Big news for Alfa Romeo fans as Jeremy Clarkson declares the GTA-R 290 as his favorite car of 2020.
In a recent article published by the Sunday Times, Jeremy Clarkson listed five of his favorite cars of the year. Unsurprisingly, the Alfaholics GTA-R 290 won the grumpy old man’s heart, taking the top spot on his list. The other four cars are the Mini John Cooper Works GP, Bentley Flying Spur, Eagle Lightweight GT, and Ford Puma.
Built as a meticulous restomod Alfa Romeo Tipo 105 Giulia GTA from the 1960s, the Alfaholics GTA-R has earned quite the fascination of the Grand Tour host, given his eternal love for the Italian brand.
Alfaholics is a Bristol-based boutique company reimagining Alfa Romeo 105 coupés, more or less the way Singer does it for Porsche 911. With another accolade under its belt, the company claims that the GTA-R 290 is by far the best makeover it has given to any car.
Coming to specifications on the Englishman’s favorite, power comes from an updated, and bored-out four-cylinder engine derived straight from an Alfa 75 sports sedan producing 240 horsepower and a respectable 200 lb-ft of torque. A close-ratio manual transmission helps in transferring all that power to its massive 7×15-inch GTA Superleggera alloy wheels.
Interestingly enough, the GTA-R 290 is extremely lightweight. Weighing just 840 kg, it has an excellent power-to-weight ratio of 290 hp per metric ton, hence its name. The amazing power-to-weight ratio just backs up the 105’s dominance in the GT class it earned decades ago. Today, an abundance of carbon-fiber detailing and body panels, a bespoke engine, a quick-shifting gearbox, and a highly advanced suspension system still make it a worthy contender for the tracks.
Not to forget, each and every GTA-R 290 is a result of incredible craftsmanship and requires over 3,000 hours of labor from start to finish, so the astronomic price of £320,000 or $437,110 shouldn’t be a surprise at all.
Gallery
Download your Alfa Romeo owners manual here!
