Less than 10 of the 500 units globally are heading to SA.
Back in the 1970s, Alfa Romeo was so popular in South Africa that there were more Alfas on SA roads than any other country in the world except Italy. In the decades since then, the brand has faded into obscurity, not just locally but internationally as well. Now, as the brand attempts a resurrection of sorts, a familiar badge is being brought back into the fray in the form of the high-performance GTA variant. Last year, Alfa unveiled the Giulia GTA and GTAm twins – hardened versions of the magnificent Giulia Quadrifoglio that revived the Gran Turismo Alleggerita (Italian for Grand Touring Lightened) badge previously reserved for only the most performance-focused Alfa Romeo models. Just 500 are to be produced globally, and South Africa will be receiving less than 10 of those.
What is the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA?
The Giulia GTA is fitted with the same Ferrari-derived 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 as the regular Quadrifoglio version, but with power dialed up from 375 kW to 390 kW. Additionally, 100 kg of weight has been shed thanks to extensive carbon fibre usage throughout, Lexan rear window frames, lightweight centre-locking 20-inch alloy wheels, and an Akrapovic exhaust system specifically for this car. It retains rear-wheel drive and the ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic gearbox, enabling a 0-100 km/h dash of 3.6 seconds. That’s not where its talents lie, however, as enhanced suspension and aerodynamics combine with less weight to make the GTA and GTAm perform at their best around a racetrack.
For clarification, the 500 units of the Giulia GTA being produced is an all-inclusive figure of both the GTA and GTAm combined, with the GTAm being the most hardcore variant that eschews back seats in favour of a roll cage and straps on massive carbon fibre aero addenda like a huge rear spoiler engineered by Sauber Engineering, Alfa’s Formula 1 partner.
South Africa’s long GTA heritage:
Not only does South Africa have strong connections with the Alfa Romeo brand, but the GTA moniker as well, with the right-hand drive 1600 GTA being successfully campaigned in local motorsports in the late 1960s. Among the prolific names involved in its racing career were Basil van Rooyen’s Superformance and Arnold Chatz. Several iterations of the GTA nameplate have been produced across the years, from the original Giulia 1600 GTA to the Alfasud GTA, and more recently, the 156 and 147 GTA. All of these models have enjoyed success in South African motorsports.
How much does the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA cost?
As mentioned, only less than Giulia GTAs will be coming to South Africa, with rumours suggesting only 7 are earmarked for us. The allocation is on a first-come, first-served basis, with a dedicated product specialist handling everything from the initial order to the specification process and final handover. Cars.co.za reports that the price of the Giulia GTA is an astonishing R3,999,900 in standard guise, with the GTAm variant priced at R4,299,900.
You can bet that despite the astronomical price, collectors will already be lining up at their nearest Alfa Romeo dealership to secure an order.
