After its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show, Frankfurt will be the setting for the debut of the Alfa GT, a new car derived from the Alfa 156 and due to go on sale at the end of the year.
The model was created in conjunction with Bertone for original styling coupled with exhilarating performance. It represents a revolutionary new concept, i.e. sportiness combined with comfort and elegance. The car aims to offer all the driving satisfaction of an extraordinarily high-performing coupe without the compromises typical of this type of car. This is exemplified by its large luggage capacity and generous amount of rear passenger room.
The Alfa GT also succeeds in packing the results of Alfa's superlative engineering heritage into a shape inspired by a sense of style and flair that could only be Italian. The stylists were also able to call on a great Alfa Romeo tradition that has brought us models that remain benchmarks for the category: the 1900, the Giulietta, the Giulia and the Alfetta.
With a length of 4.48 metres, width of 1.76 metres and a height of 1.39 metres, the Alfa GT Coupй is aggressive and compact (its wheelbase is 2596 millimetres), with a shape marked by certain distinctive traits that define its strong personality and render it immediately recognisable.
A development of the distinctive three-lobed Alfa motif is evident at the front.
The shield is slightly larger and is an imposing presence out of which the entire car appears to grow. The result is very effective: it oozes force and aggression. This impression is reinforced by two side air intakes and light clusters that are objects of beauty in their own right.
The equally distinctive profile gives the model the appearance of an agile, solid and protective car. This is due above all to a pronounced shelf on the side that makes the car look slender and dynamic. The taut lines that meet at the rear and the small area of glass (compared to the amount of metal at the side) add elegance and also sturdiness.
The rear end also has a lot to say stylistically. The tail end of the Alfa GT is compact and slightly dipped and tapering with large built-in bumpers. The rear window is drop-shaped while the light clusters are embedded in the body. The tail also offers the right amount of balance and elegance with its strongly raked rear window and top-quality wraparound tail-light design.
Like the exterior shape, the interior of the Alfa GT is as sporty as Alfa Romeos get. The steering wheel, pedals and gearbox, for example, are designed for maximum vehicle control. The instruments are also functional and allow clear, simple and immediate understanding of the information. They also look good. Two big round analogue dials (the speedometer and rev counter) are located on either side, while two smaller gauges are located in the middle (fuel level and coolant temperature) with a central display beneath. All the dials have a grey background and black numbers. Red lighting (with adjustable brightness) makes the dials easier to read at night. The shade is easier for the eyes to focus on as they adjust from the dark road to the bright dashboard.
The Alfa GT on-board instrument array includes a multifunction display that allows access to several menus (and submenus) that speak the motorist's language (you can choose between the main European languages) and offer a host of functions. For example: clock, date, programmable buzzer and displays for the radio, phone, check control etc. Plus a trip computer that provides a set of information on previous or current trips: fuel consumption (instantaneous and average), average speed, remaining range, journey time (since the trip started) and kilometres covered.
The built-in radio and controls for the automatic dual zone climate control system (manual mono-zone on the basic version) are located low in the middle of the facia and produced with a sophisticated design. In detail, the radio, complete with CD player, offers an outstanding sound system designed and adjusted to the passenger compartment that consists of six speakers and delivers a power output of 4x40 Watts. The radio may also be activated by controls on the steering wheel (optional).
Customers can choose between two interior specifications: a classic sports specification with black facia and panels and another brighter and more stylish specification that is still very sporty and features a two-tone black on grey colour scheme. The facia and door panel trim features a natural, non-geometrical surface appearance with a special satinised effect that makes it look opulent and feel soft to the touch. The trims have also been designed and created to emphasise the character of the interiors. They blend in well with the extensive grosgrain surfaces typical of Alfa Romeo cars. The seats are specific to each version, all specially designed to the highest quality and aesthetic standards.
On mid-range versions, in particular, we have introduced Alfatex®, a new hi-tech cloth used on the seats and door panels and available in grey and black. Alfatex® was patented by Alfa Romeo and takes the form of a microfibre used to improve transpiration and assure outstanding seating comfort and great elegance.
The Alfa GT product range concludes with leather trim in five colours: black, blue, red, natural and grey. These are complemented by three interiors that are hand-upholstered to standards of classic Italian craftsmanship. The first has a sporty look: the facia, panels and seats are black with a double line of stitching in the same shade. The second interior is beige on the facia and panels while the panel insert and seats are in cream with contrast stitching. The product range is completed by classic upholstery that features two different shades of grey, again with contrast stitching. One factor shared by all three interiors is top quality, fine-grained Prestige leather with a natural look and beautifully soft to the touch. The new model also features a gearknob that is aluminium on petrol versions but leather-trimmed on the diesels and the powerful 3.2 V6.
The Alfa GT is also a car of unique appeal with a style that says what it is: a car of unswerving brilliance that is easy to control and capable of great driving satisfaction. The credit for this goes to a mechanical system that has inherited all the strengths of the Alfa 156 including three generous power units, each with specific power ratings among the best in their cylinder capacity category: the 140 bhp 1.8 T.Spark, the 165 bhp 2.0 JTS and the 150 bhp 1.9 JTD Multijet 16v.
Customers who want the very best in terms of performance and sportiness can choose a GTA version equipped with a powerful 240 bhp 3.2 V6 24 valve engine with special technical features (suspension, steering and brakes).
The model also offers numerous devices and systems that make it a new benchmark in its segment: VDC, six airbags, radio with MP3 player, Cruise Control, Dual zone climate control system, Bose Hi-Fi system, 16" alloy wheels and radio controls on the steering wheel. All this, plus xenon headlights, 17" alloy wheels, CD Changer, Connect Nav+ with radio and phone controls on the steering wheel.