Muscat: To follow the test session of the Giulia GTA and GTAm last autumn, the Finnish world champion was back a few days ago at the Balocco Proving Ground to personally assess the work done on the most successful sports sedan ever produced by the Italian brand. His words leave no doubt in the mind: “I really like it. We are looking for a car that can be used in everyday life, but can also be taken to the track, a car that you can really have fun in.

Kimi Räikkönen analyzed the changes made to the car, especially in terms of aerodynamics. He had already worked on this aspect during the first session, giving valuable advice on the new appendages added both to the front – the new adjustable splitter integrated into the new front bumper – and to the rear – the added new manually adjustable wing. More general changes have also been made to the overall balance guaranteed by the interaction of these new components with the extractor and the underbody fairing. Kimi’s judgment? “Of course it’s better at high speed in terms of balance. It looks like the front of the car is lower, which makes steering quicker. It’s fast, easy to drive and responsive. Once he takes off his racing suit and is away from the spotlight, Kimi Räikkönen takes over the role of the father by taking his children to school. He therefore believes that the Giulia GTA represents the ideal mix for everyday use and on the circuit.

The loop is therefore completed in a development process, where the pilots have lent their skills to the Alfa Romeo engineering team. This process began last October with a first test session, focused on the specific solutions adopted in terms of aerodynamics and handling.

Highlighting the vehicle’s features, Hatem El-Naggar, Managing Director of Dhofar Automotive, said: “The Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA is an addition to the ‘Wild’ version of the GTAm, and is inspired by the Giulia GTA launched in 1965. , one of the automotive legends who achieved a remarkable feat in the history of the brand. Embodying a genuine return to the brand’s roots and a return to the realms of performance and touring cars, the new Giulia GTA is the embodiment of elegance, mechanical control and driving pleasure. The car stands out for its aesthetic and practical characteristics at the same time, which affirms that it is not only an application of the attractive Italian style but also a performance car derived from the exceptional Giulia Quadrifoglio. The car benefits from a 100kg weight reduction over the Giulia Quadrifoglio and features an updated version of the Alfa Romeo 2.9 twin-turbo six-cylinder engine, which now produces 540hp with a optimal power/weight. ratio of 187 hp per litre. The car also offers incredible performance with the Launch Mode system, which accelerates from zero to 100 km in just 3.6 seconds.

Alfa Romeo entrusts Sauber Engineering with the production of most of the carbon fiber components of the GTA and GTAm, in particular those which affect aerodynamics. These include the new front bumper, side skirts, extractor, GTA spoiler and GTAm aerowing. Thanks to its manually adjustable front and rear wings, the Giulia GTAm can adapt its aerodynamic performance to any type of track or road, precisely following the demands and preferences of its driver. Aerodynamic research in the wind tunnel was not limited to the wing appendages, it also focused on the underbody, entirely streamlined as on the Giulia Quadrifoglio. The GTA and GTAm also benefit from a new special air extractor capable of increasing the ground effect of the car, thus guaranteeing excellent handling at high speeds. In particular, on the Giulia GTAm, the most intense aerodynamic configuration raises double the pressure of the Giulia GTA, triple compared to the Giulia Quadrifoglio, the previous benchmark in its segment. Superb statistics that testify to the great achievements resulting from the collaboration between Alfa Romeo and Sauber technicians.

In the Sultanate, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Fiat, Ram, Alfa Romeo models are available in Dhofar Automotive showrooms with different classes of equipment. For more information, visit www.dhofarautomotive.com or call +96824500530.