110 TH ANNIVERSARY

contents
3 Welcome: 110th Anniversary 32 Giulia: A Star Is Born
5 The Origins 35 Autodelta
6 The First Car 39 New Segments
7 A Time for Exploration 43 A New Company
9 The Iconic Logo 45 Car of The Year
11 Alfa Meets Romeo 48 8C Competizione
12 The Post-War I Era 50 The Centenary
14 The Quadrifoglio Symbol 53 2020
17 Early Racing Victories 58 A Glimpse at The Future
19 From 6 to 8 60 My Favorite Alfa Romeo Cars

By Ralph Gilles

21 The “Monoposto” Is Born

66 Most Signifcant Performance Cars
23 Between Two Wars
By Lorenzo Ardizio

25 Formula 1 Wins 70 Logo Evolution

28 The Expansion 71 Trefoil: A Design Trademark
Alfa Romeo Celebrates
110th Anniversary

Alfa Romeo’s 110-year history, which began on June 24, 1910,

in Milan, Italy, is an achievement matched by very few auto-
makers. It is an enduring automotive love story, fueled by a
passion for design, technological innovation, performance
and racing victories worldwide.

Celebrating those 11 illustrious decades means leafing

through some of the most important pages in automotive
history… and in a very distinctive way. Alfa Romeo’s histo-
ry has never been written in a perfect linear fashion, but in
real-life episodes and moments shaped by the names, the
visions and the many historic circumstances that trans-
formed Alfa Romeo into the brand that it is today. Below is
a summary of some of the key episodes, the vehicles and
the people who have made their mark on the brand’s history.
Inspired by its illustrious past and a set of ingrained brand
values – performance, design, technology – Alfa Romeo now
moves forward with a vision, energy and commitment that
will enhance its legacy for the next 110 years.
The Origins
Alfa Romeo was officially established in Milan, Italy,
on June 24, 1910. That year, a group of entrepreneurs
and businessmen acquired Società Italiana Automobili
Darracq, the Italian branch of the French car maker, and
its Portello workshops on the city outskirts, and estab-
lished A.L.F.A. (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili
– “Lombard Automobile Factory, Public Company”).
 24 HP (1910)

The First Car

The newly formed company wanted to develop
a completely new, original model. To do that,
A.L.F.A hired ­Giuseppe Merosi, a top-class
engineer, who specialized in racing engines and
worked for some of the most advanced com-
panies at the time, including Edoardo B ­ ianchi.
Under Merosi’s leadership, the company devel- Giuseppe Merosi
oped the 24 HP, which today could be described as a sports driving the 24 HP
model.
sedan. The vehicle offered a 4.1-liter engine that delivered
42 hp and reached a maximum speed of 62 mph (100 kph),
which at the time was a considerable speed. During the
first year a total of 50 units were sold and the vehicle was
enrolled in the 1911 Targa Florio competition, where it led
for most of the race until an off-road excursion ended its
day. At this time endurance races were the venue in which
performance and reliability of new vehicles were tested.
A Time for Exploration
The early 20th century was a great time for inventors
and entrepreneurs to push the boundaries of cars but
also aircraft developments, and A.L.F.A was no exception.
While the 24 HP car was being developed, two A.L.F.A.
technicians – Antonio Santoni and Nino Franchini – got
permission to use a 24 HP
engine as a powerplant to a
prototype aircraft that was
built at the Portello factory.
The biplane used a structure
made out of bicycle tubes.
On September 17, 1910, Nino
Franchini took off for the
first time from Piazza d’Armi.
While the airplane didn’t have
a commercial future, it proved
the reliability and capability
of the first A.L.F.A. engine.

Nino Franchini
and the “Biplano”
(1910).
 A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP “Aerodinamica”

The exploration on how to improve aerodynamics of

the newly created automotive industry also took place.
While cars still resembled horse-and-carriage design, a
few visionaries started to dream about more extreme
and aerodynamic shapes. The 40-60 HP “Aerodinamica”
was commissioned by Count Marco Ricotti of Milan and
built by Carrozzeria Castagna, based on an Alfa 40-60 HP
vehicle. The “Aerodinamica” was built entirely of metal,
was completely enclosed and had circular windows. The
vehicle achieved a top speed of 86 mph (139 kph).

A Time for Exploration

The Iconic Logo
While vehicle experimentation continued, the idea for
the Alfa Romeo logo was born at a tram stop in Milan.
Romano Cattaneo, one of A.L.F.A.’s designers, was in Piaz-
za Castello waiting for tram number 14. While looking at
the iconic Filarete Tower, Cattaneo’s eye was caught by
the “Biscione Visconteo,” the coat of arms of the Visconti
family, which had dominated medieval Milan.
 Merosi liked the idea and after developing different
versions, the two friends decided that the most convinc-
ing one showed the Biscione dragon on one side and the
emblem of the City of Milan, a red cross on a white back-
ground, on the other.

The new logo combined the two heraldic crests on which

was written in gold ALFA above and MILANO below,
separated by two Savoy knots, to honor the royal fami-
ly. This logo was prepared and ready in time for vehicle
production. While its basic design remained intact until
today, throughout the years it was updated to reflect the
most important changes within the brand.

