Alfa Romeo Little Known Facts

Overview Models Reviews Little Known Facts Common Issues Famous People

The first Alfa Romeo car was produced in 1910 and named the A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP, it had a 4-cylinder engine producing 40 horsepower.
Alfa Romeo's first racing victory came in 1923 with the P2 model, driven by Antonio Ascari, who secured two consecutive victories at Targa Florio.
The famous "Disco Volante" (Flying Saucer) prototype was designed by Orazio Satta to test aerodynamic principles; it set multiple world speed records between 1949 and 1953.
In 1956, Alfa Romeo introduced the Giulietta Sprint, which became a racing icon in its own right, winning several competitions including the World Sportscar Championship.
The Dino Zagato-bodied 33 Stradale, launched in 1967, was created to celebrate Enzo Ferrari's 50th birthday; only 18 units were produced and sold exclusively through private channels.
Alfa Romeo's 1970s rally car, the Alfetta, was designed with a unique rear axle design that eliminated the need for differential gearing, reducing weight and improving traction.
In the late 1980s, Alfa Romeo developed the V6 engine for use in the Milano 4WD concept car, which would later serve as a precursor to the Mito (3C) model's front-wheel drive system.
The first Mito (3C) was unveiled at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show and became an instant success due to its compact size, agility, and aggressive styling.
Alfa Romeo collaborated with Fiat on the TwinAir two-cylinder engine project in the mid-2000s; this small displacement unit found widespread use across various models.
The Giulietta (940) launched in 2010 was notable for being the first production car to feature an advanced, dual-clutch transmission called the "Twin Dry-Clinch" system.
The Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio Verde (QV), introduced in 1985 as a limited-edition variant of the Giulietta, is often mistakenly referred to as the QV badge being for high-performance versions; however, it actually stands for the original "Quadrifoglio" meaning four-leaf clover.
In the early 1960s, Alfa Romeo built approximately 1,000 units of the Spider Duetto for the American market specifically for racing use.
Alfa Romeo collaborated with Pininfarina on several concept designs, including the Alfasud Sprint in 1979 and the Proteo in 1988; both featured forward-thinking technologies.
The Alfa Romeo C38 single-seater was used by the company's racing department to develop aerodynamic concepts that were later applied to production models.
In the 1990s, Alfa Romeo produced a low-volume run of its high-performance variant, the GTV6; it featured an enlarged V6 engine producing over 200 horsepower.
The first generation Giulietta (940) was designed with a highly advanced and compact chassis structure that incorporated the use of hydroformed tubing for increased rigidity.
Alfa Romeo's 1950s Formula One car, the 159, featured a unique tubular steel chassis framework created by Colotti himself; only three units were produced due to reliability issues.
The Duetto Spider (105) is often confused with being a direct result of the GTA GTV but was actually designed in the early 1960s for use as a road car, not specifically built for racing.
Alfa Romeo has been involved in several partnerships throughout its history; one notable example includes their collaboration on engines and drivetrain systems with Saab during the 1990s.
In 2015, Alfa Romeo launched an updated version of the Giulietta, dubbed the "TwinAir" variant featuring the aforementioned two-cylinder engine technology.
The classic Spider (105) featured a distinctive rear spoiler to compensate for increased drag caused by the lack of a fixed roof.
In recent years, Alfa Romeo has been actively participating in international endurance racing events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship using its high-performance prototype cars.
The 2007 concept car Giulietta Sprint was created to celebrate Alfa Romeo's centenary; this retro-style design drew inspiration from classic models while incorporating modern materials and technology.
Alfa Romeo has been involved in a series of low-volume, limited-edition releases across various markets; one notable example includes the QV version of the 156 launched in the late 1990s.
In 1964, Alfa Romeo produced an experimental car dubbed "Tetra", featuring a unique four-wheeled layout and no central engine, it never reached production stages.
The Giulietta (940) received several design refreshes throughout its lifespan; some notable updates included the introduction of an all-new front bumper and reworked headlight cluster in 2013.
Alfa Romeo has developed a wide range of concept vehicles over the years, including the recent Tonale which features unique electrification technology not yet applied to production models.
In the late 1980s, Alfa Romeo collaborated with Bertone on the design and development of their experimental car, known as "Bertone Stola".
The original Giulietta Sprint Veloce, launched in 1966, boasted impressive performance for its era; an engine producing nearly 230 horsepower helped propel it to speeds above 140 mph.
Alfa Romeo used the concept car 'Alfetta Berlina' from 1972 as a platform to showcase their high-performance variant of the Alfetta sedan model.