We’ve come across some exquisite restomods lately, but Autombili Totem’s carbon fiber-bodied, battery-powered reinterpretation of Alfa Romeo’s classic Giulia coupe set the bar sky high at the start of the year.
But now the 518 hp, $500,000 GTelectric retro EV has some serious competition in the form of an ICE-powered sibling. Called the Totem GT Super, it trades the electric motor for a 612-hp twin-turbo V6.
The engine is lifted from the Giulia GTA sedan and is available in several states of tune above the donor car’s 533 hp. Information on Totem’s website is sparse, but based on info from Pledge Times, we understand the Super produces 552 hp in standard form, 567 hp in stage 2 spec, and 612 hp in its most extreme Stage 3 guise. Power reaches the rear wheels through a ZF automatic gearbox.
The GTelectric is claimed to hit 62 mph in 2.9 seconds with the help of its launch control system, but we hear the ICE version needs 3.2 seconds. Why, when both are rear-wheel drive? Peak torque in the electric car is 693 lb-ft, which is available instantly. In the modern day Giulia GTA sedan, the 533 hp-spec V6 makes 443 lb-ft, and while Totem’s tinkering lifts that to 582 lb-ft in its hottest iteration, the EV still out-muscles it.
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But the ICE-powered version is apparently 331 lbs (150 kg) lighter, weighing in at 2513 lbs (1140 kg), which should make it the more agile car to drive. It will definitely be the more musical. The GTelectric has a sound generator which you can hear on Totem’s website, but it’s like something from a 25 year old console racing game. Alfa’s twin-turbo V6 might not be as tuneful as an old Busso V6, but it certainly has nothing to fear in that department.
Totem says that powertrain aside, the GT Super shares almost everything with its EV brother. That means it is based around an original Alfa 1300/1600 GT Junior coupe, to which Totem adds chassis strengthening, new billet aluminum double wishbone suspension all round, and those carbon fiber body panels.
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Inside and out, you get the same blend of old and new styling cues, plus the option of replacing the stunning nine-pad carbon buckets with less visually impressive, but probably more comfortable, road-oriented sports seats. As for the Super name, that’s a nod to the Giulia Ti Super of the 1960s.
Totem is building 20 of each car, but where they do differ is on price. The GTelectric is priced at €430,000 ($503,000), while the GT Super will set you back €460,000 ($538,000). And if you’re shopping for a Giulia restomod, you might also want to consider the Alfaholics GTA-R 290. Which would you rather have?