Totem GT inspired by Giulia GTA launched as EV with V6
Following the success of the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA-inspired GT Electric Restomod, Italy's Totem Automobili is back with a gas-powered version of its homage to Alfa Romeo's iconic homologation special.
Known as the GT Super, the gas-powered model was unveiled Thursday ahead of its official debut at the 2023 Salon Privée in the UK, which begins August 30.
Calling the Totem cars restomods does not do them justice. Each starts out as an original Alfa Romeo Giulia GT Junior 1300 or 1600 built in the early 1970s, but only about 10% of the donor cars remain.
The modifications begin by disassembling the donor car, leaving only the bulkhead, which Totem merges with a carbon fiber monocoque for the passenger cell. The body is also made of carbon fiber, which increases strength and rigidity while reducing weight. According to Totem, the body meets the latest E.U. and U.S. safety standards.
Steel subframes are mounted front and rear, and aluminum is used for the double wishbone suspension at each end. Wheels are 18-inch aluminum sets with Pirelli P Zero or Trofeo R tires, and Brembo brakes with four-piston fixed calipers front and rear.
In exterior design, Totem did not simply copy the lines of the Giulia GTA, but made subtle changes: the GT Super now has four headlights instead of the original's two, the C-pillar design was tweaked, and the Alfa Romeo badge now has the original bar was gone. Totem also redesigned the rear of the car to improve aerodynamics, creating a flat floor with rear air extractors to generate downforce.
The powertrain is a dry-sump lubricated 2.8-liter V-6 twin turbo, a donor unit Totem tweaked for GT Super. It delivers a thrilling 600 hp in the standard version and 750 hp in the optional version. Transmission is a six-speed manual mounted on the rear axle for better weight distribution.
Maximum performance is 0-62 mph in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph, which is comparable to the performance of electric cars with the latest specifications of 0-62 mph in 2.9 seconds. For the electric car version, Totem estimates that the battery will be upgraded from the previous 50.4 kwh to 81 kwh, giving it a range of over 250 miles
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In both cases, the drive is rear wheel only.
Like the body and chassis, the interior blends modernity with classic themes. The physical controls and analog gauges remain, but some digital elements and modern carbon fiber bucket seats based on the original Giulia GT design are added. Totem will mold the driver's seat to fit each customer. Pedals will also be matched to the customer's shoe size.
"With the Totem GT, we will keep the design and the original aesthetic, but the end result will be a new car," said former Honda and Alfa Romeo designer Riccardo Quaggio, who founded Totem in 2018." The entire project is built on a constant research process of engineering solutions, allowing us to overcome the mechanisms and structures of the original GT and establish new standards that have never been achieved before."
Totem has not announced pricing, but the company had priced the GT Electric from €430,000 ($470,000) when it was first unveiled in 2020. The order book is open for both models. According to Totem, the cars will be certified worldwide and come with a two-year manufacturer's warranty.
