Alfa Romeo has been rather busy lately, announcing a schedule to refresh its entire lineup by 2022. One of those announcements was the return of the famous GTV nameplate, in what will essentially be a 4-seat Giulia coupe on steroids aimed to take on the BMW 4-Series and Audi A5 coupes.
Luckily for us, Alfa Romeo’s parent company FCA Group revealed a few snippets of information, including an estimated power output and teaser image. So let’s take an illustrated closer look at the Italian automaker’s newest cloverleaf offering.
Seductive Italian Design
If you think the Giulia sedan is impressive, wait until you feast your eyes on the GTV. Think of it as expressive visual emotion, with sultry proportions and an impressive axle to dash ratio (that’s designer talk for the part between the front wheel and the cowl). Its sculptured body hugs the road with powerful rear haunches and short overhangs.
Also Read: Alfa Romeo’s 2018-2022 Product Plans
Compared to the Giulia, it also features tri-daylight running LED headlamps, larger front intakes, a longer hood, deeper side scallops and a smooth, almost Hofmeister-kink-styled C-pillar.
A Giulia-sourced interior
Since it’s based on Alfa Romeo’s sports sedan, we expect the GTV to share the same basic interior, albeit in a strictly four-seat layout. That’s not to say there won’t be changes, because by the time the coupe comes to the limelight, the Giulia will have received its first major facelift (or perhaps even replaced by a newer model if Alfa delays the GTV introduction…). Either way, they will have to improve some lower quality materials and switch gear found in both the Giulia and the Stelvio SUV if they want to win buyers over Audi and BMW.
2016-2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan interior
What’s Under The Hood?
As with its sedan sibling and competing coupes, the GTV will offer buyers a selection of powertrains. Lower end models are expected to share the Giulia’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline lump with at least 280 horsepower and rear- and all-wheel drive configurations. It remains to be seen if diesels will make the cut by the time it enters production, while Alfa is likely to introduce a powertrain to close the gap between the base and Quadrifoglio models.
Ferrari-Inspired Power At The Top
As part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles five-year strategy, a major push is on electrifying all models under the corporation’s umbrella. For the GTV, this means hybrid power combined with a turbocharged V6 that will place it well above the current Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio in regards to performance, as the duo uses a 505hp 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6.
Alfa’s current Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio share a 505hp 2.9L V6 turbo
A Ferrari-inspired E-boost system aims to offer zero turbo lag, enabling quicker access to all 600 horses (447 kW). Power will be channeled to the tarmac via a ZF-sourced eight-speed auto and a torque vectoring all-wheel drive system.
Another Nurburgring Record?
Alfa Romeo test driver Fabio Francia posted an astonishing 7.32 minute time around the Nurburgring back in 2016 with the Giulia QV, which was gobsmackingly faster than some Lamborghini and Mercedes offerings.
With a 50/50 weight distribution, adaptive damping, aluminum weight savings and all-wheel drive, odds are that the GTV will smash that record again.
Performance Alternatives
As mentioned, base models will go after the Audi A5, Lexus RC, BMW 4-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe and their like.
In Quadrifolgio trim, the Gran Turismo Veloce will battle against some seriously competitive powerhouses; one of them is the German trio, which includes BMW’s M4, Audi RS5 and Mercedes-Benz C63 Coupe.
Other rivals are Detroit’s Cadillac ATS-V Coupe, Japan’s Lexus RC F and Infiniti Q60 Red Sport.
Launch Timing
As per FCA’s five-year schedule, we’d expect a launch date closer to 2021, with sales starting soon after.
What are your thoughts on GTV’s return? Share your views in the comments below.
