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Kimi Räikkönen Gives The New 2021 Alfa Romeo GTA & GTAm, His Blessing:

Alfa's Hottest Sedan Gets Approval From Former F1 Champion...

Last year, Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi, from the Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN F1 team took part in a day of testing of the new Alfa Romeo super sports sedans, the Giulia GTA and GTAmThe testing took place on the famous Balocco Proving Grounds, where all Alfa Romeo sports cars have undergone development since the 1960s. The test secession allowed the F1 drivers to push the cars to their limit and provide real-time feedback. 

The 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm Testing at Balocco in October. (Alfa Romeo).

Since then, Alfa Romeo engineers have fine-tuned both high-performance variants to the point where the cars are now really to be delivered to those who pre-ordered the limited number of cars. This week, former F1 champion Räikkönen was back to the Balocco Proving Grounds to personally evaluate the work performed by the engineering team since his last visit. 

Kimi Räikkönen with the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm. (Alfa Romeo).

“I really like it,” Kimi said. “We’re looking at a car that can be used on an everyday basis, but that can also be taken onto the track, one in which you can really enjoy yourself.”

Räikkönen analyzed the changes made to the car specifically in terms of aerodynamics, an area in which he gave input to engineers back in October. It was then that Kimi provided advice on the new adjustable splitter built into the new front bumper and to the new rear manually adjustable wing. More changes were also made to the overall balance of the car, thanks to the new components and other performance bits like a new extractor and underbody fairing. 

Kimi Räikkönen with the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm. (Alfa Romeo).

“Of course, it’s better at high speeds in terms of balance. It seems the front of the car is lower, making the steering faster. It’s fast, easy to drive, and responsive,” Räikkönen stated. When Kimi isn’t on the track, he plays the role of a responsible parent, taking his children to school. Therefore, he believes that the Giulia GTA represents the ideal mix for use every day and on the track.

2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm in Montreal Green. (Alfa Romeo).

Alfa Romeo entrusted Sauber Engineering with the production of most of the carbon fiber components for both the GTA and GTAm, especially those that affect the aerodynamics of the car. That included the new front bumper, side skirts, extractor, GTA spoiler, and GTAm aero-wing. Courtesy of its manually adjustable front and rear wings, the Giulia GTAm can adapt its aerodynamic performance to any kind of track or road, precisely following the requests and preferences of its driver. The aerodynamic research in the wind tunnel was not limited to the wing appendages, it also focused on the underbody, fully faired as in the Giulia Quadrifoglio. 

2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm in Montreal Green. (Alfa Romeo).

The GTA and GTAm also benefit from a special new air extractor capable of increasing the car’s ground effect, thus guaranteeing excellent road holding at high speeds. In particular, on the Giulia GTAm, the most intense aerodynamic configuration mounts double the pressure of the Giulia GTA, triple compared to the Giulia Quadrifoglio, the previous benchmark in its segment. 

2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm in Montreal Green. (Alfa Romeo).

Under the hoods of the GTA and GTAm, the aluminum 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 returns and gets a 30 horsepower boost to 540 horsepower for GTA duty. Alfa Romeo engineers also worked with Akrapovič (maker of the new titanium exhaust) to give the GTA its own distinctive sound. With a weight reduction of 221 pounds (100 kilograms) compared to the standard Giulia Quadrifoglio and the horsepower boost from its tuned motor, the GTA can hit 62 mph (or 100 kph) in just 3.6-seconds. 

Kimi Räikkönen with the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm. (Alfa Romeo).

Being a limited edition model, Alfa Romeo has created a wide range of customizations aimed to make the GTA and GTA a unique purchase experience for the owner. This includes a Bell racing helmet with a special GTA livery that can be customized with the serial number, a specific Goodwool car cover, and dedicated customer services. The more aggressive GTAm model will also come with a full Alpinestar line of racing appeal. For the Italian market, the Giulia GTA starts at €175,000 (or about $211,335 USD), while the GTAm starts at €180,000 (or about $217,372 USD). Both prices include 22% value-added tax (VAT).