The Iconic Logo

 Nicola Romeo
(1876-1938) –at
center– was an
Italian engineer and
entrepreneur.

Alfa Meets Romeo

By 1913, the company was producing 200 cars, and the
A.L.F.A 24 HP was establishing a reputation of perfor-
mance, technology and quality. By 1915 the company
had 2,500 employees and produced different series of
the 24HP, 15 HP and 40/60 HP. However, at the onset of
World War I, the banks that owned the company’s debt
entrusted it a young entrepreneur from Naples named
Nicola Romeo.

During World War I the company produced military equip-

ment. The Portello plant was expanded and converted
to war production. The plant made engine compressors,
ammunition and aircraft engines. Only in 1919, after the
war had ended, did car production resume, initially with
the assembly of parts in stock, then with the design of new
models. It was the beginning of a new era. The Company’s
name was officially changed to Alfa Romeo and the logo
was updated accordingly. The lettering was also modified The first Alfa Romeo logo.

to make it more linear.

 RL Targa Florio (1923)

The Post-War I Era

The Alfa Romeo RL, developed by Merosi, started pro-
duction in 1922, becoming the first Alfa Romeo sport
model after World War I. The vehicle had a straight-6 en-
gine with overhead valves. Many versions of the RL were
developed – Normale, Turismo, Sport and Super Sport –
and the model experienced great international success: RL Super Sport (1925)

one unit was bought by an Indian Maharaja and another

was driven by the brother of the Japanese Emperor.

To continue to build the brand, Nicola Romeo was keen

to participate in racing. As a result, a race version of the
RL was developed. The RL “Corsa”, renamed Targa Florio
after the 1923 victory, was much lighter than the original RL (1922-1927)

model and offered innovations such as double carbure-

tors. The brand also assembled a team of great drivers.
The first factory racing team included Ugo Sivocci, Gi-
useppe Campari, Antonio Ascari and a name that made its
mark in the annals of automotive history: Enzo Ferrari.
 Enzo Ferrari at the
Targa Florio 1920
driving the Alfa
Romeo 40-60 HP
Racing Type.

Enzo Ferrari and

Nicola Romeo.

The Post-War I Era

The Quadrifoglio Symbol:
More Than Luck
While many stories circulate about the origin of the four-leaf
clover (quadrifoglio in Italian) that adorned Alfa Romeo’s
racing and high-performance models even until today, the
true turn of events came in 1923. In view of the XIV edition of
the Targa Florio, Alfa Romeo decided not to leave anything to
chance: the team prepared a specific “Corsa” (racing) version
of the new RL, Giuseppe Merosi’s masterpiece. The “three-li-
ter” was made lighter, shorter and more powerful. The best
drivers of the time were summoned: Antonio Ascari, Giuseppe
Campari, Giulio Masetti, Enzo Ferrari and Ugo Sivocci. The lat-
ter two were behind the wheel of a more aggressive version
of the car, with a displacement boosted to 3,154 cc and 95 HP.

But having great vehicles and the best drivers to win races are
not enough: you also need a bit of luck. With this in mind, added
to an ill-concealed superstition, the company decided to paint
a lucky charm on the hoods of its cars: a green four-leaf clover.
 Vincenzo Florio himself described the legendary race with
moving – and at times – incredible words which described a
fascinating and still heroic period in motorsports:
“…the crowd’s excitement to see the winner arrive was at
the peak of intensity, and right then Ascari’s car appeared
among the hills. At the curve of the station in Cerda, Ascari’s
Alfa stopped dead, and together with the mechanic, the driver
struggled to rummage in that tangle of contraptions to bring
the engine back to life. Some dramatic minutes went by and
several mechanics ran to the rescue. Finally, the car started,
but cut through the finish line with four more people on board.
The racing commissioners did not consider the arrival valid
in those conditions, and forced Ascari to go back. Since he
was unable to find his own mechanic, he grabbed a spectator
who had snuck into the refueling area to look around, threw
him into the mechanic’s seat, took off again, went back to the
spot where he had stopped, and once again cut through the
finish line. But by then some minutes had passed, and Ascari
lost his victory because, in the meantime, Sivocci raced in and
snatched the first place away from him.”

Ugo Sivocci
driving the
RL TF.

The Quadrifoglio Symbol: More Than Luck

 Victory went to Ugo Sivocci, who was immediately fol-
lowed by his teammate Ascari. Sivocci’s car displayed the
green four-leaf clover on a white diamond-shaped back-
ground. Ascari’s quadrifoglio was painted on a triangular
background. Masetti’s RL came in fourth place. This was a
great victory for the brand and transformed the Quadri-
foglio into an actual logo distinguishing all Alfa Romeo
racing vehicles.

Original
Quadrifoglio
Emblem.

Current
Quadrifoglio
Emblem.

For more images about the early Quadrifoglio models visit:

http://www.media.fcaemea.com/em-en/gallery/1439
Video: https://youtu.be/NqrmXNOEQa0

The Quadrifoglio Symbol: More Than Luck

Early Racing Victories
In the meantime, Romeo had replaced Alfa Chief En-
gineer Giuseppe Merosi with Vittorio Jano, who joined
the company in 1923, partly thanks to the persuasion of
young Alfa racing driver Enzo Ferrari. Jano’s debut model
was the Alfa Romeo Grand Prix Tipo P2, which was pow-
ered by Alfa’s first straight 8-cylinder supercharged en-
gine with two carburetors placed after the compressor.

