Alfa Romeo GTV & Spider
Encyclopedia
The Alfa Romeo GTV (Fast Grand Tourer) and Alfa Romeo Spider were two sports car
s produced by the Italian
manufacturer Alfa Romeo
from 1995 to 2006.
The GTV is a 2+2 coupé
, and the Spider is a two-seater cabriolet version of the GTV. The rear seats on the GTV could be optionally deleted to increase the small boot space. The Spider has no rear seats and a small boot.
Known by the internal Alfa Romeo designation 916, the GTV and Spider were launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1995. The GTV's name placed it as the successor to the long-discontinued Alfetta GTV
coupe, whereas the Spider was effectively the replacement for the then 30 year-old Giulia Spider
.
. and the last series were assembled by Pininfarina after the closing of the Arese factory.
The car was produced in three distinct phases. It is a typical Italian design, with the Alfa Romeo grille with dual round headlights, recalling the 1750 GTV
of the late 1960s and 1970s. It is low-slug, wedge-shaped with a low nose and high kicked up tail. The back of the car is "cut-off" with a "Kamm tail"
giving improved aerodynamics. The Spider shares these traits with the GTV except that the rear is rounded. The Spider featured a folding soft-top with five hoop frame, which completely disappears from sight under a flush fitting cover. An electric folding mechanism is fitted on later versions. As would be expected, the GTV has a much more rigid chassis, although considerable work was done on the Spider to reduce the traditional convertible problem of scuttle shake
.
Wheels are 15 inch perforated light alloy as standard, 16 inch teardrop wheels with 205/50 tyres were part of the Lusso option package, along with Momo leather seats and air conditioning. A factory option of 17 inch teledial wheels with 225/45 tyres was popular , as are aftermarket 18 inch wheels with even wider 235/35 or 235/40 tyres . Another popular modification is lowered and uprated road springs to reduce body roll when cornering , making the TS cars corner very flatly, even at higher speeds. The phase 1 cars had a black plastic grille in the nose of the bonnet, without the normal chrome edging. A popular modification is to fit a phase 2 grille which has a chrome border and wire mesh centre.
The Lusso has become a separate model rather than an option pack on the phase 2 cars and the standard car was renamed the "Turismo". All V6 cars were of Lusso specification. Very few Turismos were sold in the UK.
A spacesaver spare wheel was supplied, and there was a no-cost option of an aerosol can of tyre repair sealant. This was a popular option as it increased the usable size of the very small boot.
2.0 V6 12V that produced 202 PS or a 3.0 V6 in either 12 (192 PS) or 24 valves (220 PS) and finally a 3.2 V6 24 valve.
The 2.0 V6, called V6 TB, was developed because of an Italian law that put an extra sales tax on cars with engines larger than two litres. It is basically a sleeved-down version of the three litre V6. The turbo was added for extra power while avoiding the tax.
When new the 3.0 V6 24V was the fastest production Alfa Romeo with a top speed of 149 mi/h. The 3.2 V6 24V GTV 240 PS is currently fastest Stradale Alfa Romeo (introduced on the 2003 GTVs), capable of 0-60 mph in just over six seconds and a top speed of 158 mi/h.
The 2.0 16v Twin Spark engine gives up to 35 mpgimp.It has variable inlet cam timing, giving 25 degrees of variation to improve torque and give a more linear power delivery. The TS engine has a belt driven balance shaft to improve the smoothness of the engine. The TS was the best-selling version of the GTV in the UK.
The last restyle of the GTV in 2003 also introduced the 2.0 JTS
(165 PS) engine, which uses direct injection, in a similar way to a diesel engine. This engine uses only one spark plug per cylinder and has a variable-length inlet manifold to improve torque at low revs.
To save weight the bonnet was made from a composite material called KMC (composed of poliester and fiberglass, and using epoxi adhesives also), while front wings were made in PUR plastic. At the time, the bonnet was the largest single composite moulding on a production car. When the bonnet is opened, two rectangular Hella headlamps are revealed with separate bulbs for dip and main beam, behind the four round holes in the bonnet.
The 916 was equipped as standard with power steering, twin airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, Bosch ABS, electric heated door mirrors, electric frameless windows with one-touch operation for the driver's side, height adjustable headlamps, front foglamps, reach and rake adjustable leather clad steering wheel, stitched leather gear knob, an automatic electric aerial,a Clarion face-off stereo with six speakers and central locking.
An alarm system and immobiliser was fitted with remote locking/unlocking. The bodyshell was galvanised with full plastic wheelarch liners and is therefore rustproof.