Robert S. Miller

Robert S. Miller is a diehard Mopar enthusiast who lives and breathes all that is Mopar. The Michigander is not only the Editor for MoparInsiders.com, 5thGenRams.com, and HDRams.com but an automotive photographer. He is an avid fan of offshore powerboat racing, which he travels the country to take part in.

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Its a sharp car, too bad there is only 500 being built

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Enjoy it while Pepe LeCheapskate still allows cars with passion to still be made. I think we are entering in a similar situation that happen under Daimler. Cost saving above car making. Styling exercises and programming defining the character between brands. Appliances not cars.

Hate to be Debbie downer, but as more news trickles out on the brand product planning this seems to be coming clear. We are in the golden age of ICE cars similar to pre 73', get one and cherish it.

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Enjoy it while Pepe LeCheapskate still allows cars with passion to still be made. I think we are entering in a similar situation that happen under Daimler. Cost saving above car making. Styling exercises and programming defining the character between brands. Appliances not cars.

Hate to be Debbie downer, but as more news trickles out on the brand product planning this seems to be coming clear. We are in the golden age of ICE cars similar to pre 73', get one and cherish it.

There is no evidence what so ever that Stellantis has plans to squelch performance vehicles or eliminate that culture in their brands. To the contrary, the success of the merger hinges on brand culture and identity. In my opinion the Giulia is a bland car in most renditions. The front is aggressive and immediately identifiable as an Alfa Romeo, but the side, it’s overall look just disappoints. It is up to each brand to execute its own theme and culture. There in lies it’s destiny and not with Pepe LeCheapskate.

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There is no evidence what so ever that Stellantis has plans to squelch performance vehicles or eliminate that culture in their brands. To the contrary, the success of the merger hinges on brand culture and identity. In my opinion the Giulia is a bland car in most renditions. The front is aggressive and immediately identifiable as an Alfa Romeo, but the side, it’s overall look just disappoints. It is up to each brand to execute its own theme and culture. There in lies it’s destiny and not with Pepe LeCheapskate.

Well Giulia is one the best looking cars in profile on the planets so Not sure where your styling fetish lies but apparently different then people I know. Not sure you understand my comment, and your post seems to confirm that. STYLING is not the only thing that gives character, and if that is the distinction between models the company has become Appliance manufacture. One need to look deeply into Pepe's brand strategy and you will find that what defines vehicles character especially in character driven brands is being planned out.

If one thinks raw performance and styling is what makes a Alfa a Alfa then one profoundly has not spent time in one or studied its history.

I see no evidence that individual brands will have freedom to add character at all beyond programming and styling, to the point it is being bragged about. Codewords "synergy, cost savings, Scale"

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There is no evidence what so ever that Stellantis has plans to squelch performance vehicles or eliminate that culture in their brands. To the contrary, the success of the merger hinges on brand culture and identity. In my opinion the Giulia is a bland car in most renditions. The front is aggressive and immediately identifiable as an Alfa Romeo, but the side, it’s overall look just disappoints. It is up to each brand to execute its own theme and culture. There in lies it’s destiny and not with Pepe LeCheapskate.

Well Giulia is one the best looking cars in profile on the planets so Not sure where your styling fetish lies but apparently different then people I know. Not sure you understand my comment, and your post seems to confirm that. STYLING is not the only thing that gives character, and if that is the distinction between models the company has become Appliance manufacture. One need to look deeply into Pepe's brand strategy and you will find that what defines vehicles character especially in character driven brands is being planned out.

If one thinks raw performance and styling is what makes a Alfa a Alfa then one profoundly has not spent time in one or studied its history.

I see no evidence that individual brands will have freedom to add character at all beyond programming and styling, to the point it is being bragged about. Codewords "synergy, cost savings, Scale"

Not to belabor the point but differences in styling tastes is not a fetish and synergy, cost savings and scale is sound business practice that sets parameters but does not eliminate how a brand functions within those parameters. As to the appliance argument, that is also voided by the strong brand support at the core of the corporate plan. One platform, many interpretations and executions. You know that and so does Pepe. Perhaps it is time to take another dive into the facts and that includes a reflective look as to giving space to differing opinions without insult.

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