Vittorio Jano

GP Tipo P2 (1925-1930)

GP Tipo P2 (1924)
 6C 1500 Super Sport (1928)

The Alfa Romeo P2 won the inaugural Automobile World

Championship in 1925. The P2 won 14 Grands Prix and
major races including the Targa Florio and became one
of the iconic Grand Prix cars of the decade. Jano’s engi-
neering trademarks were small and efficient engines,
balanced weight distribution and lightweight, precise on-
road handling. These values remain at the core of today’s
Alfa Romeo.

The P2 was followed by the Alfa Romeo 6C, in refer- 6C 1500 Sport (1928-1929)

ence to the straight 6-cylinder engine. The 6C 1500 was

launched in 1928 followed by the more powerful 6C 1750,
which had a top speed of 95 mph (152 kph) and a chassis
designed to flex and undulate over uneven surfaces. The
6C won multiple races in 1929, including Grands Prix of
Belgium, Spain, Monza and the Mille Miglia. Most of the
cars were sold as rolling chassis and bodied by coach- 6C 1750 (1930)

builders such as Zagato and Touring Superleggera. The

6C became an industry milestone in the early ‘30s, win-
ning races and concours d’elegance alike.

Early Racing Victories

 From 6 to 8
Jano was also responsible for the legendary 8C straight
8-cylinder engine with supercharger. This was the primary
racing engine from its introduction in 1931 to its retire-
ment in 1939, and marked with multiple race victories Alfa
Romeo’s range of road, race and sports cars of the 1930s.
The 8C was a true ”hypercar,” winning the most prestigious
races of the time while showcasing state-of-the-art tech-
nology and design: it was looking at an 8C 2900 that Henry
Ford said, “When I see an Alfa Romeo go by, I tip my hat.”

8C 2300 Le Mans (1931)

 8C 2300 (1931-1934)

8C 2900 Le Mans (1938)

From 6 to 8
 The “Monoposto” Is Born
Alfa Romeo developed a new straight-8 engine to be
used in the world’s first genuine single-seat Grand Prix
racing car. Engine reliability was undisputed and the
names of famous drivers such as Giuseppe Campari,
Tazio Nuvolari and Achille Varzi became synonymous
with Alfa Romeo, winning many legendary races such as
Mille Miglia, Le Mans 24 Hours, Targa Florio and a long
list of international Grands Prix. In addition, the valuable
technical lessons learned from racing were transferred
to standard production models.

8C 2300 Monza

Tipo B Aerodinamica (1934)

Tipo B - P3 (1932)
 One vehicle that was quite experimental and certainly
captured a lot of attention was the Alfa Romeo Bimo-
tore. Designed by Luigi Bazzi for Scuderia Ferrari, the
vehicle used the Alfa Romeo Tipo B as a starting point,
and a second 8-cylinder engine was added behind the
driver replacing the fuel tank, which was moved to the
sides of the body. The vehicle was extremely powerful
but difficult to handle. Only two units were produced
and while the vehicles didn’t achieve racing success, with
Tazio Nuvolari behind the wheel the vehicle reached a
top speed of 209 mph (337 kph).

Bimotore (1935)

The “Monoposto” Is Born

 Between Two Wars
The worldwide recession that followed the Wall
Street Crash of 1929 had repercussions for
Alfa’s expansion: the company was taken over in
1933 by the State. Ugo Gobbato was appointed
Managing Director. In 1935, the company was
militarised and the whole racing team was
entrusted to the Scuderia Ferrari. It is from this time that
many legendary Alfa Romeo cars came about, including the
6C 2300, 6C 2500, 8C 2300 and 8C 2900. Under Ferrari’s
management, Alfa Romeo won more races than any other
manufacturer in 1934. In 1939 the first stone was laid for the
new factory in Pomigliano d’Arco, near Naples, devoted to
aeronautical production.

The outbreak of World War II, however, quashed the com-

pany’s ambitious plans. As with most Italian industries, Alfa
converted to war production and its plants were bombed
by the Allies. The Portello plant ceased operations entirely
following damage sustained on October 20, 1944.
Work resumed the following April after the peace treaty
was signed. The 6C 2500 was the first post-war vehicle
built by Alfa Romeo and the version Freccia d’Oro (Gold-
en Arrow) was fully developed by an internal Alfa Romeo
department. Produced at the Portello plant in 1947, the
vehicle featured design cues that would become distinc-
tive milestones such as the union of the central shield
with the two lateral air intakes.

6C 2500 Freccia d’Oro (1947)

Rita
Hayworth
behind the
wheel of
6C 2500 Villa d’Este the 6C 2500
Super Sport.

Between Two Wars

 Alfa Romeo 158

Formula 1 Wins
In 1950, the new Formula 1 World Championship was
inaugurated, and for the Tipo 158 – known as “Alfetta” – it
meant 11 victories in 11 races, with Giuseppe “Nino” Farina
winning the title. The next year Juan Manuel Fangio won
the title in the Tipo 159, a 425-hp race car capable of a
top speed of 190 mph (306 kph), thanks to the most pow-
erful 1500 engine ever made. These victories cemented
Alfa Romeo’s reputation as a force to be reckoned with in
the world of racing.

