Alfa Romeo GTV and Spider
The Alfa Romeo GTV is a sports coupe Alfa Romeo. The first generation was built from the beginning of 1974 based on the Alfa Romeo Alfetta, the second model was introduced in the spring of 1994 along with the new Alfa Romeo Spider after a long break and built by the end of 2005.
- 2.1 engines
Alfetta GT / GTV (1974-1986)
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV (1974-1980)
The first series of sport coupes based on the eleven inches shorter in wheelbase platform of the Alfetta sedan and was introduced in early 1974. Your independent body was designed by Giorgio Giugiaro, used with the Alfa Romeo at this time a close working relationship. Giugiaro wanted the original body design of the Alfetta GT realize numerous ideas that were unusual for that time.
The combination of an extremely flat and low front with a voluminous tail should on the one hand serve the aerodynamics, offered the other hand also space for four people and a relatively lush boot. The originally planned design of the front headlights with teilabgedeckten along the lines of the Alfa Montreal was rejected for cost reasons in the development stage. Due to changes in licensing requirements for American altitude of headlights these were relatively late in development still increased, which led to the unusual design with the pulled-down between the lamp units bonnet.
In the further course of development, it turned out that many other ideas Giugiaro could not be implemented. The originally planned rear-end design with a between luminaires strongly retracted sheet settled in this form simply do not produce and had to be changed. The originally planned, novel and nowadays the most common placement of the windshield wipers in a gap between the hood and windshield was rejected because the developers at Alfa Romeo had concerns about the function in snow in this gap. The realized then open mounting the wiper has a long very annoyed Giugiaro. (Realized even flatter than then ) The envisaged, extremely flat salaried windshield was steeper in the course of development, because in the flat disk appeared strong optical distortion and the surface of the dashboard reflected so intense that the driver is a very poor forward visibility had. In this modification also, the lateral bulging of the disc has been greatly reduced so as to reduce optical distortion, which in turn resulted in poor flow around the A-pillar and in an unsatisfactory flow of air along the body sides. Also had to be fitted with a flow deflector at the base of the windshield an unusually designed seal, otherwise the wipers would have had no contact with the wheel at very low speeds. In wind tunnel tests, it also turned out that the design of the to guide the air flow between the lowered roof rails tailgate was completely pointless with integrated spoiler, because the door was not there in the air stream. In addition, at the front had small half spoiler mounted to reduce the strong buoyancy of the front end and to ensure an adequate flow of cooling air. Overall, the aerodynamic quality of the Alfetta GT was relatively poor because many ideas turned out to be ineffective. Thus, the body had only a comparatively poor drag coefficient of 0.38.
Models
From the beginning of 1974 until the autumn of 1980, the coupe in the versions Alfetta GT ( 1974-1975 ), Alfetta GT 1.6 ( 1976-1980 ), Alfetta GT 1.8 ( 1975-1976 ) and in the strongest version as Alfetta GTV were 2000 ( 1976 to 1980 ) built. The performance of the 4- cylinder engines was depending on the version 79-96 kW (108 and 131 hp). In very small quantities, it was also a 2- liter turbocharged version with 110 kW ( 150 hp). From 1975 to 1978, right-hand drive models for countries were assembled with left-hand traffic.
In the fall of 1980, the GTV received a basic facelift (bumpers, spoilers and side panels made of plastic, new instrument panel, etc.). There were two models: the GTV 6 with the 2.5-liter V -6 engine and 116 kW ( 158 hp) ( 1980-1986 ) and continues to the GTV 2000 ( 1980-1985 ). The prefix " Alfetta " disappeared from it 's name suggests.
The GTV has a De Dion rear axle. The motor is at the front, but the clutch and the transmission are connected to the differential of the rear axle in a common casing ( transaxle ). Result, the vehicle has a relatively uniform weight distribution. The different types GTV are the last sports coupe with rear-wheel drive, which were produced by Alfa Romeo in large series.
The rear facing drive train of the Alfetta was always the weakest point of these vehicles. On the one hand forcing the gear lying behind a long shift linkage, which led to an extraordinarily bad circuit with long paths and imprecise handling due to poor leadership. On the other hand, the transmission itself was prone to wear and not heavy-duty. This was evident in sport inserts and uprated variants which always revealed problems with the durability of the transmission. That was also the reason that later no larger motors are installed as the 2.5-liter V6 - the transmission had not coped simply more power, and a new transmission would have been too expensive.
In the development of the powertrain Alfa Romeo had big problems with high frequency vibration from the drive shaft, which transmitted to the gear first. Only in collaboration with Pirelli could Guibo special couplings are developed, which decoupled the shaft and the gearbox vibration technology. This flexible coupling elements are a weak point of the Alfetta, because they are relatively rapid wear and replace only consuming. Nevertheless, one should resist the temptation to replace this joint discs by universal joints. The transmitted by metal joints on the gearbox vibrations would destroy the gears in the gearbox in no time.
