Alfa Romeo and Zagato are resurrecting an iconic design from the early ’90s, revered by Alfisti for its unique charm. Introducing the
Alfa Romeo Giulia SWB Zagato,
a modern take on the classic Alfa Romeo SZ from the 1990s, limited to a single
production unit, which seems almost criminal.
This exclusive Alfa Romeo SWB (short wheelbase) Zagato pays homage to one of the most distinctive cars of the ’90s era. Zagato transformed an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio with
manual transmission, shortened the wheelbase from the rear, and enveloped it in a bespoke carbon fiber body. While Alfa Romeo’s design head, Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, contributed to the concept, Zagato handled the production and realization of this masterpiece.
The design is close to perfection. The front pays tribute to the iconic wedge-shaped styling of the original SZ but with a more elegant and rounded finish. It retains the SZ’s triple headlights but integrates them with the current Giulia’s headlight design, subtly set into the front fascia. Eschewing the traditional Alfa Romeo logo, the emblematic serpent symbol is visible through the iconic triangular Alfa Romeo grille. At the rear, Zagato seems to have taken inspiration from
Aston Martin, sharing a strikingly similar taillight bar with the Aston DBX SUV.
Internally, the cabin resembles a standard Giulia Quadrifoglio, barring the unique seats and coordinated green accents that complement the stunning exterior hue.
Zagato replaced the standard Giulia Quadrifoglio engine with an enhanced twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 sourced from the potent Giulia GTAm. This upgrade boosts the power output to 533 horsepower compared to the regular Giulia Quadrifoglio’s 503 horses. While the GTAm typically comes with an eight-speed automatic, Zagato customized the engine to fit a six-speed manual transmission.
There’s little to fault in this new Alfa Romeo SWB Zagato. It’s a beautifully crafted, retro-styled sports coupe from a legendary automotive design studio, equipped with a potent engine, manual gearbox, and rear-wheel drive. The only drawback is its exclusivity, limited to just one unit for a dedicated Alfa Romeo enthusiast in Germany. It’s disheartening when a manufacturer creates something truly special and unique but restricts it to such a limited production run. The exceptional design of this Zagato deserves global recognition from car enthusiasts worldwide.
Have any tips? Share them at tips@thedrive.com
