Alfa Romeo international tuning and design house Autodelta, has chosen the 2003 Geneva Motor Show (6-16 March) to showcase its latest model, Autodelta’s interpretation of the powerful Alfa Romeo 156 GTA sports saloon.
Designed by London-based Creativestudio (Autodelta’s own in-house styling and manufacturing centre), this special version of the highly acclaimed Alfa Romeo 156 GTA enhances the model’s inherent sporty character through clever use of original features, whilst at the same time absorbing and re-interpreting modern design cues from Giugiaro’s concept car, the Brera.
"A close co-operation between Alfa Romeo and Giugiaro looks very likely in the future" says Autodelta owner and Managing Director Jano Djelalian. "Our design division has simply been receptive to ideas which may signal the shape of things to come, and incorporated them in its own creation, which is Autodelta’s answer to a call for bolder, more aggressive styling from those who believe that the current Alfa 156 GTA may look slightly too understated".
As a result, the model’s front air vent with central strut has gone, to be replaced by a full-width mesh grille, divided into three sections by two separate pillars and including the two fog lamps either side, which had to be kept in their original position because of the need to force copious quantities of air into the engine bay to cool the big 3.2 litre engine. This lends Autodelta’s GTA a lean and muscular look, despite leaving untouched its unmistakable Alfa Romeo identity.
The rear bumper has also been given dramatic lift by more voluptuous lines, to do away with the Alfa’s ‘boxy’ back.
In tradition with other Autodelta models in the range, all more powerful versions of existing Alfa Romeos, imminent changes to its GTA’s drivetrain will increase the engine capacity and output, thus creating a truly high-performance machine.
As an international event, the Geneva Motor Show was deemed a perfectly suitable venue to launch Autodelta’s latest effort, which joins a remarkable model line-up, including the J10-Evo Spider and GTV, the J11 156 saloon, and – more recently – the J12 147 hatchback.
Autodelta, in fact, has business interests and links both in European countries (such as the UK, Germany, Greece and Switzerland) and Japan, Taiwan and Costa Rica.
"Having a Swiss importer, FM Evoluzione, has given Autodelta the perfect opportunity to present its newest product in an international environment, gaining exposure in both its home market, the UK, and abroad, where Autodelta’s business is also thriving" adds Jano Djelalian.
Autodelta’s 156 GTA is on stand 7214, where an Alfa 147 GTA Evo (Autodelta agent FM Evolution’s own styling exercise) is also on display.
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