However, the partially defective workmanship of the vehicle and its strong susceptibility to corrosion (up to 1983) provided a short life span.
To his production time between the beginning of 1974 and the spring of 1986, the GTV was in his home country Italy to the familiar streets, and in other countries it was also sold well. In addition, of the various types were also almost always U.S. versions.
The Alfetta GT but it never reached the numbers of conceptually very similar direct competitor Porsche 924
The supposed benefits of the Alfetta compared to the 924 by the sporty engine, five-speed transmission and the elaborate suspension instead of a modified van engine, a four-speed gearbox and a chassis from a VW parts smorgasbord stepped back against the disadvantages in the handling and practicality in the buyers point of view.
The interior with four seats and the voluminous trunk were obviously not the criteria by which customers bought a sports coupe.
The lack facelift at the miserable build quality, strong corrosion and in the press always intensely criticized poor handling of the gear prevented sustained sales success of this model.
Versions with eight-cylinder engines
Autodelta
Alfa Romeo Motorsport department Autodelta introduced from 1974 forth some specific for the rallying versions of the GT, which were mostly seriennah. They reached 1975 total victories at the Rallye Elba and the Rally Costa Brava.
1975 developed by Autodelta Alfetta GT then two, which were equipped with an eight-cylinder marine engine which made 257 kW (350 hp). With it, the Alfetta was the direct competitor of the Lancia Stratos. Autodelta reported the vehicle for Amilcare Ballestrieri Rally di Piacenza in the fall of 1975., Where the Alfetta ran personal bests, but resigned prematurely, after the near-series gearbox had suffered a defect. In early 1976 was followed by several other missions of the eight-cylinder Alfetta with Jean -Claude Andruet. Then the project was canceled because Alfa Romeo did not consider itself in a position to realize the demanded by the FIA Homologationsserie of 400 copies.
The Reiff Coupe
After the failure of the factory eight-cylinder project the company Delta car technology in Düren 1977 equipped on behalf of the Aachen Alfa dealer Reiff a Alfetta GT with the eight-cylinder engine of the Alfa Romeo Montreal. The engine delivered 147 kW ( 200 hp ), the maximum speed amounted to 230 km / h and 100 km / h were reached after 7.5 seconds. Reiff introduced the eight-cylinder Coupé at the IAA 1977 in Frankfurt publicly before. The purchase price was reported as $ 50,000, later it was reduced to 40,000 DM. Reiff was planning a series of 100 copies. However, they did not materialize. This was due in addition to the high selling price mainly technical difficulties, because the standard drive technology was not up to the high performance of the engine. In addition, in 1977 ended the production of Montreal engines. Today it is believed that no more than three Reiff coupe emerged, of which only one exists.
Special
The Alfa Romeo GTV is now a sought- Young- and Oldtimer and is considered by his fans as one of the last old-school sports coupé. These vehicles were shaped by their own characteristics, which today would be classified as poor quality and would make a vehicle in today's time not for sale.
Thus, the Alfetta GT or GTV had the 4-cylinder versions due to his two twin carburettors, although an appropriate performance, but the cold start put an untrained driver of certain difficulties. The engine has started successfully, the Inexperienced outed when engaging first gear, which could not be in the state without gear noise from the fast -wearing gear insert directly at the latest. For the experienced " alfista " it was a matter of course, the stick shift to move easily in the stand with the engine running after kicking the clutch first towards the second pass in order then to push for further getretenem pedal the gear lever into first.
Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV ( U.S. version )
Alfa Romeo GTV (1980-1986)
Zagato Zeta 6
Based on the Alfetta GTV6 the Milanese coachbuilder Zagato developed at the beginning of the 1980s, the Zagato Zeta 6, a two-door notchback coupe with stresses rounded body. The vehicle was designed by Giuseppe Mittino presented to the public at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1983. Series production was initially thought, but due to economic difficulties Alfa Romeos ultimately did not materialize. Zagato put forth two roadworthy copies of Zeta 6, still exist (2012 ). A third body shell was built, the vehicle but not completed.
GTV (1994-2005)
Alfa Romeo GTV (1994-1998)
In March 1994, the new GTV was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show.