The only additional options were the Lusso pack, metallic paint and electric sunroof.
Details included a one-piece rear lamp/foglamp/indicator strip across the rear of the body, internal electric release for the bootlid and filler flap, the minor instruments in the centre console angled towards the driver. At its launch, many journalists commented that Alfa had improved overall build quality considerably and that it came very close to equalling its German rivals. The fuel tank has a capacity of 70 l (18 US gal; 15 imp gal). The battery, CD autochanger and fuel tank are located in the boot, and the tank is ahead of the rear axle line, behind the rear seats for increased safety. The power assisted steering has a very high ratio, giving 2.2 turns lock-to-lock. The bonnet and bootlid are supported on nitrogen filled struts.
Criticisms of the model have been that it is hard to park due to its large turning circle and low seating position, which mean that the end of the bonnet and corners are outside the driver's line of sight. The doors are very long and need plenty of space in a car park, and the boot is very small at only 3.8 cubic foot (0.1076040186 m³), made worse if the spacesaver wheel is included. There are also commonly electrical problems. Contrary to rumors in well maintained cars there are relatively few mechanical problems.
The top of the range (3.0 and 3.2 litre) versions have three mufflers and four catalytic converters installed at the factory on the CF3 engine and onwards (2001-), which result in a somewhat muted sound. Common aftermarket alterations to the exhaust system are straight pipe replacements for some of the mufflers (usually leaving only a single or double muffler), twin tailpipes (which require modifications to the rear bumper), stainless steel systems and replacing the standard cats with race cats or even cat replacement pipes (on the CF3 these replacement pipes do not give lambda engine light warnings). Additional modifications include the popular air filter replacement by BMC CDA, fitting GTA cams, etc. Modifications such as these completely change the sound produced by the Arese V6 and are said by some to rival the engine note of Italian V8 engines.
-style grille, the frontplate-holder moving from the centre to the left and a change of the colour of the interior instrumentation lighting from green to red.
The GTV ended production in 2005 on the launch of the Brera
, while the Spider lasted another year until the launch of its Brera-based successor.
The 916 GTV and Spider are considered by some to be the last Alfas that are true to Alfa Romeo heritage in terms of design and engine note. The successor models (159, Brera, Spider) have a higher ride height and larger chassis, and the V6 models use engines made by GM rather than being made by Alfa Romeo.
*performance values for GTV, unless otherwise stated
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
s 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...
manufacturer 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...
from 1995 to 2006.
The GTV is a 2+2 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...
, and the Spider is a two-seater cabriolet version of the GTV. The rear seats on the GTV could be optionally deleted to increase the small boot space. The Spider has no rear seats and a small boot.
Known by the internal Alfa Romeo designation 916, the GTV and Spider were launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1995. The GTV's name placed it as the successor to the long-discontinued Alfetta GTV
Alfa Romeo Alfetta
Alfa Romeo GTV redirects here. For 916 series GTV see Alfa Romeo GTV & SpiderThe Alfa Romeo Alfetta is an Italian rear-wheel drive executive saloon car and fastback coupé produced from 1972 until 1987 by Alfa Romeo...
coupe, whereas the Spider was effectively the replacement for the then 30 year-old Giulia Spider
Alfa Romeo Spider
The Alfa Romeo Spider is a roadster produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo from 1966 to 1993 . Widely regarded as a design classic, it remained in production for almost three decades with only minor aesthetic and mechanical changes...
.
Design
Both cars were designed by PininfarinaPininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
. and the last series were assembled by Pininfarina after the closing of the Arese factory.
The car was produced in three distinct phases. It is a typical Italian design, with the Alfa Romeo grille with dual round headlights, recalling the 1750 GTV
Alfa Romeo 1750
The Alfa Romeo 1750/2000 is a medium-priced range of cars presented in 1967 by Alfa Romeo.The 1750 Berlina sedan was introduced in 1967, together with the 1750 GTV coupe and 2000 Spider. The 1750 models replaced the earlier 2600 Berlina, Sprint and Spider at the top of the Alfa Romeo range...
of the late 1960s and 1970s. It is low-slug, wedge-shaped with a low nose and high kicked up tail. The back of the car is "cut-off" with a "Kamm tail"
Kammback
A Kammback is a car body style that derives from the research of the German aerodynamicist Wunibald Kamm in the 1930s. The design calls for a body with smooth contours that continues to a tail that is abruptly cut off. This shape reduces the drag of the vehicle."Kammback" is an American term...
giving improved aerodynamics. The Spider shares these traits with the GTV except that the rear is rounded. The Spider featured a folding soft-top with five hoop frame, which completely disappears from sight under a flush fitting cover. An electric folding mechanism is fitted on later versions. As would be expected, the GTV has a much more rigid chassis, although considerable work was done on the Spider to reduce the traditional convertible problem of scuttle shake
Scuttle shake
Scuttle shake is the term used for the phenomenon experienced in many convertible or open top automobiles where, due to lower structural rigidity caused by the lack of a roof, the middle section of the chassis flexes, causing the bulkhead in front of the passenger compartment to move and vibrate...
