Totem or Alpha—which Alfa-inspired EV excites you?
If you’re in the market for a state-of-the art EV that looks like a classic Alfa Romeo then you’re in luck. Startups in California and Italy have both taken the Giulia GTA as inspiration for retro-modern all-electric sports cars.
Venice-based Totem Automobili, founded by automotive designer Riccardo Quaggio, has spent the last two years creating its Totem GT. Using a Giulia GT Junior as a base car, the GT is said to use only about ten per cent of the original chassis, with new modern aluminum suspension, while the sculpted wide-body is molded in carbon fiber and weighs just 209 pounds. The car takes 6000 hours to hand build by a team of 18 artisans.
A new rear subframe houses the 525-hp electric motor which can accelerate the GT from rest to 62 mph in just 3.4 seconds. The 50.4 kWh battery pack provides a range of approximately 200 miles in normal driving. The interior is a glorious mix of naked carbon and tan leather with a stunning minimalist design. To enhance the driving experience Totem has engineered a range of engine sounds to be played through the high-end stereo, while the car also features launch control and drift engine braking. The GT costs €430,000 or $529,000.
Meanwhile, in California Alpha Motor has introduced its Ace coupe. Clearly an Alfa Romeo homage, from its name to its fender badges the Ace is actually a ground-up new vehicle. It sits on a modular skateboard chassis that houses its electric drivetrain—a platform that will be scaled up for an SUV called Icon.
The Ace is a compact four-seater hatchback with a claimed 250-mile range and a six-second 0-60 mph time. Further details haven’t been revealed yet, despite the car being available to reserve on the Alpha Motor website, but with a starting price of just $32,000 the Ace is rather more affordable than its exotic Italian counterpart.
