Alfa Romeo GT
Encyclopedia
The Alfa Romeo GT is a sports car
produced by the Italian
automaker Alfa Romeo
between 2003 and 2010. A total of 80,832 units were produced. The GT was introduced in March 2003 Geneva Motor Show and it came for sale in Italian markets January 2004. It was built at the Pomigliano plant, central Italy, alongside the 147
and 159
.
Like the 147, the GT was based on the same platform used in 156
, with the coupé
body styled by Bertone. Most mechanicals are taken directly from the 156/147 using the same double wishbone front suspension
and multilink
rear setup as those two cars. The interior is based heavily on that of the smaller hatchback 147
and utilises many common parts. The GT utilises the same dash layout and functions , the complete climate control system as well as having a very similar electrical system. The engine range includes both a 1.8 and 2.0 petrol engine, a 1.9 MultiJet turbodiesel
, and a top-of-the-range 3.2 V6 petrol.
The GT is positioned as sports car in Alfa Romeo's range, and sits alongside the Grand Tourer
Brera
(which is based on the newer mid-size Alfa 159
sedan/saloon car.) Both cars can be viewed as successors to the 916-series GTV
. Keeping two mid-sized sports coupés in production simultaneously is unusual and the two cars could be construed as being in competition with each other. If Alfa Romeo is viewed as the sporting arm of the larger Fiat group however the move makes more sense: with no sporting Fiat badged cars currently in production, the marketplace arguably had ample room for both these cars, each being tailored to a different niche. Historically Alfa's strategy of developing sporting cars from their conventional sedan/saloon car offerings has found much favour among traditional Alfisti, and ensured good sales.
In 2006 Alfa introduced a 1.9 JTD Q2 version with limited slip differential, and also added a new trim level called Black Line.
In 2008 Alfa introduced the cloverleaf model as a limited edition complete with new trim levels, lowered suspension, body kit, 18 inch alloy wheels and only available in the colours black, alfa red, or blue. with engines 1.8 L and 2.0 L petrol and 1.9 L Multijet turbo diesel. These are effectively the run out models and as such are very well specified.
series concepts of the 1950s. The general coupe shape resembles that of the 1980s Alfa Romeo Sprint
but with clear design cues taken from more modern Alfa Romeo products. The GT wears 16-inch alloy wheels as standard, with 17-inch wheels as an option. There are 18-inch alloy wheels available, but the extra width pinches from the GT's 11.5 metres (37.7 ft) turning circle.
has proven to be a popular choice in comparison to the petrol 2.0-litre engine.
The 3.2-litre V6 petrol unit is positioned as the 'sports' option with its large power output and distinctive Alfa Romeo exhaust note, unique to the Alfa V6 family of engines. The 1.8 twinspark petrol engine is lifted directly from the 156, it is a tried and tested unit giving respectable levels of power while still remaining economical. The 2.0L petrol has direct injection and is an improvement on the older 2.0L petrol unit found in the Alfa 156 on which the GT is based, with an increase of 15 PS and better fuel consumption.
The 1.9 L direct injection diesel unit is the most popular option, the high torque output at low revs gives more of a feeling of power at "normal" road speeds compared to the 2.0-litre petrol which requires much higher revs to produce its maximum power output and is best suited to being driven hard. This combined with the significant gain in fuel economy (see statistics below) make the diesel a popular choice. The economy of the diesel combined with the power and 6 speed gearbox make it a real GT car with a range of around 600 miles (965.6 km) per tank at motorway speeds.
up front and 276 mm (10.9 in) at the rear. The most powerful version 3.2 L and all cloverleaf models have 330 mm (13 in) ventilated discs at front. The GT comes as standard with anti-lock braking system
with electronic brakeforce distribution
and hydraulic brake assistance.
Despite it being a two-door or coupe', the GT does not have a 2+2 seating configuration but is a five-seater, with the rear occupants not feeling cramped for the lack of legroom. This is because of the 156 heritage, sharing the chassis. Entrance to the rear of a GT is via foldable front seats. The GT is also in fact a 3 door with a hatchback allowing access to a surprisingly large rear boot.
The latest technological advances were incorporated, such as VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) which is Alfa's version of ESP (Electronic Stability Program), ASR (Anti Slip Regulation) or Traction Control, EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution), ABS, Brake Assist and later the Q2 System. The Q2 system is Alfa's highly developed and efficient Limited-Slip Differential technology, for improved cornering (particularly in the wet) and power transfer to the wheels. This reduces wheel spin, torque steer and eliminates the understeer common to front-wheel drive cars.