.
Wheels are 15 inch perforated light alloy as standard, 16 inch teardrop wheels with 205/50 tyres were part of the Lusso option package, along with Momo leather seats and air conditioning. A factory option of 17 inch teledial wheels with 225/45 tyres was popular , as are aftermarket 18 inch wheels with even wider 235/35 or 235/40 tyres . Another popular modification is lowered and uprated road springs to reduce body roll when cornering , making the TS cars corner very flatly, even at higher speeds. The phase 1 cars had a black plastic grille in the nose of the bonnet, without the normal chrome edging. A popular modification is to fit a phase 2 grille which has a chrome border and wire mesh centre.
The Lusso has become a separate model rather than an option pack on the phase 2 cars and the standard car was renamed the "Turismo". All V6 cars were of Lusso specification. Very few Turismos were sold in the UK.
A spacesaver spare wheel was supplied, and there was a no-cost option of an aerosol can of tyre repair sealant. This was a popular option as it increased the usable size of the very small boot.
Characteristics
The Spider and GTV were based on the then-current Fiat Group platform, called Tipo (Italian for 'type') 2, in this case a heavily modified version with an all new multilink rear suspension which allowed passive rear steering to help reduce understeer. The front suspension, engine, gearbox and drive was based on the 1992 - launched 155 saloon. For engines, the 1.8 16V (144 PS) and 2.0 16v Twin Spark (150 PS) were available along with a turbochargedTurbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
2.0 V6 12V that produced 202 PS or a 3.0 V6 in either 12 (192 PS) or 24 valves (220 PS) and finally a 3.2 V6 24 valve.
The 2.0 V6, called V6 TB, was developed because of an Italian law that put an extra sales tax on cars with engines larger than two litres. It is basically a sleeved-down version of the three litre V6. The turbo was added for extra power while avoiding the tax.
When new the 3.0 V6 24V was the fastest production Alfa Romeo with a top speed of 149 mi/h. The 3.2 V6 24V GTV 240 PS is currently fastest Stradale Alfa Romeo (introduced on the 2003 GTVs), capable of 0-60 mph in just over six seconds and a top speed of 158 mi/h.
The 2.0 16v Twin Spark engine gives up to 35 mpgimp.It has variable inlet cam timing, giving 25 degrees of variation to improve torque and give a more linear power delivery. The TS engine has a belt driven balance shaft to improve the smoothness of the engine. The TS was the best-selling version of the GTV in the UK.
The last restyle of the GTV in 2003 also introduced the 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:...
(165 PS) engine, which uses direct injection, in a similar way to a diesel engine. This engine uses only one spark plug per cylinder and has a variable-length inlet manifold to improve torque at low revs.
To save weight the bonnet was made from a composite material called KMC (composed of poliester and fiberglass, and using epoxi adhesives also), while front wings were made in PUR plastic. At the time, the bonnet was the largest single composite moulding on a production car. When the bonnet is opened, two rectangular Hella headlamps are revealed with separate bulbs for dip and main beam, behind the four round holes in the bonnet.
The 916 was equipped as standard with power steering, twin airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, Bosch ABS, electric heated door mirrors, electric frameless windows with one-touch operation for the driver's side, height adjustable headlamps, front foglamps, reach and rake adjustable leather clad steering wheel, stitched leather gear knob, an automatic electric aerial,a Clarion face-off stereo with six speakers and central locking.
An alarm system and immobiliser was fitted with remote locking/unlocking. The bodyshell was galvanised with full plastic wheelarch liners and is therefore rustproof.
The only additional options were the Lusso pack, metallic paint and electric sunroof.
Details included a one-piece rear lamp/foglamp/indicator strip across the rear of the body, internal electric release for the bootlid and filler flap, the minor instruments in the centre console angled towards the driver. At its launch, many journalists commented that Alfa had improved overall build quality considerably and that it came very close to equalling its German rivals. The fuel tank has a capacity of 70 l (18 US gal; 15 imp gal). The battery, CD autochanger and fuel tank are located in the boot, and the tank is ahead of the rear axle line, behind the rear seats for increased safety. The power assisted steering has a very high ratio, giving 2.2 turns lock-to-lock. The bonnet and bootlid are supported on nitrogen filled struts.