Video: https://youtu.be/ThZPWwVmxXA
 Nino Farina in the
Alfa Romeo 158
at the Silverstone
Grand Prix (1950).

Tipo 159 Alfetta (1951)

Formula 1 Wins
 Despite dominating the circuit, Alfa Romeo needed to
concentrate its efforts on re-launching production cars,
and decided to withdraw from racing, undefeated. The
1900 made its debut on the market, as the first Alfa
Romeo car made on an assembly line and produced
without a separate chassis. Introduced at the 1950 Par-
is Motor Show, it was the first Alfa Romeo offered
with left-hand drive and was labelled as “the family
sedan that wins races.”

1900 Berlina
(1950-1958)

1900 SS (1954)

Formula 1 Wins
 Alfa Romeo
1900 C52 “Disco
Volante” Coupé
prototype The Expansion
(1952)
While Alfa Romeo retired from Grand Prix racing, the
company developed a series of experimental sports rac-
ing cars: The Alfa Romeo 1900 C52 “Disco Volante” (Ital-
ian for “Flying Saucer”). The car had a streamlined, wind
tunnel-tested bodywork and was capable of reaching a
speed of almost 150 mph (241 kph). Three spiders were
made in 1952, with a 2-liter all-alloy four-cylinder engine;
a year later one was modified into a coupé, and another
one into a more conventional-looking spider with 3-liter
6-cylinder engine. Four of the five futuristic looking cars
built in total survive today.
 Alfa Romeo
1900 C52
“Disco Volante”
Prototype
(1952)

The Expansion
Giulietta Sprint
1954 model, body
by Bertone.

Meanwhile, the company radically changed during the

1950s, transforming itself into a full-scale manufacturer
that concentrated on the production of standard cars,
industrial vehicles, aircraft and naval engines, and diesel
engines for industrial applications.

The Giulietta Sprint was introduced in 1954 at the Turin

Motor Show. This car - along with a Spider (1955) and a
Giulietta Sprint (1954)
berlina (1955) - would be crucial, and not only for the his-
tory of Alfa: it established new parameters (this was the
first mass production car with a twin overhead camshaft
engine made entirely of aluminum), and embodied Italy’s
willingness to emerge from the dark years of the war.
Furthermore, it consolidated Alfa Romeo’s vocation as
a major automaker. The Giulietta Sprint offered perfor-
mance and handling unknown in the segment and it sold
so well that orders had to be suspended just a few days
after it was introduced. Also, the lines of the Alfa Romeo
Spider become a symbol of Italian-made cars in the ‘50s.

The Expansion
 Giulietta Berlina (1955)

Imported to the U.S. by a distributor who was keen to of-

fer an open version of the Giulietta in America, Alfa Romeo
started exporting cars to the United States in 1961. The
Giulietta is one of the icons of the post-war automotive
renaissance and of the “Dolce Vita” years: people called it
“the Italian sweetheart.”

Giulietta Spider (1955) Other Giulietta derivatives were produced during this
period, including the Sprint Veloce, the Giulietta Sprint
Speciale, the TI and the lighter, faster and race-ready
Giulietta SZ.

Giulietta SZ
Coda tronca
(1960)

The Expansion
Giulia: A Star Is Born
Eight years after the success of the Giulietta, Alfa Romeo
unveiled the Giulia TI at the Monza Autodrome on June 27,
1962. With a record drag coefficient of 0.34, weighing 2,205
pounds (1,000 kilograms) and packing a 1570 cc engine, Giulia
was well-known for its lively handling,
acceleration, safety and overall driving
dynamics among small European se-
dans. The sales success of the Giulia
prompted Alfa Romeo to expand the
shop floor and open a new plant in
Arese near Milan. This plant became
Alfa Romeo’s head office until 1986.

Giulia TI Super
2600 Sprint (1962)

At the end of its long career, the Giulia and its multiple
derivatives – such as the Sprint GT, the Spider Duetto
(1966) and the Super – reached the outstanding goal
of one million units produced. The Spider Duetto is
arguably the most famous of the models, as it was the
Giulia Berlina (1962-1978) iconic sports car driven by Dustin Hoffman in the 1967
Hollywood movie, The Graduate. Just 6,325 units of the
Spider 1600 were built. The model was replaced by the
1750 Spider Veloce, the Spider 1300 Junior and the 2000
Spider Veloce, manufactured until 1994.

Giulia 1600 Sprint Speciale

(1963-1965)

Giulia: A Star is Born

 Alfa Spider 1600
(1966-1994)

Giulia: A Star Is Born

Autodelta
While expanding production in volume segments, true
to its heritage, Alfa Romeo’s racing activities continued
throughout the decade. In 1961 Autodelta was created
and became Alfa Romeo’s racing department.

The team was victorious on tracks worldwide with models

such as the Giulia TZ – which stands for Tubular Zagato
(1963) – and TZ 2 (1965). The models were part of the com-
pany’s effort to compete in the Grand Turismo category.

Debut of the Giulia

TZ in Monza, at the
“FISA Cup” 1963, with
Lorenzo Bandini.