Details like the wheel camber being set at a negative specification to improve cornering capabilities, as in a track vehicle, were included. Hardened and modified suspensions as opposed to the 156, thus sacrificing marginally on ride comfort for road holding. Extreme body-hugging, adjustable leather seats for minimal lateral movement during hard cornering. All of the above made the GT appealing to the performance-oriented customer.
However, Alfa Romeo integrated luxury with its 'caged panther' concept by ensuring the car was highly equipped, with standard features like power steering, trip computer, air conditioning, reverse assist, dual climate control, airbags (including 'curtain' airbags) with internal passenger sensors to decide remotely which airbags to deploy, side-mirror defrosters, and cruise control, plus options like seat warmers, leather interior, ten CD changer, satellite radio controls and windscreen sensors for automatic wiper activation.
The combined effect of these specifications created a highly developed, responsive and manoeuvrable vehicle at high speeds and in challenging conditions, making it safer and comfortable to drive every day at conventional speeds.
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
produced by the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
automaker Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
between 2003 and 2010. A total of 80,832 units were produced. The GT was introduced in March 2003 Geneva Motor Show and it came for sale in Italian markets January 2004. It was built at the Pomigliano plant, central Italy, alongside the 147
Alfa Romeo 147
The Alfa Romeo 147 is a small family car produced by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo from 2000 to 2010. The 147 was voted European Car of the Year for 2001, beating the Ford Mondeo and the Toyota Prius....
and 159
Alfa Romeo 159
The Alfa Romeo 159 is a compact executive car produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo between 2005 and 2011. The 159 was introduced in production form at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show as a replacement for the successful Alfa Romeo 156. The 159 uses the GM/Fiat Premium platform, shared with...
.
Like the 147, the GT was based on the same platform used in 156
Alfa Romeo 156
The Alfa Romeo 156 is a compact executive car introduced by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show as the replacement for the Alfa Romeo 155...
, with the coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
body styled by Bertone. Most mechanicals are taken directly from the 156/147 using the same double wishbone front suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
and multilink
Multi-link suspension
A multi-link suspension is a type of vehicle suspension design typically used in independent suspensions, using three or more lateral arms, and one or more longitudinal arms....
rear setup as those two cars. The interior is based heavily on that of the smaller hatchback 147
Alfa Romeo 147
The Alfa Romeo 147 is a small family car produced by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo from 2000 to 2010. The 147 was voted European Car of the Year for 2001, beating the Ford Mondeo and the Toyota Prius....
and utilises many common parts. The GT utilises the same dash layout and functions , the complete climate control system as well as having a very similar electrical system. The engine range includes both a 1.8 and 2.0 petrol engine, a 1.9 MultiJet turbodiesel
Turbodiesel
Turbodiesel refers to any diesel engine with a turbocharger. Turbocharging is the norm rather than the exception in modern car and truck diesel engines...
, and a top-of-the-range 3.2 V6 petrol.
The GT is positioned as sports car in Alfa Romeo's range, and sits alongside the Grand Tourer
Grand tourer
A grand tourer is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement....
Brera
Alfa Romeo Brera
The Alfa Romeo Brera is a sports car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo between 2005 and 2010. The Spider roadster was produced between 2006 to 2010. Both cars were manufactured by Pininfarina. Only 12,488 units of Spider and 21,786 units of Brera were built. Production of both models...
(which is based on the newer mid-size Alfa 159
Alfa Romeo 159
The Alfa Romeo 159 is a compact executive car produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo between 2005 and 2011. The 159 was introduced in production form at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show as a replacement for the successful Alfa Romeo 156. The 159 uses the GM/Fiat Premium platform, shared with...
sedan/saloon car.) Both cars can be viewed as successors to the 916-series GTV
Alfa Romeo GTV & Spider
The Alfa Romeo GTV and Alfa Romeo Spider were two sports cars produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo from 1995 to 2006....
. Keeping two mid-sized sports coupés in production simultaneously is unusual and the two cars could be construed as being in competition with each other. If Alfa Romeo is viewed as the sporting arm of the larger Fiat group however the move makes more sense: with no sporting Fiat badged cars currently in production, the marketplace arguably had ample room for both these cars, each being tailored to a different niche. Historically Alfa's strategy of developing sporting cars from their conventional sedan/saloon car offerings has found much favour among traditional Alfisti, and ensured good sales.
In 2006 Alfa introduced a 1.9 JTD Q2 version with limited slip differential, and also added a new trim level called Black Line.