Criticisms of the model have been that it is hard to park due to its large turning circle and low seating position, which mean that the end of the bonnet and corners are outside the driver's line of sight. The doors are very long and need plenty of space in a car park, and the boot is very small at only 3.8 cubic foot (0.1076040186 m³), made worse if the spacesaver wheel is included. There are also commonly electrical problems. Contrary to rumors in well maintained cars there are relatively few mechanical problems.
The top of the range (3.0 and 3.2 litre) versions have three mufflers and four catalytic converters installed at the factory on the CF3 engine and onwards (2001-), which result in a somewhat muted sound. Common aftermarket alterations to the exhaust system are straight pipe replacements for some of the mufflers (usually leaving only a single or double muffler), twin tailpipes (which require modifications to the rear bumper), stainless steel systems and replacing the standard cats with race cats or even cat replacement pipes (on the CF3 these replacement pipes do not give lambda engine light warnings). Additional modifications include the popular air filter replacement by BMC CDA, fitting GTA cams, etc. Modifications such as these completely change the sound produced by the Arese V6 and are said by some to rival the engine note of Italian V8 engines.
1998/2003 facelifts
The Spider and GTV were revamped in 1998 (phase 2) and are recognisable by the addition of a chrome rim around the Alfa shield in the bonnet, and colour-coded side skirts and bumpers on the base models. The interior was also re-designed with the most noticeable difference being that the centre console was now silver alloy-look with round air vents. A six-speed gearbox was made available as an option for the 3.0 24V. A second, more comprehensive facelift (phase 3) was unveiled at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show. The most notable difference was the restyling of the front end to include a much deeper 147Alfa 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....
-style grille, the frontplate-holder moving from the centre to the left and a change of the colour of the interior instrumentation lighting from green to red.
The GTV ended production in 2005 on the launch of the 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...
, while the Spider lasted another year until the launch of its Brera-based successor.
The 916 GTV and Spider are considered by some to be the last Alfas that are true to Alfa Romeo heritage in terms of design and engine note. The successor models (159, Brera, Spider) have a higher ride height and larger chassis, and the V6 models use engines made by GM rather than being made by Alfa Romeo.
Engines
| Model | Engine | Volume | Power | Torque | 0–100 km/h,s 0-62 mph,s |
Top speed | Years | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 TS | 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.... |
1,747 cc | 106 kW (144 PS) @6500 rpm | 169 newton metre @3500 rpm | 9.2 | 210 km/h (130.5 mph) | 1998–2000 | |
| 2.0 TS | 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.... |
1,970 cc | 114 kW (155 PS) @6400 rpm | 187 newton metre @3500 rpm | 8.4 | 216 km/h (134.2 mph) | 1998–2000 | |
| 2.0 TS | 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.... |
1,970 cc | 110 kW (150 PS) @6200 rpm | 186 newton metre @4000 rpm | 8.4 | 216 km/h (134.2 mph) | 1995-1997/2001- | Euro2/Euro3 |
| 2.0 JTS | 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.... |
1,970 cc | 121 kW (165 PS) @6400 rpm | 206 newton metre @3250 rpm | 8.4 | 220 km/h (136.7 mph) | 2003–2006 | Euro 4 |
| 2.0 V6 TB | V6 | 1,996 cc | 148 kW (202 PS) +overboost @6000 rpm |
285 newton metre @2400 rpm | 7.0 | 240 km/h (149.1 mph) | 1995–1998/2001 | Euro2 |
| 3.0 V6 12V | V6 | 2,959 cc | 141 kW (192 PS) @5600 rpm | 260 newton metre @4400 rpm | 7.3 | 225 km/h (139.8 mph) | 1995–1998 | Euro2 Spider |
| 3.0 V6 24V | V6 | 2,959 cc | 162 kW (220 PS) @6300 rpm | 270 newton metre @5000 rpm | 6.7 | 240 km/h (149.1 mph) | 1997–1998 | Euro2 |
| 3.0 V6 24V | V6 | 2,959 cc | 160 kW (218 PS) @6300 rpm | 265 newton metre @5000 rpm | 6.8 | 248 km/h (154.1 mph)aerokit | 1998–2003 | Euro3 |
| 3.2 V6 24V | V6 | 3,179 cc | 176 kW (240 PS) @6200 rpm | 289 newton metre @4800 rpm | 6.3 | 255 km/h (158.4 mph) | 2003–2006 | Euro3 |