Is This Italian Tease Coming to North America?
With Alfa Romeo expected to grace our North American shores sometime in the not too distant future, that is if parent company Fiat ever becomes profitable enough to make the investment to do so, it's once again time to investigate what we're currently missing, and what could eventually become a very enticing alternative to Japanese, German and domestic brands.
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| Simply moving, the GT Coupe is Alfa's sporty 156-based 2-door hardtop. (Photo: Alfa Romeo) |
The Italian brand's latest GT is initially a confusing model in a rather clear Alfa Romeo lineup. Though the name is simple - at its root is the high-performance GTA and the gorgeous GTV Coupe - its purpose seems to be a contradiction. Alfa already has a two-door sports car, and for that matter, it was just given a facelift midway through 2003. When you zoom back, however, and consider the new car as a whole instead of just the sum of its parts, the GT makes perfect sense. This is a larger, more practical automobile with plenty of cabin space and luggage room.
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| The GT coupe is practical, while serving up Alfa Romeo's distinctive personality and flair. (Photo: Alfa Romeo) |
Its newer origins will also prove to be on its side in comparison to the bug-eyed and aging GTV. This is a car for the modern day sports enthusiast. Time and time again, traditional sports cars require their owners to sacrifice pragmatic needs for style and performance. How practical is a Boxster when the need arises to carry along a third passenger? Where do you put that new Ikea coffee table in a TT; the trunk?
Such situations are no problem for the new GT, while serving up Alfa Romeo's distinctive personality and flair. The target is simple. The popular BMW 3-Series coupe, Mercedes-Benz CLK, as well as the less popular but equally beautiful Pininfarina-bodied Peugeot 406 Coupe, is each in the GT Coupe's crosshairs. Intentions are not focused on the lower Hyundai Tiburon or Toyota Celica.