The Alfa Romeo GTV (Gran Turismo Veloce) (English: Fast Grand Tourer) and Alfa Romeo Spider were two sports cars produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo from 1995 to 2006. The GTV is a 2+2 coupé, and the Spider is a two-seater cabriolet version of the GTV. The rear seats on the GTV could be optionally deleted to increase the small boot space. The Spider has no rear seats and a small boot.
Known by the internal Alfa Romeo designation 916, the GTV and Spider were launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1995. The GTV's name placed it as the successor to the long-discontinued Alfetta GTV coupe, whereas the Spider was effectively the replacement for the then 30 year-old Giulia Spider.
Both cars were designed by Pininfarina.and the last series were assembled by Pininfarina after the closing of the Arese factory.
The car was produced in three distinct phases. It is a typical Italian design, with the Alfa Romeo grille with dual round headlights, recalling the 1750 GTV of the late 1960s and 1970s. It is low-slug, wedge-shaped with a low nose and high kicked up tail. The back of the car is "cut-off" with a "Kamm tail" giving improved aerodynamics. The Spider shares these traits with the GTV except that the rear is rounded. The Spider featured a folding soft-top with five hoop frame, which completely disappears from sight under a flush fitting cover. An electric folding mechanism is fitted on later versions. As would be expected, the GTV has a much more rigid chassis, although considerable work was done on the Spider to reduce the traditional convertible problem of scuttle shake.
Wheels are 15 inch perforated light alloy as standard, 16 inch teardrop wheels with 205/50 tyres were part of the Lusso option package, along with Momo leather seats and air conditioning. A factory option of 17 inch teledial wheels with 225/45 tyres was popular , as are aftermarket 18 inch wheels with even wider 235/35 or 235/40 tyres . Another popular modification is lowered and uprated road springs to reduce body roll when cornering[citation needed] , making the TS cars corner very flatly, even at higher speeds. The phase 1 cars had a black plastic grille in the nose of the bonnet, without the normal chrome edging. A popular modification is to fit a phase 2 grille which has a chrome border and wire mesh centre.
The Lusso has become a separate model rather than an option pack on the phase 2 cars and the standard car was renamed the "Turismo". All V6 cars were of Lusso specification. Very few Turismos were sold in the UK.
A spacesaver spare wheel was supplied, and there was a no-cost option of an aerosol can of tyre repair sealant. This was a popular optionas it increased the usable size of the very small boot.
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