Giulia TZ2
 Giulia Sprint GTA
and Giulia TZ

Giulia Sprint GTA

The team also developed the Giulia GTA, “A” stand- (1965)

ing for “Alleggerita” or lightweight in Italian. With a

weight of only 1,642 pounds (745 kilograms), the GTA
had ­aluminum body panels instead of steel, magnesium
alloy wheels and clear plastic side windows. The GTA
versions were manufactured in either street (Stradale)
or pure race (Corsa) trim often tuned by Autodelta.

The Giulia GTA won seven European Championships and

multiple international races, becoming one of the most
iconic Alfa Romeos ever. For the brand it represented a
new paradigm: the everyday car that wins races. The slo-
gan at the time was “Una vittoria al giorno con la macchina
di tutti i giorni” (a victory each day with the everyday car).

Autodelta
 33 Stradale

In 1967, a new sports-car debuted: The Tipo 33. This was

a sports racing prototype fielded by factory-backed
teams. During its 10-year career, the Tipo 33 won the
World Championships in 1975 and 1977. The Tipo 33 not
only won races, it also inspired one of the biggest icons
of the Alfa Romeo brand: the 33 Stradale (Italian for
“road-going”). Built entirely by hand and with mid-engine
configuration, the Stradale was one of the world’s first
supercars, with a top speed of 162 mph (260 kph). Only 18
vehicles were built, but this small run had a huge impact
for the brand. Still today, the 33 Stradale is one of the
highest expressions of a mid-engine sports coupé.

Autodelta
 The Portello plant, by now incorporated into the growing
city of Milan, was insufficient to meet demand. Produc-
tion was gradually transferred to the new plant located
in Arese, in the northwest of Milan. On April 29, 1968, the
brand also set the foundation stone for a new plant in
Pomigliano d’Arco in Naples, and it also built a prototype
test track at Balocco in the Piedmont region.

Alfa Romeo official test

drivers – “I magnifici 7” – at
the Balocco Proving Ground.

Autodelta
 New Segments
Alfa Romeo continued to expand its portfolio in
1971 with the launch of the Alfasud, a quick, com-
pact entry-level car equipped with a number of
sophisticated mechanical solutions, including a
flat-4 boxer engine with front-wheel drive.

Alfasud (1971)

Production of the Alfetta started in Arese the following

year. This sporty sedan with sophisticated mechanicals
(front engine, rear-wheel drive, De Dion rear axle and
transaxle) was a leader in its segment for many years.
The Alfetta GT (1974), GTV (1975), followed by the Alfa 75
(Milano in the U.S.) were the backbone of production at
the Arese plant.

Alfetta (1972)
 Alfetta GT (1974)

Passion for performance – on the street and at the race-

track – continued in the 1970s. Inspired by the Montreal
“Expo” prototype unveiled in 1967, the brand launched
the production version of the Montreal in 1970. Featuring
aggressive lines, a V8 racing-derived engine and great
performance, the Montreal was one of the iconic grand
tourers of the ‘70s.

Alfa Romeo Montreal

New Segments
33 TT 12 (1973-1975)

The brand won two World Championship ti-

tles in the Seventies: in 1975 with the 33 TT 12
(Manufacturers’ Championship), and in 1977
with the 33 SC 12 (Prototype Championship).
Alfa Romeo was also active in Formula One,
with the Tipo 179 model and a driver lineup
that included Mario Andretti.

Tipo 33 SC12 Turbo 33 TT 12 (1973-1975)

New Segments
Mario Andretti
and the Tipo 179 F1
racing car (1981).

182 T Formula 1 (1982)

A New Company
In 1986 Fiat Group acquired Alfa Romeo, which pro-
duced the brand-new 164 four-door sedan (1987).
The vehicle was designed by Pininfarina and manu-
factured at the plant in Arese.

Alfa Romeo 164 (1987)

Based on the Alfa Romeo 156, a front-wheel-drive sedan
penned by Walter De’ Silva that won European Car of the
Year in 1998 and was a commercial success, Alfa Romeo
developed the race-ready 156 D2 model. With 310 hp,
six-speed sequential gearbox, standard split differential
and a weight of 2,150 pounds (975 kilograms), the vehicle
captured 13 touring championships in Italy and Europe.

Frankfurt 1997

156 (1997)

Michael Schumacher and

Nicola Larini (1998) Gabriele Tarquini with
the Alfa 156 GTA on the
Mugello Circuit (2003).

A New Company
 Car of The Year
Another European Car of the Year for the brand was the
147, which was launched at the 2000 Turin Motor Show.
Originally presented as a three-door only, it was soon
joined by a five-door. In true Alfa Romeo style, sportier
versions of the 147 were soon available. With a powerful
3.2-liter V6 engine, the 147 GTA was an immediate suc-
cess among the “hot hatch” segment.

Alfa 147
GTA (2002)

Alfa 147 GTA CUP (2002) Maurizio Campani, the

winner in Monza during
the first race of the
European Alfa Challenge
reserved for the Alfa 147
GTA Cup (2005).
Alfa GT (2003)

Presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 2003, the Alfa

GT was designed by Bertone and was a four-seat coupe,
with a style concept reminiscent of the Giulietta Sprint.
Another vehicle presented at the Geneva show, first as
a concept designed by Giugiaro, was the Alfa Romeo
Brera. This vehicle marked the company’s return to the
2+2 coupe segment. The vehicle offered a panoramic
glazed roof and electronic stability and traction control
standard on all versions.

