Totem GT Marinella: a modern Alfa Romeo Giulia Bertone with 600 hp V6, inspired by Italian haute couture

In 2020, Italian craftsman Totem Automobili unveiled a spectacular "restomod" reinterpretation of the Bertone Giulia GT coupé. After an initial electrified version, Totem soon offered a 600hp internal combustion engine, followed by an 810hp GTAm using a re-bored 3.2-liter version of the Giulia QV's Biturbo V6.

Since then, Totem Automobili has regularly unveiled highly personalized versions of its GT, designed as part of the "Totem Individual" program. At Monterrey Car Week's Peeble Beach Concours d'Elegance, a collaboration with E.Marinella provided the opportunity to present an exceptional new iteration.

Quintessential Italian craftsmanship

As its name suggests, the GT Super "Marinella" is the fruit of a collaboration between Totem Automobili and E.Marinella, the legendary Neapolitan house founded in 1914 and world-renowned for its handcrafted silk ties. It's an ode to Italian elegance and artisan traditions "Made in Italy", a way of celebrating a passion for timeless aesthetics, meticulous craftsmanship and cultural heritage.

For the vehicle's interior, Totem selected vintage 1988 silks from the E.Marinella archives, combined with teal-blue Italian Nappa leather, enhanced with contrasting topstitching. The process demanded exceptional technical precision, not only from Totem's in-house team, but also from its network of expert suppliers, each pushing the limits of their know-how to realize this ambitious project.

Refinements on all sides

The all-carbon-fiber body is painted in "Verde Partenope", a special triple-coat pearlescent hue that subtly changes tone with the light, a nod to Naples and its ever-changing coastal hues. The E.Marinella x Totem Automobili pack also has everything you need to embark on a "dolce vita" odyssey, with a matching leather weekend bag and a tie case housed in the rear parcel shelf. Inside this case: a set of silk ties, made from the same material used for the vehicle's interior.

Other bespoke features include bronze finishes inside and out, as well as Totem's signature diamond-patterned satin-finish carbon fiber coating. The dashboard, control panel, switches and even the transmission components visible in the center tunnel have been precision-machined from solid metal using CNC technology. The gear knob, a remarkable detail, is made of hand-blown Murano glass, paying homage to Totem's Venetian roots. Even the famous Quadrifoglio logo has been restyled with motifs evoking the textures of Marinella ties.

Totem GT's "base" engine

Under the hood is the 2.9-litre twin-turbo engine developed by Italtecnica (a specialist that also supplies engines for Kimera Automobili), developing over 600 hp. It is combined with a 6-speed manual gearbox and a stainless steel gearshift lever with exposed grilles. The engine's power and traction control are customizable via a dedicated wheel-mounted knob, enabling the driver to tailor performance to his or her driving style.

A specific plaque is affixed to the interior, with the names of the craftsmen who worked on the creation of this Marinella. It also states that this model is the "vettura 1 of 5", suggesting that several Totem GT Marinella models will be created.

According to Totem, the GT Super "Marinella" is the liveliest expression of the brand's vision for the future of Italian luxury motoring: a perfect synthesis of cutting-edge engineering, tradition, refined design and craftsmanship inspired by the world of bespoke couture. No price has been mentioned, but it's certainly enough to buy a lot of ties with! One might even wonder whether Totem isn't doing exactly what Alfa Romeo should have done, as a brand that wants to assume its premium status, if we set aside the "Bottega" concept recently initiated with the 33 Stradale.