag, special tools, as well as a custom-fit racing suit, gloves and shoes. The Philippines’s single Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA was sold by Alfa Romeo /Abarth reseller, Petromax Enterprise.
Specification – 2023 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA
Engine: 90° V6
Location: Front, Longitudinal
Displacement: 2894 cc
Cylinder block: Cast Aluminum
Cylinder head: Cast Aluminum, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder
Fuel Injection: Direct Injection Intercooled Twin-Turbo, VVT, with Auto Start-Stop Technology
Max power: 532 bhp @ 6500 rpm
Max torque: 442 lb-ft @ 2500-5500 rpm
Transmission: 8-Speed ZF Automatic with steering wheel paddleshifts, Rear-wheel-drive.
Front suspension: Independent aluminum double wishbone with two oscillating arms, adaptive dampers and anti-roll bar.
Rear suspension: Independent aluminum multi-link, adaptive dampers and anti-roll bar.
Fuel Capacity: 58 liters (15.3 gallons)
Ground Clearance: 100 mm
Weight distribution: 50/50
Load Capacity: 368 liters
L x W x H: 4669 mm x 1923 mm x 1397 mm
Wheelbase: 2820 mm
Brakes: Front 15.4-inch (390 mm) carbon ceramic ventilated discs with Brembo® 6-piston anodized calipers / Rear 14.2-inch (360 mm) carbon ceramic vented discs with Brembo® 4-piston anodized calipers, ABS, Stability Control, Traction Control, Dynamic Damper Control.
Wheels: 20”x 9.5J Front and 20” x10.5J Rear Mixed Center-lock Cloverleaf Alloys
Tires: 265/30R20 94Y Front and 285/30R20 99Y Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
Weight: (kerb) 1580 kg. (3476 lbs.)
0-100 km/h (0-62 mph): 3.5 seconds
Top Speed (mph): 307 km/h (192 mph)
Fuel Mileage: 16 mpg City / 25 mpg Highway
Price as tested: SOLD OUT
C! RATING 10/10
+The definitive limited-edition luxury sport sedan. Ferociously dynamic yet can be driven responsibly every day. Generous amounts of desirable equipment, uniqueness, and a sea of Alcantara®. Charismatic and life-defining. The full GTAm Sauber Aero Package.
–SOLD OUT, only 500 units produced. No 900-watt 14-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system to save weight.
Source: https://www.c-magazine.com/car-reviews/2023-alfa-romeo-giulia-gta/