In 2008 Alfa introduced the cloverleaf model as a limited edition complete with new trim levels, lowered suspension, body kit, 18 inch alloy wheels and only available in the colours black, alfa red, or blue. with engines 1.8 L and 2.0 L petrol and 1.9 L Multijet turbo diesel. These are effectively the run out models and as such are very well specified.
Appearance
The GT has been widely acclaimed for its attractive styling and purposeful good looks. The design is by Bertone who have a long history of collaboration with Alfa Romeo, the most notable being the B.A.TAlfa Romeo BAT
The Alfa Romeo BAT is an Italian concept car. The car originated in a joint collaboration project between Alfa Romeo and the Italian design house; Bertone that began in 1953...
series concepts of the 1950s. The general coupe shape resembles that of the 1980s Alfa Romeo Sprint
Alfa Romeo Sprint
The Alfa Romeo Sprint is a coupé version of the Alfa Romeo Alfasud, produced from 1976 to 1989 by Alfa Romeo. 116,552 examples of the Alfasud Sprint and Alfa Romeo Sprint were built in total. The Sprint was sold in Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.-History:Until 1983, the car's name...
but with clear design cues taken from more modern Alfa Romeo products. The GT wears 16-inch alloy wheels as standard, with 17-inch wheels as an option. There are 18-inch alloy wheels available, but the extra width pinches from the GT's 11.5 metres (37.7 ft) turning circle.
Engines
The 240 PS 3.2-litre V6 offers good all-round performance but is prone to torque steer while the 1.9-litre JTD turbodieselTurbodiesel
Turbodiesel refers to any diesel engine with a turbocharger. Turbocharging is the norm rather than the exception in modern car and truck diesel engines...
has proven to be a popular choice in comparison to the petrol 2.0-litre engine.
The 3.2-litre V6 petrol unit is positioned as the 'sports' option with its large power output and distinctive Alfa Romeo exhaust note, unique to the Alfa V6 family of engines. The 1.8 twinspark petrol engine is lifted directly from the 156, it is a tried and tested unit giving respectable levels of power while still remaining economical. The 2.0L petrol has direct injection and is an improvement on the older 2.0L petrol unit found in the Alfa 156 on which the GT is based, with an increase of 15 PS and better fuel consumption.
The 1.9 L direct injection diesel unit is the most popular option, the high torque output at low revs gives more of a feeling of power at "normal" road speeds compared to the 2.0-litre petrol which requires much higher revs to produce its maximum power output and is best suited to being driven hard. This combined with the significant gain in fuel economy (see statistics below) make the diesel a popular choice. The economy of the diesel combined with the power and 6 speed gearbox make it a real GT car with a range of around 600 miles (965.6 km) per tank at motorway speeds.
Brakes and suspension
For stopping power, there are 284 mm (11.2 in) ventilated discsDisc brake
The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
up front and 276 mm (10.9 in) at the rear. The most powerful version 3.2 L and all cloverleaf models have 330 mm (13 in) ventilated discs at front. The GT comes as standard with anti-lock braking system
Anti-lock braking system
An anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...
with electronic brakeforce distribution
Electronic brakeforce distribution
Electronic brakeforce distribution ', Electronic brakeforce limitation ' is an automobile brake technology that automatically varies the amount of force applied to each of a vehicle's brakes, based on road conditions, speed, loading, etc...
and hydraulic brake assistance.
Despite it being a two-door or coupe', the GT does not have a 2+2 seating configuration but is a five-seater, with the rear occupants not feeling cramped for the lack of legroom. This is because of the 156 heritage, sharing the chassis. Entrance to the rear of a GT is via foldable front seats. The GT is also in fact a 3 door with a hatchback allowing access to a surprisingly large rear boot.
The latest technological advances were incorporated, such as VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) which is Alfa's version of ESP (Electronic Stability Program), ASR (Anti Slip Regulation) or Traction Control, EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution), ABS, Brake Assist and later the Q2 System. The Q2 system is Alfa's highly developed and efficient Limited-Slip Differential technology, for improved cornering (particularly in the wet) and power transfer to the wheels. This reduces wheel spin, torque steer and eliminates the understeer common to front-wheel drive cars.
Details like the wheel camber being set at a negative specification to improve cornering capabilities, as in a track vehicle, were included. Hardened and modified suspensions as opposed to the 156, thus sacrificing marginally on ride comfort for road holding. Extreme body-hugging, adjustable leather seats for minimal lateral movement during hard cornering. All of the above made the GT appealing to the performance-oriented customer.
