The Alfa Romeo GTV and the Alfa Romeo Spider (Type 916) are sports cars produced by Alfa Romeo from 1993 to 2004: the GTV is a 2+2 coupé and the Spider a two-seat roadster. Production totalled 42,937 GTV and 38,891 Spider. The GTV was available until the Brera arrived in 2005, and the Spider lasted another year until its Brera-based successor in 2006.
Alfa Romeo GTV and Spider (916) at a glance
| Production | 1993–2004 |
|---|---|
| Units | 42,937 GTV and 38,891 Spider |
| Bodies | GTV: 2+2 coupé; Spider: two-seat roadster with a folding soft top |
| Design | Enrico Fumia at Pininfarina; interior and exterior completed by Centro Stile Alfa Romeo under Walter de Silva |
| Design timeline | first renderings September 1987; first 1:1 clay models July 1988 |
| GTV name | Gran Turismo Veloce (“fast grand touring”), successor to the Alfetta GTV |
| Spider role | replaced the 30-year-old 105-series Giulia Spider |
| Aerodynamics | wedge shape with a low nose and a Kamm tail on the GTV |
| Successors | Brera (2005) and Brera-based Spider (2006) |
This page is based on English Wikipedia only, so the figures could not be cross-checked against a second source.
History of the Alfa Romeo GTV and Spider (916)
The GTV was planned to re-establish Alfa Romeo’s sports coupé tradition in the 1990s. The design dates back to initial renderings in September 1987, with the first full-size clay models completed in July 1988. Fiat’s then CEO Vittorio Ghidella rejected Pininfarina’s interior proposal, drawn by Giuseppe Randazzo, and the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo under Walter de Silva was given responsibility for the completion of the design.
The motoring journalist Jeremy Clarkson described the GTV in 1998 as “one of the best sports cars of its time”, and it was listed at number 29 in a Top 100 Cars list in 2001.
Design and features
- Front: the Alfa Romeo grille with dual round headlights, a motif later used on the Protèo concept car.
- Body: wedge-shaped with a low nose; the GTV’s rear is cut off in a Kamm tail for better aerodynamics, while the Spider’s is rounded to fit the retractable roof.
- Roof: the Spider has a folding soft top with a five-hoop frame that folds under a flush cover behind the seats, with an electric folding mechanism as an option.
- Interior: instruments in the centre console angled toward the driver, and a rear lamp, fog lamp and indicator strip across the back.
Alfa Romeo GTV and Spider (916) versions
- GTV (916): the 2+2 coupé.
- Spider (916): the roadster.
- Phase 2: updated cars with V6 Turbo and Twin Spark engines (our older “GTV” and “GTV6” pages are covered here).
More Alfa Romeo sports cars are in our Alfa Romeo collection, for example the Brera and Spider (939), the classic Spider and the Protèo concept.
Alfa Romeo GTV and Spider (916) questions and answers
What does GTV mean?
Gran Turismo Veloce, English “fast grand touring”.
When were the GTV and Spider (916) built?
From 1993 to 2004.
How many were made?
42,937 GTV and 38,891 Spider.
Who designed them?
Enrico Fumia at Pininfarina, with the completion by Centro Stile Alfa Romeo under Walter de Silva.
What replaced them?
The Brera in 2005 and a Brera-based Spider in 2006.
Sources
- Alfa Romeo GTV and Spider, English Wikipedia: design, production
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