Conceived in 2021 during the celebrations marking the century-long partnership between Alfa and Zagato, the Alfa Romeo Giulia SWB Zagato is a one-off coupe destined for the garage of a German collector.
Unsurprisingly the car’s owner is an Alfa Romeo and Zagato fan, and already has a number of Alfas, including the 8C Competitizione, as well as “several” Aston Martin Zagatos.
Styling for the SWB Zagato’s new carbon-fibre body is said to be inspired by the 1961 SZ, while the “3+3 headlamp concept” is a nod to the 1990 SZ, as well as Alfa’s current lineup. Indeed, the front headlights look like they’ve been pilfered from a Tonale.
“The philosophy of this new 2023 SZ is that of the 1960s, with a body driven by simplicity, aerodynamics and lightness,” Alejandro Mesonero, Alfa’s chief designer, said in a prepared statement.
“The new SZ offers a dynamic, simple body, where long lines run from the front to the rear where creating a strong but discreet muscularity at the same time.”
He went on to say the inclusion of Zagato’s signature double-bubble roof and truncated tail all help the car’s aerodynamics, with the former allowing the car to retain the sedan’s interior ergonomics.
Although the exterior is almost entirely bespoke, the dashboard and much of the interior seems to be carried over from the sedan with only few changes, most notably the green highlights.
Under the bonnet the Giulia coupe uses the same 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 as the track-focussed GTAm limited edition, which makes 402kW and at least 600Nm.
While the GTAm comes exclusively with an eight-speed automatic, the one-off SWB Zagato drives the rear wheels via the six-speed manual transmission available on the standard Giulia Quadrifoglio.
According to Zagato, the concept, development and production of the Giulia SWB Zagato was “carried out entirely and independently by the Milanese Atelier without external support”, although it did seek the input of Alfa Romeo’s design team.
No word on how much Giulia SWB Zagato cost, but given its one-off status, unique body, shortened wheelbase, and manual drivetrain, it’s safe to think it will be a multiple of the GTAm’s $288,000 list price.
For those who desire an exclusive, but not entirely bespoke, Alfa Romeo, the company is reportedly planning a supercar, which should be formally announced next year.
