WhileAlfa Romeo Today, the Alfa Romeo brand has no real large-scale competition program, but some enthusiasts have decided to revive one of the brand's most glorious periods. This is the gamble of SGT Automobili, a young Italian company that has just unveiled the 55-SGT, a spectacular modern reinterpretation of the Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti DTM of the 1990s, based on a Giulia Quadrifoglio.
The result is striking: a contemporary sports sedan transformed into a genuine road-legal racing machine, capable of awakening the nostalgia of a whole generation of alfisti.
Giulia meets DTM legend
To understand the origins of this project, we need to go back to 1993. That year, Alfa Romeo entered the highly competitive German DTM championship with the 155 V6 Ti. Unlike its German rivals, the Italian brand took advantage of the «Class 1» regulations to design an extremely sophisticated car.
All-wheel drive, sequential gearbox, Formula 1-inspired technology and, above all, a naturally-aspirated V6 capable of revving up to 12,000 rpm: the 155 V6 Ti quickly became a benchmark, winning the championship in its very first season. Over the years, its power grew to almost 500 hp, making it one of the most emblematic touring cars of the 1990s. More than thirty years later, SGT Automobili has decided to pay homage to the Giulia by fusing its styling with one of the most popular Alfa Romeo models of the modern era: the Giulia Quadrifoglio.
Radical transformation
The 55-SGT doesn't just add a few aesthetic elements. The transformation is profound. The entire body has been replaced by carbon-fiber panels designed specifically for the project. The designers drew inspiration from the aggressive, geometric lines of the 155 DTM, adapting them to the more generous proportions of the modern Giulia.
The front features slim headlamps, a reduced Scudetto, wide air intakes and an imposing splitter. The widened fenders reinforce the impression of power, while the profile appears more stretched than that of the original 155, thanks to the Giulia's larger dimensions.
At the rear, the huge fixed spoiler is immediately reminiscent of 1990s touring cars. A modern, full-width light signature adds a retro-futuristic touch that contrasts with the model's historical references.
The white, center-fixed OZ wheels are probably the most popular detail with enthusiasts. They are instantly reminiscent of the Alfa Romeo cars raced in the DTM, and make a major contribution to the car's visual identity.
The V6 Quadrifoglio is always at the top of its game
Under the hood, SGT Automobili didn't try to reproduce the 155 DTM's legendary naturally-aspirated V6. Instead, the 55-SGT retains one of the best engines in current production: the Giulia Quadrifoglio's 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6.
Producing a minimum of 520 hp, it continues to be mated to the ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox. However, an interesting feature links this engine to its illustrious ancestor: like the V6 in the latest evolution of the 155 DTM, it adopts a 90-degree open architecture.
The big news is the adoption of all-wheel drive (as on the Stelvio Quadrifoglio). SGT Automobili has made this choice in order to rediscover the efficiency and driveability that contributed so much to the 155 V6 Ti's success on European racetracks. With a carbon-fibre body and a weight potentially lower than that of a standard Giulia Quadrifoglio, this configuration promises particularly impressive performance.
Very limited series at an exclusive price
As is often the case in the world of Italian craftsmanship, exclusivity comes at a price. Production will begin with a series of 10 units called the «Opening Edition». This will be followed by a further 55 units, customizable according to customer wishes.
The announced price is in the region of 500,000 euros. A considerable sum, but one that places the 55-SGT in the same universe as other Italian neo-retro creations produced in very small series, such as the Kimera EVO37. At this price level, buyers aren't just looking for performance. They're investing in a collector's item, a handcrafted carbon-fiber creation and, above all, in the emotion provided by a model that very few people will ever come across.
Behind the project are three Italian enthusiasts
SGT Automobili recently introduced the three founders behind this adventure. The project is spearheaded by Stefano Lo Bartolo, a Turin-based entrepreneur from a family that has been active in the automotive industry for three generations and specializes in carbon-fiber creations. Alongside him, designer Emanuele Bomboi brought the lines of the 55-SGT to life, transforming a simple idea into a particularly spectacular vehicle. The technical side was entrusted to Diego Iodice, described by the company as the man who «transplanted the beating heart» of the 55-SGT thanks to his expertise in automotive development and engineering. The three of them have succeeded in creating one of the boldest interpretations of Alfa Romeo heritage in recent years.
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I prefer the proposal made by a German company at the end of the 90s and beginning of 2000, based on the 155 equipped in a DTM version with either the Lampredi or the Busso prepared by Ellegi Motori at the time.