Car of the Year

 Alfa Brera (2005-2010)

Car of the Year

8C Competizione
At the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show, another icon was
born, when the company presented the 8C Compe-
tizione. When the production vehicle saw the light of day
in 2007, featuring a Ferrari-based 4.7-liter 450-hp V8,
this supercar was for collectors and a handful of lucky
owners, with only 500 units produced. It was joined by
the 8C Spider in 2008, which maintained the same me-
chanical features and performance as the coupe. The
first part of its name refers to the architecture of the
eight-cylinder engine that dominated the race circuits in
the ‘30s and ‘40s. The other section paid homage to the
6C 2500 Competizione Coupe that Fangio drove in 1950s
Mille Miglia races. The vehicle boasted a maximum speed
of almost 185 mph (300 km/h).
 8C Spider (2008)

8C Competizione
 The Centenary
To celebrate its centenary in the year 2010, the brand revived
the Giulietta. The Alfa Romeo Style Centre designed the new
Giulietta, a five-door hatchback with an unmistakable Alfa
Romeo look, capable of expressing both agility and a high de-
gree of comfort on everyday roads. Using sophisticated sus-
pension solutions, dual-pinion active steering, and state-of-
the-art manufacturing technologies, the Giulietta achieved
excellent levels of on-board comfort, dynamic features and
safety (both active and passive).

Giulietta Collezione (2015)

Giulietta
Sprint (2014)
4C and 4C Spider (2016)

In 2015 the highly anticipated 4C mid-engine coupe

made its debut, replete with a hand-built carbon fiber/
aluminum monocoque structure, a 6-speed dual-clutch
transmission and a 1.75-liter turbo 4-cylinder with 237 hp
and 258 lb-ft of torque. Weighing roughly 2,400 pounds
(1,089 kg), the 4C was capable of accelerating from 0-60
4C’s all aluminum 1,750 mph in just over 4.0 seconds. A year later, Alfa Romeo
Turbo Engine with introduced the 4C Spider, which delivered the same ex-
direct-injection. hilarating performance as the coupe while adding only 22
pounds of curb weight.

The Centenary
Stelvio and Giulia (2017)

The return of the Giulia in 2016 and the introduction of the

Stelvio in 2017 capped off the decade in style. The Giulia,
a world-class high-performance sport sedan featuring a
standard 2.0-liter 280-hp turbo engine and, more nota-
bly, a Quadrifoglio version with a Ferrari-derived 2.9-liter
505-hp twin-turbo V6, won both the 2018 Motor Trend Car
of the Year award as well as a spot on the Car and Driver
2018 10Best Cars list. Riding on the same wheelbase and
offering the same powertrains, the Stelvio, named after
the famous Stelvio Pass driving road in Italy, followed in
the Giulia’s footsteps, winning multiple awards and estab-
lishing itself as the benchmark among high-performance
crossover SUVs.

In 2018, and in partnership

with the Sauber F1 Team,
Alfa Romeo returned to
Formula 1 racing after more
than 30 years away from
the Sport.

Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team (2018)

The Centenary
2020
In its 110th anniversary, the brand continues to move for-
ward in terms of design, performance and technology, with
both the Giulia and Stelvio receiving new interiors and Ad-
vanced Driver Assist Systems. Inside, each model boasts a
standard 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen; a redesigned
center console with improved storage, new gearshift and
available wireless phone charging; new steering wheel
wrapped in softer leather; and redesigned dials and knobs
offering improved feel and feedback. A new Active Driver
Assist Package offers level 2 autonomous functions in-
cluding traffic jam assist, active lane keep assist, traffic
sign recognition and drowsy driver detection.

Stelvio Quadrifoglio
 Stelvio Quadrifoglio

2020
 Giulia Quadrifoglio

2020
 To help celebrate its 110-year anniversary, Alfa Romeo in
March unveiled the Giulia GTA, a limited-edition high-per-
formance sedan that harkens back to the famous 1965
Giulia Sprint GTA, which dominated sports car racing in
its time. For the new model, GTA, which stands for “Gran
Turismo Alleggerita” or Gran Touring Lightened, rep-
resents weight savings of around 220 pounds (100 kg) as
well as an increase of roughly 30 horsepower from the
Ferrari-derived twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6. The result is an
incredible weight-to-power ratio of just 6.2 lb/hp.

Giulia GTA

2020
Giulia GTA
Limited to 500 units worldwide, the GTA features ex-
tensive application of carbon fiber inside and out as well
as a race-inspired cockpit replete with Alcantara on the
steering wheel, dash, door panels and bucket seats. A
more extreme yet still street legal GTAm version (for
modified) deletes the inner door panels and rear seats in
favor of a roll cage and more aggressive front seats with
carbon-fiber shells. With their GTA, lucky owners will also
receive a Goodwool car cover, Bell helmet in special GTA
livery and Alpinestars racing suit, gloves and shoes.

