NEWSI OPINIONI GOSSIPI STUFFE
very once in a while, auto-
makers look the other
way while their engineers
go nuts turning a low-volume
sports car into an even lower-
volume but infinitely cooler
street-legal track car. ThisR
eferences to and inspira-
tions from classic Aston
Martin DB3/4/5/6 and
the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet
battle for supremacy in Aston’s
latest creation, the 700-hp V
Speedster.
As the name alludes, Aston’s
twin-turbo V-12 gives the
ultra-long hood reason to
be, and its 556 lb-ft of torque
helps the Speedster hit 60 mph
in 3.5 seconds. That’s quicker
than the 715-hp DBS Superleg-
gera you’re probably thinking
the Speedster was made
from, but this isn’t a Sawzall
job. “Q by Aston Martin,” the2021 Aston Martin
V 12 Speedster
company’s special projects
division, builds the unique
chassis with parts from both
the DBS Superleggera and the
smaller Vantage.
Some of that speed
advantage comes from the
lightweight carbon-fiber
bodywork, which goes so far as
to bisect the cabin in service
of the fighter jet theme. Clear
streamliner humps behind the
seats show off custom helmets,
which you’ll want if you plan
on driving more than 20 mph
with no windshield. The body-
work is punctuated in the rear
by a stainless steel exhaustsystem designed specifically to
make that V-12 sound glorious.
Forged 21-inch center-
lock wheels help it all stay
grounded. Behind them,time, it’s Alfa Romeo’s turn
with the Giulia GTA and even
nuttier Giulia GTAm.
A diet rich in carbon
fiber has dropped the curb
weight by a claimed 220
pounds compared to the2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA
Giulia Quadrifoglio. For good
measure, Alfa Romeo also
gave it more power to move
fewer pounds, dropping the
estimated 0–60 time to just 3.
seconds thanks to a 2.9-liter
twin-turbo V-6 that now
makes 540 hp instead of 505.
Both weight and power, not to
mention sound, benefit from a
titanium Akrapovic exhaust.
Handling is enhanced with
a wider track hiding new
springs, shocks, and bushings,
all behind 20-inch centerlock
wheels. An aerodynamics kit
developed by Alfa’s Formula 1
partner Sauber Engineering
will help the suspension doits job with an enhanced active
front splitter, new rear spoiler,
and new side skirts.
If you really want to set
sedan lap records, though,
you need the GTAm (m for
modified). Gone are the rear
seats, replaced with a roll hoop
and mounts for a fire extin-
guisher and a helmet holder.
Carbon-fiber bucket seats get
six-point harnesses, and the
door handles are replaced with
straps to yank on. Alfa’s even
gone so far as to replace the
side and rear windows with
Lexan. The Sauber team, mean-
while, steps it up with a more
aggressive front splitter and a
massive carbon-fiber rear wing.
Hopefully, this isn’t news to
you and you already have your
order in. Alfa is only selling 500
GTAs and GTAms globally.carbon-ceramic brakes and
electronically adjustable
dampers act on the multilink
suspension at all corners.
As you’d expect, this one’s
a limited edition with just
88 to be made. If you haven’t
plunked down your $950,
by the time you’re reading this,
it’s probably too late.14 MOTORTREND.COM JUNE 2020