However, Alfa Romeo integrated luxury with its 'caged panther' concept by ensuring the car was highly equipped, with standard features like power steering, trip computer, air conditioning, reverse assist, dual climate control, airbags (including 'curtain' airbags) with internal passenger sensors to decide remotely which airbags to deploy, side-mirror defrosters, and cruise control, plus options like seat warmers, leather interior, ten CD changer, satellite radio controls and windscreen sensors for automatic wiper activation.
The combined effect of these specifications created a highly developed, responsive and manoeuvrable vehicle at high speeds and in challenging conditions, making it safer and comfortable to drive every day at conventional speeds.
Engine specifications
| Model | Engine | Volume | Power | Torque | Fuel cons. urban (mpg–imp (l/100 km)) |
Fuel cons. extra-urban (mpg–imp (l/100 km)) |
Fuel cons. combined (mpg–imp (l/100 km)) |
CO2 Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom... |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 TS Alfa Romeo Twin Spark engine Alfa Romeo Twin Spark technology was used first time in Alfa Romeo Grand Prix car in 1914. In the early 1960s it was used in their race cars to enable it to achieve a higher power output from its engines... |
I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
1747 cc | 103 kW (140 PS) @ 6500 rpm | 163 newton metres (120.2 ft·lbf) @ 3900 rpm | 23.0 (12.1) | 44.0 (6.4) | 35.0 (8.5) | 202 g Gram The gram is a metric system unit of mass.... /km |
|
| 2.0 JTS JTS engine The JTS engine is a gasoline direct injection engine produced by Alfa Romeo. It exists in two forms, straight-4 and V6, and was introduced into the Alfa lineup in 2002.-2.0:... |
I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
1970 cc | 121 kW (165 PS) @ 6400 rpm | 206 newton metres (151.9 ft·lbf) @ 3250 rpm | 23.2 (12.2) | 42.2 (6.7) | 32.5 (8.7) | 207 g/km | |
| 3.2 V6 Alfa Romeo V6 engine Alfa Romeos in-house V6 engine design made its initial début in 1979 in the Alfa 6. Introduced in 2.5 L guise, production engines would eventually range from 2.0 L to 3.2 L displacement. With modifications it is possible to increase engine displacement to... |
V6 | 3179 cc | 177 kW (240 PS) @ 6200 rpm | 289 newton metres (213.2 ft·lbf) @ 4800 rpm | 15.2 (18.6) | 32.5 (8.7) | 22.8 (12.4) | 295 g/km | Now discontinued |
| 1.9 JTDm | I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
1910 cc | 110 kW (150 PS) @4000 rpm | 305 newton metres (225 ft·lbf) @ 2000 rpm | 33.2 (8.5) | 57.6 (4.9) | 45.6 (6.2) | 165 g/km | |
| 1.9 JTDm | I4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
1910 cc | 125 kW (170 PS) @3750 rpm | 330 newton metres (243.4 ft·lbf) @ 2000 rpm | 32 (8.7) | 59 (4.8) | 46 (6.2) | 164 g/km | from 2008 |
Performance
| Model | Top speed | 0–100 km/h,s 0-62 mph,s |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8 TS Alfa Romeo Twin Spark engine Alfa Romeo Twin Spark technology was used first time in Alfa Romeo Grand Prix car in 1914. In the early 1960s it was used in their race cars to enable it to achieve a higher power output from its engines... |
200 kilometre per hour | 10.6 |
| 2.0 JTS JTS engine The JTS engine is a gasoline direct injection engine produced by Alfa Romeo. It exists in two forms, straight-4 and V6, and was introduced into the Alfa lineup in 2002.-2.0:... /2.0 JTS Selespeed Selespeed Selespeed is the name of an electrohydraulic manual transmission used in Alfa Romeo cars, developed by Italian company Magneti Marelli. The Selespeed is a robotized manual gearbox with electronic clutch. In its current incarnation it can be operated via paddle shifters from the steering wheel or... |
216 kilometre per hour | 8.7 |
| 3.2 V6 Alfa Romeo V6 engine Alfa Romeos in-house V6 engine design made its initial début in 1979 in the Alfa 6. Introduced in 2.5 L guise, production engines would eventually range from 2.0 L to 3.2 L displacement. With modifications it is possible to increase engine displacement to... |
243 kilometre per hour | 6.7 |
| 1.9 JTDm | 209 kilometre per hour | 9.2 |
| 1.9 JTDm (170 PS) | 216 kilometre per hour | 8.2 |