ALFA ROMEO GT Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Alfa Romeo was the brand that introduced the Gran Turismo concept and added it to its vehicles in 1929 with the 6C GT, and it tried to continue the legacy. Yet, the 2003 GT was far from being the same grand tourer that it was meant to be.

Introduced at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show, the Italian sporty coupe started its sales in 2004, and it was based on a platform shared with the Alfa Romeo 147, which was a compact-segment hatchback. Thus, the Italian automaker managed to lower the production costs but still keep a high price tag for the GT.

With a design signed by Bertone Studios, the GT confirmed that the biodesign trend was not over yet, and the Italians were still mastering it. At the front, the V-shaped triangular Alfa shield covered the front fascia's height from the hood to the bottom of the bumper, dividing the upper and lower grilles. The car's profile revealed a very raked windshield and a narrow windows line, with the greenhouse ending in a sloped rear windscreen. At the back, the taillights looked like slim lines mounted on the rear quarter panels, flanking the trunk lid.

Inside, the carmaker tried to create a sporty yet elegant ambiance. The GT's high-bolster front bucket seats provided adequate side support during high-speed cornering, while behind, there was a bench for two. Yet, it wasn't roomy even for children, let alone grown-ups. The tilted dashboard was narrow and featured an instrument cluster fitted with four dials in independent clusters and a small LCD. Depending on the options, the car offered either a sound system or an infotainment unit carried over from its bigger brother, the Alfa Romeo 156.

Under the hood, the front-wheel driven GT was fitted with a choice of gasoline or turbo-diesel engines that sent the power to the wheels via a five- or six-speed manual, depending on the engine version.