2020
A Glimpse at The Future
Alfa Romeo looks back only to move forward. Inspired
by a unique blend of technology and sensation, and me-
chanical performance and passion, the brand leverages
its groundbreaking Italian design, advanced technology
and passionate racing-bred performance to build a vision
for the future and explore new segments.
At the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, Alfa Romeo re-
vealed the Tonale concept, signaling a new crossover
SUV that will be positioned below the Stelvio. Like
the Stelvio, the Tonale gets its name from a famous
road – the Tonale Pass – in the Italian Alps. The To-
nale concept, penned at Alfa Romeo’s Centro Stile
in Turin, was shown in Geneva with a plug-in hybrid
drivetrain, representing the brand’s future in electrifi-
cation and the premium compact crossover segment.
In true Alfa Romeo fashion, the Tonale won multiple
awards, including “Best Concept Car Design” by Auto
& Design, and “Most Beautiful Show Car 2020” at the
35th Festival Automobile International. 

A Glimpse at The Future

My Favorite Alfa Romeo Cars

By Ralph Gilles
Head of Design, FCA.

Selecting my favorite Alfa Romeos is a most difficult task,

as there are so many significant and beautiful models that
have graced the world over the last 110 years.

To me there are several Alfas that are more significant than

others. I measure this simply by the fact that we still refer
to them today, whether it be for design inspiration as we
continue to carefully manage its DNA or in conversations
with Alfisti and the general community of enthusiasts.
 1952 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante
The Disco Volante was only ever a prototype, but, wow, what a beauti-
ful experiment with shapes. Aptly named, as it must have seemed like
something from another universe at the time. Its wind-cheating shape
is something we take more seriously than ever today as aerodynamics
is one of the most important aspects of modern car design. Although I
believe in the case of the Disco Volante it was more about provocation
than science.

Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ (1964) /

Giulia TZ
TZ2 (1965)
This car truly blurred the line between street
car and race car, essentially starting the
trend of form following purpose that we still
exploit today. The TZ was a tube-framed
race car with carefully thought out weight
distribution and aerodynamic principles that
made it a very successful race car as well as Giulia TZ2
a stunning road car. The TZ could have been a
homologation special car as we understand
them today. The TZ2, which came only a year
later, improved on the design by adding a
sunken cockpit. One of the most endearing
details of the design is the cut-off rear end
that still inspires designers today.

My Favorite Alfa Romeos

1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900
The 8C is an Alfa that has won the most significant concours d’elegance
around the world, and it is so beautiful that most owners of other cars
at concourses dread its presence. Extremely photogenic, and even bet-
ter to behold in person, the 8C has helped establish the premium side of
Alfa Romeo’s DNA.

1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia GT

This car replaced the beautiful and
wildly successful Giulietta Sprint. To
me and many enthusiasts this body
shape, which stayed in production for
just over 10 years, left an indelible mark
as a favorite accessible Alfa Romeo of
all time. Perhaps some of that has to
do with the GTA version’s dominance
as a sports car, beating giants on race
tracks around the world, as well as its
ability to be an effortless beauty as a luxury grand tourer. I personally love
its face, full of character and presence with the Scudetto proudly carried
on it. In the end it has a lot to do with its simple but purposeful lines… That
timeless shoulder that goes the length of the car still shows up on many
modern cars’ body sides as does its perfect hood-to-deck-lid proportions.

My Favorite Alfa Romeos

 1967 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale
My and many designers’ favorite Alfa Romeo design of all
time. Considered by many to be the first supercar… essen-
tially a road-going version of the race car. Its design was
clearly about performance and its layout was an extreme
departure for the times, with an innovative mid-engine con-
figuration and ground-hugging proportions in the search for
the lowest center of gravity possible. For my eye it is the
beautifully sculpted shapes, which seem to evoke the curves
of a woman’s body. I also appreciate its very clean design that
is not polluted by extraneous holes and vents. A breathtaking
sculpture to see in person. It continues to inspire us and its
spirit lives on in the modern-day 4C. Perhaps it has inspired
many others as most supercars still honor its proportions.

My Favorite Alfa Romeos

 1970 Alfa Romeo Montreal
Although first shown as a concept car at the Montreal Expo in 1967, the
production version was faithful to the eye-catching concept, with its
semi-concealed head lamps. The designers used those distinctive B-pil-
lar slots to celebrate some of the mid-engine magic that was becoming
the rage in Italian design at
the time. But as a feat of
packaging the car actually
manages to carry a sizeable
V8 under the front bonnet.
It has become a designer’s
favorite. If not the prettiest
of Alfas, it is certainly one
of the most memorable.

2005 Alfa Romeo Brera

I remember seeing this car at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show, thinking, Gi-
orgetto Giugiaro has done it again. The production car, which came three
years later, did a fantastic
job of carrying the distinct
front end and delicious
trademark GT shoulder.
The car went on to inspire
a range of Alfa Romeos as
well as establishing a new
aggression in the character
of the brand’s sporty cars.

My Favorite Alfa Romeos

2013 Alfa Romeo 4C
This car will be a future collectible, if it isn’t already. Such
an interesting carrier of the Alfa DNA in spirit and in de-
sign. The passion of Alfa Romeo engineers shows through
in the extreme proportions, the carbon-fiber tub and the
obsession with weight savings. The design is provocative,
as it stirs the soul like cars costing five times its price. For
me it is about the presence of the car – it is impossible to
ignore and not want to applaud its very existence.
Viva Alfa Romeo!

