Alfa Romeo GTA is back. After more than five decades, the legendary Gran Turismo Alleggerita badge has returned on the most extreme version of the current Giulia, producing 540 hp from a twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 and available in two configurations: the road-registered GTA and the track-focused, harness-equipped GTAm. Only 500 units will be produced across both variants combined.
What the Original GTA Was
The original Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA debuted in 1965. The Giulia itself had been revealed in 1963, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Bertone with a fastback roofline and a dual-overhead-cam four-cylinder engine that punched well above its displacement. The GTA, which stands for Gran Turismo Alleggerita (meaning lightened grand tourer), was the racing version: Plexiglas windows, aluminium body panels, and a drilled-out interior stripped to the essentials. It went on to win the European Touring Car Championship multiple times in the late 1960s. For Alfa Romeo, GTA was not a trim level; it was a philosophy.
The 2020 Giulia GTA: How Alfa Romeo Rebuilt the Legend
The new GTA is built on the Giulia Quadrifoglio platform, already one of the most driver-focused four-door saloons on sale. Alfa Romeo worked with Sauber Engineering, its Formula 1 technical partner, to develop a comprehensive aero package including a new front splitter, rear diffuser, and an available rear wing. The collaboration with Sauber also informed the suspension recalibration and the widened front and rear tracks, which give the GTA a visual stance that makes the standard Quadrifoglio look understated.
The 2.9-litre bi-turbo V6 is reworked with new connecting rods, piston oil jets, and enhanced cooling to reach 540 hp in the GTAm configuration. A carbon fibre driveshaft, carbon bonnet, carbon roof, and carbon front and rear arch inserts contribute to a 100 kg reduction in kerb weight versus the Quadrifoglio. The side and rear glass is replaced with Lexan polycarbonate, the same material used in motorsport.
GTAm: The Track-Ready Variant
The GTAm strips the car further. The rear seats are removed entirely, replaced by a structural harness bar and roll hoop. Carbon-backed front bucket seats with six-point harnesses are standard. The side windows are full Lexan. A rear wing generates meaningful downforce on circuit. The GTAm is road-legal in most markets but it is clearly designed to be used on track.
Each GTAm buyer receives a custom Bell racing helmet, an Alpinestars race suit, and access to a dedicated driving course run by the Alfa Romeo Driving Academy. It is a complete package rather than simply a car purchase, an acknowledgement that driving a 540 hp rear-drive saloon with a roll cage and six-point harnesses requires preparation.
For a full technical breakdown of the GTAm's specifications, Autoevolution's Giulia GTA specification guide covers the powertrain, aero, and weight data in detail. Romans International's complete Giulia GTAm buyer's guide is also an authoritative resource on what differentiates the two variants.
Production and Availability
Alfa Romeo confirmed a combined production run of 500 units across GTA and GTAm. Deliveries began in 2021. The rarity, the racing provenance, and the direct lineage to one of the most celebrated competition saloons of the 1960s make both variants collector pieces from the moment of purchase. The GTA name has not appeared on a road car since 1975, making the return significant for the brand and for Italian automotive culture more broadly.
Explore More at TheArsenale
For those drawn to the intersection of racing heritage and road-car performance, TheArsenale curates the finest examples across both categories. Browse the cars collection for hypercars, restomods, and limited-edition performance vehicles, or explore the Formula 1 memorabilia collection including race-worn suits, helmets, and signed pieces from the drivers who shaped the sport. For a direct piece of Alfa Romeo heritage, the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale poster by Colors of Speed captures the brand's most iconic era on a single canvas.
