Thursday 3rd May 2007

405bhp Alfa GT!

Autodelta supercharge their GT

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405bhp for this Alfa GT

Autodelta, the London-based Alfa Romeo tuning house, is using the Spring Italian car day at the Brooklands museum in Surrey to launch its most potent conversion yet. And Concorde will be there too.

The supercharged Autodelta GT 3.7 Super pushes the Alfa V6 engine and chassis package to even more extreme performance levels -- achieved without compromising practicality and drivability' according to the firm. Now that's a bold claim when you're quoting a power output of 405bhp through the front wheels. Yes, we did say 405bhp.

The standard 3.2-litre engine's capacity is increased to 3.7 litres, and a space-efficient Rotrex C38-81 centrifugal supercharger does the rest. The result is that maximum power figure of 405bhp and an equally useful 375lb-ft of torque.

This GT-based car follows Autodelta's previous attempts with the 320bhp GT 3.2 Super (2004) and the 341bhp GT 3.2 Super Evo version (2005).

Will the front wheels be able to cope?

The Autodelta range at Brooklands will also feature a varied and interesting selection of its current products. Heading the list is its new 348bhp supercharged Autodelta Brera J5 3.2 C conversion. Previewed last autumn, the Brera J5 3.2 C was put into production earlier this spring, and Autodelta reports demand for this potent conversion programme has already far exceeded expectations.

We're not surprised: the standard Brera V6 is badly hampered by its hefty kerb weight, and yet with four wheel drive it can clearly handle plenty of extra power.

This model will be joined at the event by the Autodelta GT 3.2 Super, 147 GTA AM 3.2 Super and 147 GTA AM 3.7 Super. Finally the supercharged Autodelta 146 2.0, which recently won the 'Chairman's Choice' award at the Alfa Romeo Owners' Club Spring Day, will complete the line-up.

The event takes place this Saturday, 5 May, and features a host of attractions and activities including the chance to drive on the newly-opened Mercedes-Benz World test track. This new feature will complement the long running and highly popular runs up the historic Brooklands "Test Hill" where classic Ferrari V12s and high revving Abarths compete on the short 1 in 4 sprint.

The combination of car demonstrations, club displays, aviation exhibits (including Concorde) and motoring exhibitions, and of course the Italian trade village makes this a great family day out. Also -- and special for this year -- will be a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Fiat 500.

www.autodelta.co.uk

www.auto-italia.co.uk

www.brooklandsmuseum.co.uk

[runnersp]

Cue rampant, torquesteer and understeer... 405bhp and FWD???

[alfanatic]

Hope it handles better than my 430bhp 147 on GT4

[Vodka Margarine]

I can't see getting 10k miles out the front tires to be honest.

Still a good looking car and it's an Alfa, which means it's got passion.

[e39M52003]

No way can that be driveable, makes a lot more sense to be modding a 4WD model like the Brera!

400bhp from my M5 via the rear wheels is handful enough with DSC off.....

Edited by e39M52003 on Thursday 3rd May 12:12

[stephen300o]

PLEASE make a rear drive alfa.

[bob1179]

I reckon it will be a hoot!

I'd love a go in it.

[jamieboy]

bob1179 said:

I reckon it will be a hoot!

I'd love a go in it.

Definitely.

[900T-R]

e39M52003 said:

No way can that be driveable, makes a lot more sense to be modding a 4WD model like the Brera!

400bhp from my M5 via the rear wheels is handful enough with DSC off.....

Edited by e39M52003 on Thursday 3rd May 12:12

But the Brera suffers from being grossly overweight, in part due to those AWD gubbins...

[burtjp]

stephen300o said:

PLEASE make a rear drive alfa.

exactly - that's the main thing that lets them down from the driving passion point of view

[alfanatic]

burtjp said:

stephen300o said:

PLEASE make a rear drive alfa.

exactly - that's the main thing that lets them down from the driving passion point of view

I agree with that sentiment. Fortunately, there are signs that Alfa realises this:
The 8C is rear wheel drive (limited run only though), but it's a start. More significantly, I believe that the 166 replacement is planned with RWD too. With luck, this will filter down to the 159 replacement, and if that happens, the coupes and spiders might follow! I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[jamieboy]

alfanatic said:

More significantly, I believe that the 166 replacement is planned with RWD too. With luck, this will filter down to the 159 replacement, and if that happens, the coupes and spiders might follow! I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Cross your fingers, but I wouldn't hold your breath! I read that the Brera GTA might be launching in 2009* at the same time as the facelifted and lightened Brera/Spider/159. So if the 159 facelift is 2009, then I'd guess the 159 replacement would be a couple of years after that.


*not sure if that's 2009 calendar year, or 2009 model year.

Edited by jamieboy on Thursday 3rd May 12:27

[off_again]

Its going to be bonkers to drive, but my god its going to be a nightmare to keep on the black stuff....

200BHP and FWD is starting push the designers a little - some can do it, some cant - Ford and Saab?
250BHP - ah, starting to make compromises now - Volvo with the T5!
300BHP - not really going to happen is it? - even Volvo went 4WD with the R models
400BHP - Mmm, double what the mainstreams get away with? Cant see tyres lasting 6k miles!!!

Mind you, its going to go like a rocket, which is a good thing

[pwig]

There are no plans for a Brera GTA.


However there is something special in the pipeline for it

[jamieboy]

pwig said:

There are no plans for a Brera GTA.

Fair enough - the chap I heard it from is normally spot on with this type of information, so I guess we'll see whether you or he is better informed.

[sprinter885]

Note to self: Watch out for one of these coming towards me round a bend or roundabout........in fact even in a straight line with that much bhp via front wheels. Wide berth warning !

[cathalm]

Autodelta can absolutely make this work, if you doubt it you should look up reviews of the supercharged 147, there's a clarkson review of it on the Times website and various others around including EVO. I have an alfa that's no stranger to autodeltas workshop myself and can vouch unreservadly for their work. It's all in their LSD and suspension work I believe...

[Andy_sx]

bob1179 said:

I reckon it will be a hoot!

I'd love a go in it.

your not the only one there

i will be at brooklands on Sat anyway so ill make sure i spend plenty of time at the autodelta stand making plans for bank robberies and other such sillyness to afford one

[rimmer]

thatd be amazing just think how long the number 11s would be that it could leave. fab car.

[wedgepilot]

cathalm said:

It's all in their LSD and suspension work I believe...

Absolutely. There are plenty of 400+ bhp Saab 9000's around (modded obviously), and that's with 20 year old technology.

[jwyatt]

I would expect this to be a lot better than the doubters would think.

The 156-based cars all have double wishbone front suspension strong on traction and short on torquesteer as standard. The GT has the wider GTA-style track/steering/redesigned suspension, and throw some decent dampers, suspension settings, and a good LSD at it and the result should be very tidy.

I know someone that runs a 156GTA that is visually standard but has the same 3.7 conversion and supercharger as the car above, plus Autodelta coilover kit, LSD, etc. See a track vid from him here - it's a twisty Irish track not really suited to a powerful heavy car, but watch the number of Elise variants and modern 911's he overtakes - and he is the first to admit he's no racing driver:

http://videos.streetfire.net/vide...e