2003 Alfa Romeo GT

The Alfa Romeo GT, a new sports coupé derived from the Alfa Romeo 156 and indisputable star of the recent Geneva and Frankfurt Motor Shows, is due to go on sale at the end of the year. The model, designed by the Bertone Style Centre, will be appreciated for its original, pleasing styling that promises all the satisfaction of a sporty drive with full respect for brand traditions. The Alfa Romeo GT also succeeds in packing the results of Alfa’s superlative engineering heritage into a shape inspired by a sense of style and flair that could only be Italian. The stylists were also able to call on a great Alfa Romeo tradition that has brought us models that remain benchmarks for the category: from the 1900 SS to the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint, from the Alfetta to the Giulia Sprint.

With a length of 4.48 metres, width of 1.76 metres and a height of 1.37 metres, the Alfa Romeo GT Coupé is aggressive and compact (its wheelbase is 2596 millimetres), with a shape marked by certain distinctive traits that define its strong personality and render it immediately recognisable as an Alfa. Hence the designers’ decision to go for smooth, clean motifs and shapes marked by an unmistakable sense of Italian flair. The result is a strong, spare front end dominated by an Alfa Romeo family resemblance encapsulated by the distinctive three-lobed motif bearing a shield that is slightly larger in size than at present. The entire car appears to grow from this point to combine a slight edge of styling aggression with outstanding elegance of form. This impression is reinforced by two side air intakes and light clusters that are objects of beauty in their own right.

Dashing and solid but also dynamic and sturdy. It took a clever balancing act to wed such disparate features. This contrast is evident in the Alfa Romeo GT’s profile where a side shelf unmistakably conveys the idea of a car that is agile but also anchored to the ground. And more.

The taut lines that meet at the rear and the small area of glass (compared to the large expanse of metal at the side) add elegance and also sturdiness.

The slightly raked and tapering tail design is brand new and paired with large, integral bumpers. The rear window is drop-shaped, while the light clusters are embedded in the body to create an attractive wraparound look.

The Alfa Romeo GT represents a brand new concept in sportiness, where comfort and elegance combine. The aim of the car is to offer all the driving satisfaction of a top-performing coupé without ever compromising over comfort and practicality, as often happens with this type of car. Suffice it to say that the luggage compartment offers a capacity of 320 dm3, one of the best results for this segment.

Like the exterior shape, the interior of the Alfa Romeo GT is as sporty as Alfa Romeos get. The steering wheel, pedals and gearbox, for example, are designed for maximum vehicle control. The instruments are also functional and easy to read, even at night. Red lighting is used as this is easier for the eyes to focus on as they adjust from the dark road to the bright dashboard. A multifunction display gives access to several menus (each with their own submenus) that speak the motorist’s language and provide access to a large range of functions plus the trip computer.

The centre of the Alfa Romeo GT facia also houses a built-in radio and all the controls for the sophisticated-looking automatic dual zone climate control system. The radio, complemented by a CD player (or an MP3 player as an option), also offers outstanding sound quality and was designed and built for the passenger compartment. It consists of eight speakers and delivers a power output of 4×40 Watts. The Alfa Romeo GT adds a host of sophisticated devices and systems to this equipment array that make it a new benchmark in its segment.