My Favorite Alfa Romeos

 Most Signifcant
Performance Cars
By Lorenzo Ardizio
Curator Museo Storico
Alfa Romeo.

GP Tipo P2 (1925)
The Tipo P2 won the very first World Championship but it
also represents the turning point that creates the brand
DNA: light, agile, essential and victorious.
 Tipo 158 “Alfetta”
The Alfetta represents the edge of the pre-war Alfa
Romeo tradition (twin-cam, transaxle, supercharged) and
it opened the age of the modern motorsport, winning two
F1 World Championships.

Giulia Sprint GTA

The Alfa Romeo post-war
icon: a winning race car
with the same technology
and design of production
cars. The brand is now
inclusive.

Most Signifcant Performance Cars

33 Stradale
The closest link between a race car and a road car. But
also the manifesto of the “sustaining beauty”: its design is
a consequence of function and performance.

Giulia Quadrifoglio
It’s the synthesis of Alfa
Romeo DNA: technology
(materials, lightweight, bal-
ance), performance, driving
pleasure and design. But it’s
also proud of Alfa Romeo
tradition and able to be a
protagonist of its age.

Most Signifcant Performance Cars

bonus
material
69 Logo Evolution
70 Trefoil: A Design Trademark
 Logo Evolution

1910-1915 1918-1925 1925-1945

1960-1972 1950-1960 1946-1950

1972-1982 1982-2014 2015-Current

Trefoil: A Design Trademark
Throughout the years, Alfa Romeo vehicles have
featured an unmistakable “trefoil face,” or front-end
with three key components, that conveys functional
design elegant style and dynamism.
 1910
24 HP

Initially, from 1910, the front-end

of an Alfa Romeo consisted of the
radiator flanked by the light clusters.
The design of the mechanical parts
did not leave much room for style.
A more aerodynamic profile along
with lettering affixed to the radiator
and mesh to keep out gravel were
enough to identify the brand and
impart emotion.

1929
6C 1750 SS

Trefoil : A Design Trademark

 1936
6C 2300B

As the motorcar developed, the wings 1939

6C 2500
and bumpers also became part of the
front-end. Later, the radiator was tak-
en back inside the body, behind an air
intake in the form of a grille that could
be modelled by the designer before
the engineer. This was the period – in
the middle of 1930s – when the Alfa
Romeo shield made its first appear-
ance. It was officially adopted as a
symbol from the time of the Freccia
d’Oro during the post-war years.

Trefoil : A Design Trademark

The shield, increasingly defined by styling require-
ments, began to be too small to cool the engine,
however. Hence, the appearance of the two side air
intakes, giving rise to the distinctive Alfa Romeo
“trefoil” that was later to become a distinctive trait
of the front end, as it remains today.

1947
6C 2500
Freccia D’Oro

Trefoil : A Design Trademark

 1950 1954
1900 Giulietta Sprint

In the 1950s the wings became part of 1962

Giulia
the vehicle body and particularly of the
load-bearing body. The front-end became
a single structure, generally dominated
by an air intake - a trefoil in the case of
Alfa - with the headlights and bumpers
arranged in and around this. In a period
that saw standardized bodies, due to
the low flexibility of the first European
assembly lines, the front grille of the
car was the most important element to
recognize and identify a brand. Thus, the
“scudetto,” the shield-shaped grille that
was the centerpiece of the trefoil, be- 1966
come the prominent feature of the Alfa Spider Duetto
Romeo face.

The fashions, trends and tastes of each

period epitomized the evolution of the
trefoil: sinuous and imposing lines for
the 1900, a slimmer look for the Giulietta,
aerodynamic and taut for the Giulia.

Trefoil : A Design Trademark

1972
Alfetta

1987 Then came the 1970s with

Alfa 164 the angled, sometimes
even square lines that were
to dominate until the end
of the 1980s.

Trefoil : A Design Trademark

1997
Alfa 156

Lines were smoothed with the 164, but it wasn’t until the 156 that there
was a real change in direction: the most relevant Alfa Romeo design ele-
ments were re-imagined in a modern and futuristic way. The shield made
a comeback as the focus of the front end, headlights with profiled exteri-
ors housed rounded lenses and
the trefoil became the stylistic 2003
feature from which all the car 8C Competizione

lines stemmed. In more recent

generations, the importance
of the trefoil and Alfa Romeo's
traditional design features have
become more evident, as the
shield has grown larger and more
imposing and become the start-
ing point for a V-shaped hood.

Trefoil : A Design Trademark

 The “face” lineage of to-
day’s Alfa Romeo mod-
els can be traced back
in time to the unique
design and functional
origins of the Trefoil.

2019
Giulia
Quadrifoglio

2018
Stelvio
Quadrifoglio

Trefoil : A Design Trademark

 Media Contacts

Ariel Gavilán Ronald Kiino

Head of Alfa Romeo Communication Alfa Romeo Communication
Office: (248) 512-3404 Office: (248) 944-0641
ariel.gavilan@fcagroup.com ronald.kiino@fcagroup.com

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