The internally designated as the class 916 parallel models GTV and Spider were based on the platform of the Fiat Tipo. In order to reduce development and production costs, many components were taken from other models of the Fiat group. The front axle with the most directly translated steering ( 2.2 turns lock to lock ) shared the 916 with the last series of the Alfa 155 In addition, care was taken to keep as many parts as possible in both the GTV and Spider in identical to reduce costs. However, it was found at a very late stage of the project the development of road tests with the production-ready vehicle, that the vehicle behavior with the Coupé Fiat identical, directly inherited from Fiat Tipo rear axle the demands of an Alfa Romeo was not fair. Therefore, a very complicated multi-link suspension has been developed which has been attached to an aluminum support, in turn able to be screwed to the same attachment points as the previous axle with the vehicle body. This aluminum support was prepared in a then revolutionary in vehicle, previously used only in aviation, casting process in a vacuum. This method was later in other Alfa Romeo cars further use, for example in the Vorderachslenkern the models 147, 156, 166 and GT. In addition, the very large hood and fender sections were made behind the wheel wells in a KMC -called injection molding process from Kevlar-carbon fiber composite and polyester, which combined low tooling cost with high stiffness and high manufacturing precision. The targeted selling price of the vehicle was always higher through this elaborate detail solutions, which is why the originally intended, designed by Pininfarina interior with a painted dashboard was similarly rejected as the Fiat Coupe and redrawn. However, many parts of the new interior came from the Fiat Punto, resulting in a price range and the claim of the vehicles did not result justice to perceived quality of the interior.
Alfa Romeo was initially expects to sell more than 20,000 copies of the series each year, so the production was located at its factory in Arese and not at Pininfarina, whose production capacity have had it not been sufficient. The actual offset numbers, however, were significantly below this planning (there were in all production years combined only around 80,000 vehicles produced ), so after a few years of production at Alfa Romeo themselves and approximately 64,000 vehicles produced the entire production were relocated to Pininfarina, which then approximately the last 16,000 copies were made .
The transversely mounted engine of identical down to the rear area with the Spider GTV was available in six versions with displacements 1800-3200 cc. The most powerful 3.2- liter V6 24V engine with 176 kW ( 240 hp) accelerates the GTV 916 in 6.3 seconds from 0 to 100 km / h
The 1.8 -liter and 2.0 - liter engines were four-cylinder engines from the Fiat modular system with cast iron blocks. Only the cylinder heads were made of aluminum alloy and came from Alfa with the years related Twinspark technology (2 spark plugs per cylinder ). The engine of 2.0 T.Spark with 16 valves initially made 110 kW ( 150 hp ), the power of this engine was increased in 1998 with conversion of the emission standard of Euro 2 on D3 to 114 kW ( 155 hp).
At the same time held with the facelift in autumn 1998 on the German market, the 1.8 T. Spark with 144 hp way into the engine range. This, as its 2.0 T.Spark from the models 145/146 and 155 known engine, the offer should round down. But lack of demand it disappeared in 2000 from the sales literature. At the same time the performance of the 2.0 T.Spark reduced due to the emission conversion to Euro 3 again to 110 kW ( 150 hp).
In ranked as the most ' Arese V6 ' designated ( by the Alfa- production facility ) six-cylinder engines. They still had the classic wet liners for the pistons. They existed as a 2.0-liter (12 valves) with turbocharging and 148 kW (202 hp), as 3.0 liters (24 valves) with 160-162 kW ( 218-220 hp) and in the final stage with three, 2 liters ( 24 valves ) with 176 kW (240 hp).
Over time, some measures were taken to facelift. So were in the autumn of 1998 the dashboard a aluminum look and the Scudetto a slight chrome trim. In 2000, production of the Alfa Romeo plant in Arese was moved to Pininfarina in Turin.
The built in spring 2003 models can be seen on the new front. They were adapted to the current Alfa Romeo appearance and wear a chrome grill. Inside was by adjusting the seat rails allows for a lower seating position.
The end of 2005 the production was discontinued. Successor was the Alfa Romeo Brera.
The vehicles of the series 916 reported on their whole construction on some serious flaws that prevented a greater success in the market permanently.
These vehicles were somewhat limited in their practicality, as both versions only had a small trunk, which after the elimination of the Reservernotrads and its replacement by puncture spray only had insufficient proportions. Both variants had door handles that by icing access to the vehicle often made impossible in cold weather because froze the operation buttons. They were joined during the building work poor build quality with very ill-fitting interior parts, for example, at the transition from the dash to the doors, squeaking and rattling noises, water leaks through the frameless door windows and frequent defects on electrical components such as the windshield wiper motor, the Tankklappenentriegelung and the electric sunroof. These deficiencies were always criticized in all test reports and never really stopped, even if the processing of the products manufactured by Pininfarina specimens was much better than the manufactured at Alfa Romeo itself. Although Alfa Romeo introduced in 1997, a large recall of the previously manufactured vehicles through, at the very large number of components ( wiper motor, shock absorbers and steering of the rear axle, exhaust system components and many others ) have been replaced, but do not eliminate the fundamental flaws could. So the vehicles in this series were ultimately their breathtaking depending on your personal viewpoint styling, its excellent road holding and the always acclaimed six-cylinder engines as the only arguments for a purchase.
Especially in a direct comparison with the very similar scale Audi TT, the poor quality and the high susceptibility fell on particularly reliable and prevented a greater market success. Here, history repeated itself the Alfetta GT / GTV, the direct comparison with the Porsche 924/944 was also recorded especially emotional factors as selling points, but in a practical comparison and in daily use enormous weaknesses revealed and therefore ultimately failed in the market.