Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm: our opinion behind the wheel

No, it’s not over; automotive pleasure still exists. Not all cars have some form of hybridization and, sorry for the more avid green guys, that’s pretty good news.

While it is agreed that a vehicle produced in tens of thousands and intended to travel millions of kilometers must control its consumption, this Alfa must prioritize performance and the pleasure. And that’s what she does.

Limited to 500 numbered copies worldwide, this version GTA (pour Gran Turismo Alleggerita, or Grand Tourisme Allégée) is, in fact, more developed for extreme sport than for everyday tasks.

It suffices to look at her to be moved, to lay your eyes on her adjustable fin to shiver, and to scrutinize his front blade – adjustable – carbon to drool. What stuff! All this aerodynamic gear has benefited from the expertise of Sauber Engineering, famous for the longevity of its experience in Formula 1. Clearly, this is not just for decoration!

Bodybuilder, propped up 20-inch center-nut rims – a first on a sedan – and widened tracks of 25 mm at the front and 50 mm at the rear, this transfigured Giulia, high on amphetamines, would make an Audi RS4 look like a nice granny.

She even offered herself a serious slimming treatment. Its 3 kg thinned suspension springs weren’t enough? The back seats jumped out in the GTAm version, even more extreme than the GTA (- € 4,800). Even the rear windows and the bezel were replaced with polycarbonate panels.

In total, a hundred kilograms were left in the garage. More seats at the rear, therefore, replaced by bins accommodating helmets, overhung by a hoop, while at the front Sabelt bucket seats with a carbon structure and the fixed backrest are surrounded by 3-point harnesses. It promises…

The first mechanical contact, at the firing of the 2.9 V6 biturbo increased to 540 hp by the contribution of new connecting rods, an optimized cooling and an original mapping, does not disappoint: the thunderclap is followed by a hum extracted from the central titanium escapement, signed Akrapovic.

The notes and the tone change with the speed, limited to around 7,200 rpm. It’s hoarse, manly. But, surprisingly, it’s not uncomfortable!

If the back of the seat seems too inclined, the controlled damping readily erases small imperfections in the roadway; the suspension has been relaxed compared to that of the Giulia Quadrifoglio Verde, in order to gain in progressiveness.

The mechanics show an astonishing flexibility on the road, but also wants to be aggressive or even explosive when it is necessary.

If there ZF automatic transmission sometimes gives the impression of a lack of speed of execution and refuses to downshift to too high a speed, it allows however to perfectly control the cavalry in manual mode, by the means of the paddles at the wheel.

And it is no stranger to the improbable times announced by Alfa: 0 to 100 km / h swallowed in 3.6 seconds and a standing start kilometer swallowed up in 21.1 seconds. Breathtaking. And even beyond 200 km / h, the acceleration is prolonged with a frightening force, that the carbon-ceramic brakes, with the gripping bite, manage to suppress easily, even in intense use.

Obviously driven by its rear wheels, the Italian marked with the clover is not a simple dragster. It is guided by a surgical and incisive direction, but very “natural” in the sensations which it returns.

The front axle seems sponsored by UHU, while it is coated with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 just as “sticky”. And the rear axle is a delight …

Never overflowing unless provoked, the rear axle is agile, is placed nicely during braking in support and, once all the electronic crutches disengaged, signs its pin outs with a trace of rubber. Necessarily, with 600 Nm of torque, the bitumen comes out marked.

Be careful, however, because, as considerate as it is, the Alfa is not an Alpine, it cannot be piloted with your hands in your pockets.

But it’s a real sensation factory, an ultimate machine marvel for track trips, capable of passing speeds that would make many “super sports” coupes pale. And who does not need to be transported on a platform to access the circuits.

The perfect two-seater sedan, in short, aesthetically devastating but which has some in the vest. And too bad if it costs almost the price of two Giulia Quadrifoglio Verde 510 hp, such an ultimate variation is appreciated for the beauty of the gesture. It is the price of passion, of the collector’s item, the price of unreason …

Test Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm – our opinion:

Exceptional sedan devoid of any form of pragmatism, the demonstrative GTAm and its only front seats serve as the ultimate collector, the object of dreams and lust, capable of driving lap times and offering rare sensations in the world of sports cars. Superb.

WE love

Performance and temperament
Behavior and efficiency
Piece of collection
Two or four seater (GTA / GTAm)

We like less

Unreasonable price
Automatic gearbox not fast enough

Technical sheet (Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm)

Engine: front, longitudinal, 6-cylinder 90 ° V, gasoline, twin-turbo, 24 valves, 2891 cm3³
Transmission: rear-wheel drive, automatic, 8-speed
Power (hp @ rpm): 540 to 6,500
Torque (Nm at rpm): 600 to 2,500
Empty weight (kg): 1,580
Long.xwide.xhigh. (m): 4.67 × 1.92 × 1.40 (1.45 with antenna)
Wheelbase (m): 2.82
Turning diameter (m): nc
Max speed (km / h): 300
0 to 100 km/h (s): 3 ”6
0 to 200 km/h (s): 11 ”9
AV-AR series tires: 265/30 ZR 20 – 285/30 ZR 20
Test tires: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
Conso. Mixed WLTP (l / 100 km): 10.8
Conso. during test (l / 100 km): 14
CO₂ (g/km): 244
Malus : 30 000 €
Trunk (l): 480
Front / rear elbow width (cm): 150 / –
Rear legroom (cm): –
Tank (l): 58
Country of manufacture: Italy
Warranty: 2 years / unlimited mileage
Fiscal power: 45 CV
Tarif de base: 171 600 € (GTA)
Price of the version tested: 176 400 € (GTAm)